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is this a problem that happens to some people or is it just me experiencing this

Not sure why it's not working for you but it works fine for me.
If you are accessing the website from your mobile then the sidebet tab will appear for a moment then you will be redirected to the game. Maybe you didn't notice it.
You can switch to the desktop version so the game won't be open in full screen then you can place your side bets.
Isn't slots a bit risky to play from a mobile device? It seems to me that it is somewhat risky because very good phone resources are needed so that the bets do not fail. If I feel like playing a slot machine, I would take the necessary and safe requirements, such as going to a computer and being able to play from there, because I know that I'm not going to fail, and I'm not very fond of playing slots because I feel that I lose everything I bet or that I don't know how to play very well, and I don't have any ideal as the players do to play if everything is given to the pure good luck to the player, because what strategy can be used.