Player Loses $5 Blackjack Hand to Dealer’s 21, Still Wins $190k

One California casino-goer is walking away $190,254 richer after losing a hand of blackjack. Yes, you read that right.

The anonymous player at Jamul Casino hit the six-figure payday by placing a $5 Super 4 Progressive side bet – a wager that only activates when the dealer has a blackjack.

While the player’s hand, J♦Q♦, totaled 20 and couldn’t beat the dealer’s natural blackjack K♦A♦, the loss triggered an unbelievable win thanks to the casino’s Super 4 side bet bonus.

That’s because the combination of the player’s suited face cards and the dealer’s suited blackjack formed a Diamond Royal Flush, unlocking the game’s top progressive prize and landing a whopping $190,254.35 payday.

For context, a standard Royal Flush on the Super 4 bet typically pays out around $21,000, but the all-diamond combo is the jackpot. Lower scores (though we certainly wouldn’t complain) include Three of a Kind for around $900 all the way down to a Dealer Ace Up (no Blackjack), which pays a more modest $10.

Jamul Casino, which has over 1,700 slot machines and dozens of table games, may be more familiar to poker fans after making a triumphant return as a stop on this year’s RunGood Poker Series. In February, Kenneth Hirose emerged victorious at the Jamul Main Event, outlasting 407 players to win $42,875.

While we don’t know the exact size of the main hand bet, it’s hard to imagine there’s ever been a more profitable losing bet in a casino.

What Are Blackjack Side Bets?

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games for good reason, as it offers some of the best odds on the floor. Skilled players can face a house edge as low as 0.5%, and even casual players rarely see it rise above 2%. That makes blackjack a popular choice for those looking to make their bankroll last.

But while the game is known for its player-friendly odds (albeit still in the house’s favor), it’s also a grind. Most wins pay even money, with a natural blackjack typically returning 3:2 or, increasingly, 6:5 in modern casinos. Big payouts are rare, and after you’ve tipped the dealer and paid for drinks, you can be leaking chips.

That’s where side bets come in.

Blackjack side bets give players the chance to chase much longer odds (and much larger payouts), often reaching up to 5,000:1, or around 38,000:1 in this case.

How does this work in practice? Check out our video explainer:

These optional wagers let you bet on specific card combinations, dealer outcomes, or bonus events beyond the standard game.

Of course, there’s a catch. The house edge on side bets is much steeper, often exceeding 10%. So while they can even turn a losing hand into a massive win, they also come with a significantly higher risk.

Below, we’ve broken down some of the most common blackjack side bets and what they offer:

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