Forget the main game — in Side Bet City, every bet is a side bet. Win up to 200:1 on poker-style card combos.
Side Bet City Malaysia is one of the most original live casino games available at Maxim88 Casino Malaysia, and it breaks every convention you might expect from a card game. Created by Evolution Gaming, Side Bet City removes the concept of a main game entirely — there is no blackjack hand to beat, no baccarat dragon to wager on, and no roulette wheel to spin. Instead, the entire game is built around poker-style card combinations dealt across three separate bet levels: a 3-card hand, a 5-card hand, and a 7-card hand. Malaysian players who enjoy poker hand rankings and high-variance big-win opportunities will find Side Bet City a refreshing departure from the usual live casino table game format. With payouts reaching 200:1 for a Royal Flush, this game delivers genuine jackpot-level excitement with the transparency of a live dealer format.
Side Bet City is a live card game developed exclusively by Evolution Gaming, launched in 2019 as part of their expanding portfolio of innovative live dealer titles. The concept is elegantly simple: a live dealer draws seven cards from a standard 52-card deck, and players bet on whether specific sets of those cards — the first three, the first five, or all seven — will form winning poker-style combinations. The game removes the blackjack main bet entirely; all money wagered goes directly onto the side bets, which is where the name comes from.
The three betting positions — 3 Cards, 5 Cards, and 7 Cards — each have their own paytable based on standard poker hand rankings adapted for the respective hand size. The 3-card hand uses Three Card Poker rankings (Straight Flush, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Pair), while the 5-card and 7-card hands use standard five-card poker rankings. A fourth betting option, the Fold bet, pays a consolation prize when none of the three hands produce any winning combination, giving players a small return on a completely blank round.
The game takes place in a sleek, modern studio with a single dealer and a large communal table. The pace is brisk — each round lasts roughly 30 seconds — and the atmosphere is designed to feel like a high-energy card room rather than a traditional casino floor. Side Bet City is available to all live casino game players at Maxim88 through the Evolution Gaming section of the lobby, alongside companion titles like Lightning Roulette and One Blackjack.
Playing Side Bet City is intuitive once you understand the three betting positions. Here is the complete step-by-step process:
Side Bet City is a high-variance game by design, but understanding the structure helps you manage your expectations and betting approach effectively.
Each of the three betting positions carries a different house edge. The 3-card bet has a house edge of approximately 3.3%, the 5-card bet around 2.7%, and the 7-card bet approximately 6.4%. The Fold bet, which pays when no hand wins, has a house edge of around 6.8%. The 5-card bet offers the best theoretical return to player (RTP) of approximately 97.3%, making it the most mathematically efficient wagering position. For players focused on longevity and value, concentrating stakes on the 5-card position is the most rational approach.
The Fold bet is tempting as a hedge — betting that nothing will hit feels like insurance. However, its higher house edge means it will drain your bankroll faster than the main positions over the long run. Consider using the Fold bet as an occasional low-stake wager during sessions rather than a regular part of your betting pattern. It is primarily an entertainment feature that adds an element of excitement on otherwise blank rounds.
Side Bet City can produce long losing streaks because high-ranking poker hands are statistically infrequent. A session on the 3-card position might go 15–20 rounds without hitting anything above a pair. Flat betting — wagering the same amount each round — protects your bankroll during these dry spells and keeps you in the game long enough to benefit when the big hands do arrive. Avoid the temptation to double up after consecutive losses, as the game's variance can sustain losing runs longer than a Martingale budget allows.
Side Bet City is an exclusive Evolution Gaming title and is only available through their live dealer platform at Maxim88.
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Side Bet City is a unique live casino game by Evolution Gaming where players bet on whether 3-card, 5-card, or 7-card poker hands will contain winning combinations. There is no main blackjack hand — only side bets, making it a pure card combination wagering experience.
Side Bet City pays up to 200:1 for a Royal Flush on the 7-card hand. The 3-card hand pays up to 40:1 for a Mini Royal (suited A-K-Q). Standard winning hands on each bet level range from even money to these top prizes.
No. Side Bet City has no main game or primary bet. All wagering is done on the three side bet spots: 3 Cards, 5 Cards, and 7 Cards. You can bet on one, two, or all three simultaneously.
The Fold bet pays 0.5:1 (half your stake back) if none of the three hands produce a winning combination. It acts as a small consolation payout on losing rounds and pays when all three card sets contain no poker hand of value.
Side Bet City is exclusively developed and operated by Evolution Gaming. At Maxim88, it is available through the Evolution Gaming live casino lobby alongside their other innovative titles like Lightning Roulette and Crazy Time.
Side Bet City Malaysia is a genuinely one-of-a-kind live casino game that offers Malaysian players an exciting departure from conventional table games. With no main bet to worry about, freely combinable betting positions, and payouts stretching to 200:1, it packs real entertainment value into a fast-paced format. Evolution Gaming's polished live studio presentation brings the card room atmosphere to your screen, and Maxim88's platform ensures MYR-friendly access at any time. If you enjoy poker hand rankings and the thrill of big combination wins, Side Bet City deserves a place in your live casino rotation.
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