Playtech Blog
Infinite Blackjack: Is the "6-7-8" Side Bet the Worst in Live Casino?
You sit down at an Infinite Blackjack table.
The layout is familiar: spots for your main bet, maybe insurance when the dealer shows an ace. But then you notice something else, a whole row of smaller betting circles with names like Perfect Pairs, 21+3, and 6-7-8 Bonus.
If you are new to live dealer games, you might wonder: What are all these extra bets? Should I be playing them?
Before we dive into the worst option on the board, let’s first answer a more basic question: what is Infinite Blackjack?
First, What Is Infinite Blackjack?
Infinite Blackjack is a live dealer game developed by Evolution Gaming that allows an unlimited number of players to join the same table. Unlike traditional blackjack where seats are limited, here everyone plays against the same dealer using the same cards.
How to play Infinite Blackjack is simple: you place your bet, receive two cards, and try to beat the dealer just like regular blackjack. The “infinite” part just means you never have to wait for a seat.
If you have ever searched for blackjack infinite tables online, you have probably seen this game. It is one of the most popular live dealer products in the world.
The house edge: If you play basic strategy, it is around 0.5% . That means for every $100 you bet, the casino expects to keep just 50 cents over the long run. The other $99.50 gets paid back to players.
This makes blackjack one of the fairest bets in any casino. Only a few games (like baccarat banker or craps pass line) come close.
- The Verdict: This is where your money should live. The main game gives you the best chance to win, the longest playtime, and the smallest tax to the house. Every dollar you move to a side bet is a dollar that starts working against you.
The Common Blackjack Side Bets
Most Infinite Blackjack tables offer two popular side bets and a few exotic options:
Perfect Pairs
- You win if your first two cards are a pair.
- Payouts: Mixed pair (5:1), colored pair (10:1), perfect pair (30:1)
- House edge: Around 5% to 10% depending on the paytable
21+3
- You win if your first two cards and the dealer's upcard form a poker hand (flush, straight, three of a kind).
- Payouts range from 5:1 to 100:1
- House edge: Around 6% to 11%
Lucky Ladies
- You win if your first two cards total 20.
- Special jackpot for suited 20s or paired queens.
- House edge: 15% to 25%. Significantly worse.
Insurance
- Offered when the dealer shows an ace.
- You bet that the dealer has blackjack.
- House edge: 7% to 15% (worse if you take it every time).
Over/Under 13
- You bet on whether your first two cards will total over or under 13.
- House edge: Around 10% to 15%.
- The Verdict: These are for recreational players only. The math is not on your side.
The 6-7-8 Bonus: The Crown Jewel of Terrible Infinite Blackjack Bets
And then there is the 6-7-8 Bonus.
This side bet is less common than Perfect Pairs or 21+3, but it appears on select Infinite Blackjack tables, usually as a “special feature” to attract players looking for something different.
How It Works:
- You win if your first two cards and the dealer's upcard combine to form a 6, 7, and 8 in any order.
- Payouts range from 20:1 (unsuited) to 500:1 (all three same suit).
Why It Exists:
The 6-7-8 bet appeals to players who love “straight” style combinations. It feels like a mini-poker hand within your blackjack game. The 500:1 jackpot payout is designed to catch your eye.
Why It’s a Trap:
Because the odds of hitting it are so astronomically bad that the house edge reaches 90.6%, making it one of the worst bets in any live casino game.
Infinite Blackjack Side Bet Comparison: The Full Picture
Bet Type
Typical House Edge
Frequency
Main Blackjack (basic strategy)
0.5%
Every hand
Perfect Pairs
5% – 10%
Common
21+3
6% – 11%
Common
Over/Under 13
10% – 15%
Less Common
Insurance
7% – 15%
Common (when offered)
Lucky Ladies
15% – 25%
Less Common
6-7-8 Bonus
90.6%
Rare (thankfully)
Why the 6-7-8 in Infinite Blackjack Stands Out
Most side bets have house edges in the 5% to 25% range —bad, but not insane. Players can occasionally play them for fun without destroying their bankroll.
The 6-7-8 bet is different. A 90.6% house edge means you are not “playing” —you are donating. The casino keeps 90 cents of every dollar you bet, forever.
To put it in perspective:
- Perfect Pairs is like paying a 10% tax on your fun.
- The 6-7-8 bet is like setting your money on fire and walking away.
The Bottom Line on Side Bets
Bet Type
Typical House Edge
Main Game
✅ Play this. Learn basic strategy.
Perfect Pairs / 21+3
⚠️ Fine occasionally if you understand the cost.
Lucky Ladies / Over/Under
❌ Avoid. The edge is too high.
6-7-8 Bonus
🚨 Never play this. Ever. The math is catastrophic.
One Final Thought on Infinite Blackjack
Casinos design side bets to look fun, feel cheap, and pay big. They know players will chase the jackpot and ignore the math.
The 6-7-8 Bonus is the extreme example. It takes everything wrong with side bets and amplifies it to near-comical levels.
So next time you see that little 6-7-8 betting spot, remember: it is not a bonus. It is a trap. And now you know exactly why.
FAQ
It is a side bet where you win if your first two cards and the dealer's upcard are a 6, 7, and 8 in any order. Payouts range from 20:1 to 500:1.
90.6%. For every $1 you bet, you lose about 90 cents on average. It is one of the worst bets in any casino game.
The main blackjack game has a 0.5% house edge with basic strategy. The 6-7-8 bet is 181 times worse.
Because players play it. The small bet size and big jackpot feel exciting, and the math hides behind the occasional win.
Perfect Pairs (5-10% edge) and 21+3 (6-11% edge). They are bad—but nowhere near 90.6% bad.
No. Not once. Not for fun. Not "just to see." The math is so bad that even one bet is throwing money away.
Stick to the main game. Play basic strategy. Keep your bankroll where the house edge is 0.5%, not 90.6%.
No. The game is fair. The trap is not the game—it is the side bet. The casino doesn't need to rig anything when the math already does the work.
Ready to Play Smart Blackjack?
With a 0.5% house edge, Infinite Blackjack is one of the fairest games in any casino.