Free Bet Blackjack

Free Bet Blackjack Game Overview 

The game objective is to achieve a better hand than the dealer without exceeding the total of 21.

It is possible to win free Double Down and Split bets in this game. 

Game Rules

Free Bet Blackjack is a live casino game, meaning you play against the dealer instead of other players. 

There is no limit to the number of players who can participate at any one time.

Eight standard 52-card decks are used to play the game.

After the betting time finishes, all players will be dealt one card face-up, with the dealer being dealt to last.

After this, each player will be dealt a second card face-up, while the dealer will receive a second card face-down.

The total of your hand will be shown on-screen.

Card Values 

Cards 2-10 are each worth face value. 

'Face cards', i.e. Jack, Queen and King, are worth 10 each. 

Aces can be one or 11, depending on which is more favourable in your hand.

Blackjack

Blackjack means having the best hand possible.

It is awarded when your first two cards total exactly 21.

Blackjack beats a hand of 21 resulting from a split pair.

Insurance

Insurance Bets are settled separately from your main bet, and minimize the risk of the dealer having Blackjack. 

This will work even if you have Blackjack yourself. 

This bet costs half your main bet and can be purchased only if the face-up card the dealer has is an Ace.

Once you buy Insurance, the dealer will check their cards to see if they have Blackjack.

If you buy Insurance, once purchased, the dealer will then check their cards to see if they have Blackjack.

If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the round will continue. 

If the dealer does have Blackjack but you don't, then the dealer wins.

If you and the dealer both have Blackjack, the game will end in a push (tie) and your bet will be returned.

Game Options

If neither your or the dealer have Blackjack with your first two cards, there are several options you can select for the chance to improve your hand.

• Hit - select hit to be dealt another card. There is no limit on how many times you can Hit, providing your hand does not exceed 21
• Stand - this tells the dealer that you are happy about your hand
• Double Down - if your first two cards do not equal 21, you can select Double Down to double your bet. You will only receive one more card thereafter, however. You cannot Double Down after splitting.
• Free Double - if the total of your first two cards equals nine, 10 or 11, you'll receive a Free Double. This will add a Free Bet to your original bet, and if you win the round, the value of the Free Bet will march your original bet. As a result, your original bet will be returned and you'll be paid accordingly. If there is a tie between you and the dealer, your original bet will be returned. If you lose the round, your original bet will be lost.
• Split - if your first two cards hold equal value, you can choose to Split them into separate hands. Each hand will require a separate bet that is equal to your original bet. You can only Split ones for each hand you are dealt.
• Free Split - this is offered if you possess a hand of pairs (except if it is a pair of 10s). Your original bet will be placed on the first hand (The right-hand side) and the Free Bet will be placed on the left hand side. If you win, the value of the Free Bet will match your original bet and you will be paid. If you lose, you will not lose your bet, but neither bet will be returned to you if you draw.

Outcomes

If your hand exceeds 21 you will 'bust' and your bet will be lost.

If your hand does not exceed 21, the other players will each take their turn before the dealer reveals their face-down card. 

The following rules apply:

• The dealer must Hit on a hand of 16 or less 
• The dealer must Stand on a soft 17 or more

If your final hand is closer to 21 than the dealers is, or the dealer busts on a number other than 22 (as outlined below), then you win.

If your hand is of the same value as the dealer, the game will be a push and your bet will be returned.

Dealer Busts with 22

If the value of dealer’s hand is 22, the round will end in a push and your bet will be returned.

If you dealer has 22 and you bust, the round will be lost.

If you have Blackjack, it is not possible for the dealer to bust on 22.

Six Card Charlie Rule

The Six Card Charlie rule allows you to win if you have a six-card hand that values at 21 or less. 

You can still win with this hand even if the dealer has Blackjack.

This rule does not apply, however, if the dealer has Blackjack after an Insurance offer.

Each Split hand will be evaluated individually.

Side Bets

There are four Side Bets available in this game: 

• Any Pair
• 21 + 3
• Hot 3
• Bust It

Side Bets can be combined with your main bet.

It is still possible to win a Side Bet if the main bet is lost.

Any Pair

With Any Pair, you can bet on the combination of your first two cards.

There are two types of Any Pair winning combinations:

• Pair - two cards of the same number in different suits, e.g. 5 of Diamonds and 5 of Clubs
• Suited Pair - two of the same card, e.g. two Ace of Spades

Any Pair Payouts

The payouts for Any Pair combinations are as follows:

• Pair - 25:1
• Suited Pair - 8:1

21+3

The 21+3 Side Bet allows you to bet that your initial hand combined with the dealer’s face-up card will form any of the following winning combinations:

• Suited Trips – suited Three of a Kind, e.g. three Ace of Clubs
• Straight Flush – same suit and in numerical sequence, e.g. eight, nine and 10 of Diamonds
• Three of a Kind – same value but different suits, e.g. any three non-matching fours
• Straight – in numerical sequence but different suits, e.g. five of Hearts, six of Spades and a seven of Diamonds
• Flush – non-sequential cards that are in the same suit, e.g. a three, eight and 10 of Hearts

 21+3 Payouts

• Suited Trips - 100:1
• Straight Flush - 40:1
• Three of a Kind - 30:1
• Straight - 10:1
• Flush - 5:1

 

Hot 3

The Hot 3 Side Bet allows you to  bet on the combination of your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card. 

With this bet, you are wagering that one of the possible combinations will appear:

• Total 19, any suit, for example: 8 of Clubs, 2 of Diamonds and 9 of Spades
• Total 20, for example: 8 of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds and 10 of Spades
• Total 21, suited, for example: 9 of Spades, 2 of Spades and 10 of Spades
• Total 21, unsuited, for example: 9 of Clubs, 8 of Spades and 4 of Diamonds
• 7-7-7, for example: 7 of Spades, 7 of Clubs and 7 of Hearts

Hot 3 Payouts

• Total 19 - 1:1
• Total 20 - 2:1
• Total 21 suited - 4:1
• Total 21 unsuited - 20:1
• 7-7-7 - 100:1

Bust It

This Side Bet bets wins if the total value of the dealer’s cards exceeds 21, causing them to bust.

If you place this bet and you have Blackjack, the game will end in a push (tie).

There are several possible combinations:

• Bust with three cards
• Bust with four cards
• Bust with five cards
• Bust with six cards
• Bust with seven cards
• Bust with eight or more cards

Bust It Payouts

• Bust with three cards - 1:1
• Bust with four cards - 2:1
• Bust with five cards - 9:1
• Bust with six cards - 50:1
• Bust with seven cards - 100:1
• Bust with eight or more cards - 250:1

Payouts

• Blackjack - 3:2
• Winning hand - 1:1
• If the dealer has Blackjack, Insurance will pay out 2:1

Return to Player

The optimal theoretical payout percentage is as follows:

Blackjack – 98.45% (based on the first hand in the shoe)

Any Pair Side Bet – 95.90%

21+3 Side Bet – 96.30%

Hot 3 Side Bet – 94.60%

Bust It Side Bet – 94.12%

The expected return to player is the amount we pay out to players relative to the amount of wagering on the game.

For example, if we take £100 of wagers we will, on average, pay out £98.45 of Blackjack wins, and so on across the various bets.