Bust Bonus Blackjack Calculator: Betting on Dealer Busts

Bust Bonus is a side bet where you win when the dealer busts—and specific bust combinations pay more. Triple 8s busting (8-8-8 = 24) is often the jackpot. Our calculator reveals the probabilities and house edge of this dealer-focused bet.

What Is Bust Bonus?

Bust Bonus is a blackjack side bet where you wager that the dealer will bust (exceed 21). Different bust totals and card combinations pay different amounts, with specific hands like 8-8-8 paying premium payouts. Your hand doesn't matter for this bet.

Quick Answer: Bust Bonus = bet on dealer busting. Any bust: 2:1 base. Special busts pay more: 7-7-7 (100:1), 8-8-8 (50:1), 6-6-6 (20:1). Dealer busts ~28%. House edge: 4-8% depending on pay table. Your hand irrelevant. Pure dealer-focused bet.

How to Use Our Calculator

Use the Bust Bonus Calculator →

Calculate dealer bust probabilities and payouts.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Dealer Upcard: Starting card

2. View Bust Probability: Dealer bust odds

3. Check Pay Table: Your casino's structure

4. Calculate EV: Expected value

5. See Special Bust Odds: Premium payouts

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Dealer Upcard	Starting card	6
Bust Probability	Dealer exceeds 21	42%
Base Bust Pay	Standard	2:1
8-8-8 Probability	Triple 8s bust	0.03%
8-8-8 Payout	Jackpot	50:1
House Edge	True cost	5.1%

Payout Structure

Standard Pay Table

Bust Bonus payouts:

Any bust: 2:1 (base payout)
3-card bust: 2:1
4-card bust: 3:1
5-card bust: 5:1
6-card bust: 15:1
7+ card bust: 50:1

Special combinations:
8-8-8 bust: 50:1
7-7-7 bust: 100:1
6-6-6 bust: 20:1

Suited Variations

Some casinos add:

Suited 8-8-8: 100:1
Suited 7-7-7: 200:1

Higher variance
Rarer payouts

Dealer Bust Probabilities

By Upcard

Dealer bust rates by upcard:

Ace: 11.7%
2: 35.3%
3: 37.6%
4: 40.3%
5: 42.9%
6: 42.1%
7: 26.0%
8: 23.9%
9: 23.3%
10/Face: 21.4%

5 and 6 are bust-prone
Ace rarely busts

Overall Bust Rate

Dealer busts overall:

About 28% of hands
Varies by rules (H17 vs S17)

But most busts are common types
Special combos very rare

Special Combination Odds

Rare bust hands:

8-8-8: ~0.03%
7-7-7: ~0.02%
6-6-6: ~0.01%

These are jackpots
Extremely rare
Don't count on them

House Edge Analysis

Typical Edge

Bust Bonus house edge:

Standard table: 4-6%
Tight table: 7-8%
Liberal table: 3-4%

Varies by:
Pay table structure
Special combo payouts
Multi-card bust bonuses

Edge Comparison

vs Other side bets:

Bust Bonus: 4-8%
Perfect Pairs: 2-4%
21+3: 3-8%
Lucky Ladies: 17-25%

Middle of the pack
Acceptable for entertainment

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Standard Bust

Basic win:

Side bet: $5
Dealer upcard: 6
Dealer draws: 6-10-8 = 24 (bust!)

Result: 3-CARD BUST

Payout: $5 × 2 = $10

Standard bust payout
About 28% of hands dealer busts

Example 2: Multi-Card Bust

Better payout:

Side bet: $5
Dealer draws: 4-3-4-5-6 = 22 (bust!)

Result: 5-CARD BUST

Payout: $5 × 5 = $25

Less common
Better payout
~5% of busts

Example 3: Jackpot Hit

8-8-8 bust:

Side bet: $5
Dealer draws: 8-8-8 = 24 (bust!)

Result: 8-8-8 BUST BONUS!

Payout: $5 × 50 = $250

~0.03% of hands
Rare jackpot moment

Example 4: Dealer Makes Hand

Typical loss:

Side bet: $5
Dealer upcard: 5
Dealer draws: 5-10-6 = 21

Result: DEALER MAKES 21 (no bust)

Lose: $5

~72% of hands
Dealer doesn't bust

Strategy Considerations

Best Upcards to Bet

If choosing when to bet:

5 upcard: 42.9% bust rate
6 upcard: 42.1% bust rate
4 upcard: 40.3% bust rate

These are most promising
But still negative EV
Don't change the math

Card Counting Application

When busts more likely:

Low cards remaining = more busts
Dealer must hit weak hands
Drawing more likely

But counting for bust bonus:
Minimal edge gained
Focus on main game

Your Hand Irrelevant

Key understanding:

Bust bonus about dealer
Your cards don't matter
Win regardless of your outcome

Could bust yourself
Still win bust bonus if dealer busts
Separate bet entirely

Common Mistakes

1. Betting Every Hand

Mistake: Bust bonus every time Problem: 72% loss rate on most Fix: Selective or never

2. Chasing Special Busts

Mistake: Playing for 8-8-8 Problem: 0.03% = almost never Fix: Accept as bonus if happens

3. Large Side Bets

Mistake: Matching main bet Problem: 4-8% edge compounds Fix: Small entertainment bets

4. Expecting Upcard 5/6 Wins

Mistake: "Dealer will definitely bust" Problem: Still only 42% chance Fix: 58% dealer makes hand

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does dealer bust?

About 28% overall. Ranges from 11.7% (dealer ace) to 42.9% (dealer 5). Most hands dealer makes 17+.

Does my hand affect bust bonus?

No. Bust bonus is purely about dealer's outcome. You could bust yourself and still win the bust bonus.

What's the best upcard to bet on?

Dealer 5 (42.9% bust) and 6 (42.1%) are highest. But math is still negative EV due to pay structure.

How rare is 8-8-8?

About 0.03% of hands, or roughly 1 in 3,300. Very rare—don't play expecting it.

Is bust bonus better than insurance?

Yes. 4-8% edge vs 5.9% for insurance. Both are negative EV but bust bonus is slightly less terrible.

Can I count cards for bust bonus?

Possible but impractical. Edge gained is small. Better to count for main game.

Pro Tips

• ~28% dealer busts: Expect 72% losses

• 5 and 6 upcards: Highest bust rates

• Special combos rare: Don't chase

• 4-8% house edge: Moderate side bet

• Your hand irrelevant: Dealer-focused

Related Calculators

• Blackjack Odds Calculator - Main game
• Dealer Probability Calculator - Dealer outcomes
• Perfect Pairs Calculator - Another side bet
• House Edge Calculator - Compare games
• Expected Value Calculator - Bet analysis

Conclusion

Bust Bonus lets you root for dealer busts with special payouts for combinations like 8-8-8. Our calculator reveals the ~28% overall bust rate, why dealer 5/6 are most promising, and how the 4-8% house edge compares to other side bets.

Calculate Bust Bonus Odds Now →

Dealer 5 busts 42.9% of the time, but 8-8-8 happens only 0.03% of hands. Our calculator shows the real probabilities behind this dealer-focused side bet.