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Free Bet Blackjack - What Is It & Is It Worth It?

Blackjack has many different variations, which can certainly make the game entertaining. If you want to learn more about Free Bet Blackjack, you have come to the right place! 

Continue reading this Wizard Slots blog post to learn more about Free Bet Blackjack and whether it is worth it.

What Is Free Bet Blackjack? 

Free Bet Blackjack is a variant of the casino game blackjack. There are many variations of blackjack with different twists, and Free Bet Blackjack is one of them. The difference in Free Bet Blackjack is that the casino pays the player to split and or double down on particular hands. So basically, Free Bet Blackjack offers free splits and free double downs on certain hands.

Free Bet Blackjack VS Normal Blackjack 

Generally, if you want to double down in classic blackjack, you have to make an additional wager. However, in Free Bet Blackjack, you can signal to the dealer, letting them know you want to double down, and they will put down a plastic chip. 

Double down is a free bet that acts as your second wager. Typically, the only situation where you can't use a free bet when doubling down in Free Bet Blackjack is if you have a hand containing an ace.

Similarly, if you play Free Bet Blackjack and choose to split, you can signal this to the dealer. The dealer will then place the free bet chip on the second hand of the split. You can usually use free splits in Free Bet Blackjack on all pairs, bar ten-value cards.

The main catch and another difference of playing Free Bet Blackjack is that all the bets that are left standing will push if the dealer gets a 22. However, these rules may change depending on the casino or slot site, so be sure to check.

Is It Worth Playing Free Bet Blackjack? 

The answer to this question depends on the player. Playing Free Bet Blackjack can be worth it if you're looking for a new and entertaining variation of blackjack to play. There are many pros to playing Free Bet Blackjack, but there are a few cons as well.

If players could use free splits and free doubles in standard blackjack, it is believed that they would have an advantage of around 6%. Obviously, casinos don't want players to have that significant advantage, so there is a "catch" when playing Free Bet Blackjack.

The "catch" is that if a dealer gets a bust hand of 22, this hand pushes or ties all unbusted players' hands. This can also be called a 'Push 22'.

Playing Free Bet Blackjack can be relatively easy if you know the standard blackjack rules and strategy. As Free Bet Blackjack and standard blackjack are similar, Free Bet Blackjack has the potential to be quite easy for players to pick up and learn. There are only a few differences, including free splits, free double downs, and pushing if the dealer gets 22.

How To Play Free Bet Blackjack 

The aim of Free Bet Blackjack is to try and get a better hand than the dealer without getting a total over 21. Therefore, the best hand you can potentially get in blackjack, including Free Bet Blackjack, is receiving 2 cards in your first hand that value exactly 21, also known as a 'natural blackjack'. 

While classic blackjack and Free Bet Blackjack have many similarities, there are a few different rules to follow. Let's go through some of them together:

  • Free Bet Blackjack can use between 1-8 standard 52-card decks
  • The dealer hits soft 17s
  • Players can free double down on any 2 cards that are dealt at the start that total 9, 10 or 11
  • Players can free split on all pairs except aces
  • Only 1 split per hand is allowed
  • The dealer pushes on 22

It's important to note that these rules may change depending on the casino. But you can always check before you start playing.