How to Play Free Bet Blackjack
If you're something of an experienced player when it comes to playing online blackjack, you'll already be aware of the ever-growing list of blackjack variants to you can play online, including Free Bet Blackjack.
In this guide, we'll shine a spotlight on Free Bet Blackjack, in particular, why you should investigate this version of blackjack next time you play.
There is one big twist to Free Bet Blackjack that appeals greatly to newcomers to the card game and those with tight playing bankrolls, which we'll go into in more detail shortly.
Read on to find out:
What is Free Bet Blackjack?
One of the main reasons why Free Bet Blackjack was designed was to create a blackjack variant that offered players a more competitive option with a reduced house edge.
Free Bet Blackjack was first unveiled back in 2012 at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas to much fanfare, deriving from a concept designed by a casino game inventor named Geoff Hall.
In fact, so popular has it been that the vast majority of top online casino sites, including most of our recommended casinos, now offer Free Bet Blackjack to their players.
Free Bet Blackjack is still played with a standard 52-card deck of cards, and doesn't use any jokers or wild cards.
Typically, live casinos will use a six-deck shoe or a single deck for their Free Bet Blackjack, with the latter offering improved payouts for blackjack.
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Play NowHow Does Free Bet Blackjack Differ to classic Blackjack?
The biggest difference between classic Blackjack and Free Bet Blackjack is that Free Bet Blackjack allows players to split or double down without having to commit more of their own chips.
Instead, the dealer provides players with a free bet chip, allowing you to increase your winnings on split hands or doubled-down hands for no additional risk.
The Basic Rules of Free Bet Blackjack
The basic rules of Free Bet Blackjack are based largely on classic blackjack. So let's recap:
- The dealer hits soft 17's, while there is no surrender permitted.
- Players can also re-split pairs and play up to four hands in a single round.
The two biggest changes in Free Bet Blackjack are:
- Receive “free doubles” on two-card hands valued nine to 11. Players receive a “free bet” chip that allows them to receive an extra hand. If the player wins, they get back their original wager, plus winnings equivalent to double their initial wager.
- Players can get “free splits” on all pairs except pairs of tens. A “free bet” chip is placed on the new second hand. If a player wins the second hand, they'll receive a winning chip equal to the original wager, effectively doubling your winnings if you win the first hand too.
Note: Bear in mind that the sting in the tail is that dealers can push on 22. So, if you have a hand that's 21 or less and the dealer has 22, the hand is a push, which can frustrate you at times.
A push in blackjack means that both player and dealer have hands of equal value.
Usually, when there is a push, the game is essentially a tie, and.neither the player nor the dealer wins or loses, and the players bet is returned.
Tips and Strategies for Free Bet Blackjack
The biggest change in strategy when playing Free Bet Blackjack is that you can double down for free on two-card hands worth nine, ten, and 11. That's against any dealer up-card.
So when looking to play with a Free Bet Strategy you should:
- Look to split your pairs for free.
- Except for fours when the dealer has a five or six up-card, fives when there's a free double on offer, and tens.
- When you're playing soft hands, you should only look to double down against a dealer's six up-card with soft 16, 17, and 18.
Nevertheless, if you take a free split and have soft 16 up to soft 20, you should pay to double down against a dealer's six up-card.
It's also a good idea to double down following a free slit against a dealer's five up-card, particularly when you have soft 17 through to soft 19.
As with most online blackjack games (or playing in a live casino), the key is to get lucky with your double downs and splits, and hope the dealer busts.
The beauty of Free Bet Blackjack is that you risk much less, and stand to lose less of your own money if fortune isn't on your side.
Where to Play Free Bet Blackjack
With the growing popularity of different blackjack variants, many online casinos offer Free Bet blackjack alongside other versions. Often you'll find both a purely online version and a live dealer blackjack game, so think carefully about which version of Free Bet Blackjack you want to play, based on your experience and understanding of the rules of Free Bet Blackjack.
Play Free Bet Blackjack at Real Money Casinos - US
Currently playing real money online blackjack is only available to residents in Pennysylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia.
For players with access to legal online casino games, we'd suggest looking to FanDuel Casino for a top-rated Free Bet Blackjack game, which you can play in their Live Casino section via either the casino website, or FanDuel app.
BetMGM Casino have an Infinite Free Bet Blackjack variant, a game developed by Evolution, offering unlimited seats to players, and automatic Free Bets on selected Double Down and Split bets.
Outside of the states offering legal online blackjack, many social casinos offer a free blackjack game, although we can't guarantee that you'll be able to find a specific Free Bet Blackjack game on these sites.
Play Free Bet Blackjack at Real Money Casinos - UK & Elsewhere
It's little surprise that most of the larger UK online casinos offer Free Bet Blackjack games to play online for real money. You have a great choice if playing from the UK or Ireland, but if we have to pick some standout casino sites, we'd highlight PokerStars Casino and 888casino.
Both these sites offer a live dealer version of Free Bet Blackjack, with the 888 version of Vegas Free Bet Blackjack very comparable to the online Free Bet Blackjack Game. On PokerStars Casino you can play a more straightforward version, albeit again this is available via their live casino games library. UK players should also check out Grosvenor Casino who has three versions of Free Bet Blackjack, including their own exclusive version.
888casino is also available in multiple locations across the world, so it's a good option for those playing outside of the US & UK.
Free Bet Blackjack FAQs
What is Free Bet Blackjack?
Free Bet Blackjack is a variation of blackjack where the player is given a free bet on certain hands. The most common free bet rules are:
Double Down After Split: If the player splits their first two cards and receives a 10 or an Ace, they can double down on their second hand for free.
Hit After Split: If the player splits their first two cards and receives a 10 or an Ace, they can hit their second hand for free.
Split Aces: The player can split Aces up to four times.
What is the house edge of Free Bet Blackjack?
The house edge of Free Bet Blackjack varies depending on the specific rules of the game. However, it is generally lower than the house edge of traditional blackjack. For example, a six-deck Free Bet Blackjack game with the above rules has a house edge of just 0.28%.
How should I play Free Bet Blackjack?
The basic strategy for Free Bet Blackjack is much the same as basic blackjack strategy. However, there are a few key differences:
- Always take advantage of the free bet opportunities. For example, always double down after splitting Aces if you're allowed to.
- Be careful about splitting pairs. Splitting pairs can be a good strategy in classic blackjack, but doesn't lead to an increased chance of winning in Free Bet Blackjack. This is because you can't double down or hit after splitting pairs in Free Bet Blackjack.
- Be aware of the insurance bet. The insurance bet is a side bet that pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack. Insurance bets are generally not recommended in traditional blackjack, and they are even more disadvantageous in Free Bet Blackjack.
Can I use a blackjack cheat sheet for Free Bet Blackjack?
Yes, you can use a blackjack cheat sheet for Free Bet Blackjack. However, as the basic strategy for Free Bet Blackjack differs from classic blackjack, not all cheat sheets will work correctly. Take a look and download our Free Blackjack Cheat Sheet.
Is Free Bet Blackjack a good game to play?
Yes, in our humble opinion, we think Free Bet Blackjack is a good game to play. It has a lower house edge than traditional blackjack, and it offers the player some free bet opportunities. However, as we've outlined in this guide, you should be aware of the differences between Free Bet Blackjack and the classic version of blackjack, such as the fact that the player cannot double down or hit after splitting pairs.
With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check that the offers we display are still available. Always read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.
This article was first published in August 2019. Last updated: October 27th, 2023.