Amid a surge of new blackjack variations over the last two decades, Free Bet Blackjack has gained popularity in Vegas and certain online casinos. But what is Free Bet Blackjack and is it better than the regular 21?
Let’s explore the rules of the game, discuss the pros and cons, and find out whether Free Bet Blackjack odds make the game worth your time!
What Is Free Bet Blackjack?
Free Bet Blackjack is a relatively new blackjack game variation. It debuted in 2012 at the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas.
The “free bet” refers to doubling down or splitting pairs without risking any money. The same as traditional blackjack, players are dealt two face-up cards while the dealer will show one face-up card.
FREE BET: If the player’s two starting cards combine for a hard 9, 10, or 11, they can double down for free. Additionally, the house will cover splitting pairs aside from 10s.
To make up for the favorable odds for the players, though, all bets are a push if the dealer hits 22. Even with a 21, the hand is a push against a dealer’s 22. Now that you know the main concept behind Free Bet Blackjack, let’s break down the rules one by one.
Free Bet Blackjack Rules
Here are the most common Free Bet Blackjack rules you must be aware of before sitting down at the free bet blackjack tables. Note that the rules may vary depending on the casino and table.
1. No Blackjack Free Bet On Soft 9, 10, and 11
It’s essential to understand the difference between soft and hard blackjack hands. Soft hands include an ace (which counts as 1 or 11 point), while hard hands don’t. Most Free Bet Blackjack games will not allow you to receive a free bet on a soft 9, 10, and 11.
If the player has a soft hand, they are allowed to double down, but must use their own chips. The same rule applies to splitting 10s: players can split 10s, but they’ll have to pay to play.
2. Blackjacks Pay 3:2
In what is another favorable Free Bet Blackjack rule, generally, bets pay 3:2 for a blackjack. The majority of traditional blackjack games pay just 6:5, but Free Bet Blackjack offers a 3:2 payout on most tables.
3. Dealer Hits On Soft 17s
Despite the favorable 3:2 Free Bet Blackjack tables, dealers usually have to hit on soft 17s. While hitting on a soft 17 could result in the dealer busting, the odds favor the house when dealers must hit instead of having to stand.
With that in mind, always play Free Bet Blackjack tables where dealers must stand on soft 17. These games are not the norm, but are available in some states.
4. Free Double Down Bet After Split Allowed
Free Bet Blackjack players can double down on every single hand for free. If a player chooses to split their pairs, they can double down for each ensuing soft 9, 10, or 11 hands that are dealt.
The standard Free Bet Blackjack rule for re-splitting entitles players to re-split up to four hands.
5. No Surrendering
Advantage gamblers highly value tables with the surrender rule. Having the ability to surrender in difficult spots and get back half of the original stake can be a helpful strategy.
However, Free Bet Blackjack does not offer a surrender rule. Even if you are playing the best online blackjack, surrendering is not permitted in Free Bet Blackjack.
6. Six Decks and Continuous Shuffle Machine
The vast majority of Free Bet Blackjack games will use six decks and a continuous shuffle machine (CSM). Attempting to utilize card counting in a six-deck game with a CSM isn’t worth your time.
7. Free Bet Blackjack Odds
The house edge in Free Bet Blackjack can be as low as 0.28% if you find a version with favorable rules, but also be higher than 1.20% if most rules favor the house. Typically, you can expect the advantage of the casino with optimal strategy from the player to be in the 0.5-1% range, not far off traditional blackjack.
Free Bet Blackjack Variations
There are two common Free Bet Blackjack variations and side bets available on select tables. Let’s delve into both variations and tips for playing these Free Bet Blackjack games:
Pot of Gold
Pot of Gold Free Bet Blackjack includes an optional side bet that pays whenever a player uses a free bet. The more free bets a player accumulates per hand, the higher the payout.
Following the initial starting hand, more free bets can be collected by splitting cards. With re-splits allowed, players will have a chance to receive up to seven free bets for the jackpot at 1000-to-1 odds.
Pot of Gold Side Bet Pay Table:
| FREE BETS | POT OF GOLD PAYS |
|---|---|
| 7 | 1000:1 |
| 6 | 300:1 |
| 5 | 100:1 |
| 4 | 60:1 |
| 3 | 30:1 |
| 2 | 10:1 |
| 1 | 3:1 |
This is the most common pay table for the Pot of Gold wager. Under this structure, the Pot of Gold Free Bet Blackjack house edge is 5.77%.
That’s quite high, so we don’t recommend placing this side bet.
22 Push Side Bet
The 22 push side wager is a bonus bet in Free Bet Blackjack that wins on a dealer’s 22. Contrary to the general rule of all bets pushing on a 22, the 22 push side wager gives players a chance to win.
If a player makes the 22 push side bet, however, they can win a bonus payout on a dealer’s 22. The standard payout for a 22 push side bet win is 11:1 odds. Alternatively, some casinos offer a different pay structure.
22 Push Side Bet Pay Table:
| DEALER’S HAND | ODDS |
|---|---|
| 22 Same Suit | 50:1 |
| 22 Same Color | 20:1 |
| Other | 7:1 |
The probability of a dealer landing on 22 in a six-deck game is roughly 7.4%. Given the odds and probability, players do not have an edge playing the 22 push side bet.
This bonus wager should only be made for fun as a flier, not for optimal Free Bet Blackjack strategy.
Is Free Bet Blackjack Worth Playing?
Whether Free Bet Blackjack is worth playing lies in the house edge. If you can find a table with suitable rules (the dealer standing on soft 17, for example), you can get 0.5% or lower. That’s better than most regular blackjack tables.
It’s important to employ an optimal Free Bet Blackjack strategy and follow some helpful tips to get the best odds. We’ve compiled a list of the best Free Bet Blackjack tips to keep in mind:
Always play games with the best rules — 3:2, dealer stands on S17, free bet on soft hands
Split all free bet pairs except 5s— only split a pair of 5s if playing Pot of Gold bet
Never reject free double-down bets with 9, 10, or 11
Apart from that, basic blackjack strategies should be followed.
Is Free Bet Blackjack Worth Playing?
As a general rule, Free Bet Blackjack is worth playing over traditional 6:5 blackjack games. Nevertheless, traditional 3:2 blackjack, with a high edge of roughly 0.50%, is the best choice.
Play Free Bet Blackjack Online
If you want to try Free Bet Blackjack, playing online is arguably the easiest option. With more than 20 unique blackjack games, including Free Bet tables, the online platform at Wild Casino is our top recommendation.
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