FAQ
Blackjack
Game Objective
Free Bet Blackjack is a variation of our Blackjack game offering selected free ‘Double Down’ and ‘Split’ bets. The objective of Free Bet Blackjack is to achieve a higher card count than the dealer, but without going over 21. The best hand is Blackjack – when the sum of the values of the first two cards dealt is exactly 21.
You compete only against the dealer, not against other players.
○ Played with eight decks.
○ Dealer always stands on 17.
○ Double Down on any two initial cards.
○ Free Split on all pairs except 10, J, Q, K.
○ Free Double Down on your two-card hard 9, 10 and 11 totals.
○ Split initial cards of equal value.
○ Only one Split per hand.
○ Single card dealt to each Split Ace.
○ No Double Down after Split.
○ Six Card Charlie: you win if you have six cards with a value of 21 or less.
○ Insurance offered when dealer shows an Ace.
○ Blackjack pays 3 to 2 and beats a score of 21.
○ Insurance pays 2 to 1.
○ Your bet returned when hands are of equal value.
○ Your bet returned when dealer busts with a score of 22.
The game is hosted by a dealer and allows an unlimited number of players to play in each game round.
The game is played with eight standard 52-card decks. Card values in Blackjack are as follows:
Cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value.
Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) are each worth 10.
Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever is more favourable to the hand. Note that a soft hand includes an Ace worth 11.
After the betting time has expired, the dealer deals one card face up to all players, ending with the dealer.
The dealer then deals a second card face up to all players, but the dealer's second card is dealt face down.
The value of your initial hand is displayed next to your cards.
Blackjack
If the value of your original two-card hand is exactly 21, you have Blackjack!
Blackjack is only possible using the two initial cards. A hand of 21 resulting from a split pair is not considered a Blackjack.
Therefore, Blackjack beats any hand of 21 resulting from a split pair.
Insurance
If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you are given the option to purchase insurance to offset the risk that the dealer has Blackjack – even when you have Blackjack yourself.
The amount of insurance bet is equal to one half of your main bet, and the insurance bet is settled separately from the bet on your hand. The dealer then peeks at the value of his/her downcard to check for Blackjack.
If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the round continues. If the dealer has Blackjack, but you do not, the game is over and the dealer’s hand wins.
If you and the dealer both have Blackjack, the game ends in a push and your bet is returned. Note that when the dealer’s upcard is a 10 or face card, you will not be given the option to purchase insurance, and the dealer will not peek at his downcard to check for Blackjack.
Double Down, Hit or Stand
If the dealer does not have Blackjack upon checking his/her two initial cards, players are given the chance to improve the values of their hands in turn, by the dealer offering to deal further cards to players' hands.
If the value of your initial hand is not 21, you can decide to Double Down. In this case, you will double your bet and only one additional card will be dealt to your hand.
If your hard total is 9, 10 or 11, you get a “Free Double”. If you choose to use the “Free Double”, a “Free Bet” will be added to your original bet. If you win the game round, the value of the “Free Bet” will be matched to your original bet.
You will be paid accordingly and only your original bet will be returned. If you lose the game, you lose only your original bet. If the game ends in a tie, only your original bet will be returned.
Alternatively, you can decide to Hit to be dealt an additional card to add to the value of your hand. You can Hit more than once to receive additional cards before you decide to Stand once you are satisfied with the value of your hand.
Please note that the player will not be offered a decision option when his/her soft hand score equals 21, as this is the best possible hand.
Split
If your initial hand is a pair of cards of equal value, you can decide to Split the pair to make two separate hands, each with a separate bet.
You will be offered a “Free Split” on your hand of pairs, except for pairs of 10s, Jacks, Queens or Kings. Your original bet will be placed for the first hand (on the right side of table) and the “Free Bet” placed for your second hand (on the left side of table).
If you win the game round, the value of the “Free Bet” will be matched to your original bet and you will be paid accordingly. No bet will be returned for the second hand.
If you lose on your hand with the “Free Bet”, you do not lose your bet. No bet will be returned if the game ends in a tie.
If you decide to split your hand of 10s, Jacks, Queens or Kings, the bet for your second hand will be equal to your main bet.
Outcome
If the sum of your hand exceeds 21, you bust and lose your bet on that hand.
When all players have taken their turns, the dealer reveals the value of his/her downcard. The dealer must Hit on a hand of 16 or less and must Stand on a hand of soft 17 or more. (Remember that a 'soft hand' includes an Ace worth 11.)
You win when the value of your final hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand or when the dealer busts, except when the dealer busts with a score of 22.
If the value of your hand is the same as the dealer’s, the game round ends in a push and your bet is returned.
Dealer busts with 22
If the dealer’s hand consists of cards with a total value of 22, then your bet is returned, and game round ends in a push, except if the player busts.
In this case, the game does not end in a tie and the player loses.
If the player has Blackjack, the game ends without the possibility for the dealer to bust on 22.
Six Card Charlie rule
The Six Card Charlie rule lets you win automatically if your hand consists of six cards with a total card value of 21 or less, even if the dealer has Blackjack.
In case of a Split hand, each hand is evaluated individually. If the dealer has Blackjack after insurance offer, the Six Card Charlie is not available, regardless of the player’s result.
Side Bets
This Blackjack game also includes optional side bets – Any Pair, 21+3, Hot 3 and Bust It.
You may place side bets in combination with your main Blackjack bet.
You have the chance to win on any side bet whether you later win or lose on your Blackjack bet.
Any Pair
The Any Pair side bet allows you to bet on the combination of the two first cards of your hand.
The winning combination in this case is any two cards of the same value: e.g. two Queens, two Aces, two 10s, etc.
There are two types of combinations for the Any Pair side bet, each with a different payout:
○ Pair, e.g. 10 of Clubs and 10 of Hearts.
○ Suited Pair, e.g. 2x Aces of Spades.
21+3
The 21+3 side bet gives you the chance to win if your first two cards plus the dealer’s upcard include any of the following winning combinations (similar to those in poker), each with a different payout:
○ Suited Trips – suited Three of a Kind, e.g. 3x Queens of Hearts
○ Straight Flush – in numerical sequence and same suit, e.g. 10, Jack and Queen of Diamonds.
○ Three of a Kind – same value but different suits, e.g. any three non-matching Kings.
○ Straight – in numerical sequence but different suits, e.g. 2 of Spades + 3 of Clubs + 4 of Hearts.
○ Flush – non-sequential cards in the same suit, e.g. 2, 6 and 10 of Clubs.
Hot 3
The Hot 3 side bet allows you to bet on the combination of three cards, consisting of your two first cards and the dealer’s upcard.
There are several combinations for the Hot 3 side bet, each with a different payout:
○ Total 19, for example: 8 of Hearts, 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 Diamonds, 2 of Diamonds and 10 of Diamonds.
○ Total 21, unsuited, for example: 9 of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds and 10 of Spades.
○ 7-7-7, for example: 7 of Hearts, 7 of Clubs and 7 of Diamonds.
Bust It
The Bust It side bet allows you to bet that the total value of the dealer’s cards will exceed 21, i.e. he/she will bust.
The Bust It side bet is pushed if the player has Blackjack.
There are several combinations for the Bust It side bet, each with a different payout:
○ Bust with 3 cards.
○ Bust with 4 cards.
○ Bust with 5 cards.
○ Bust with 6 cards.
○ Bust with 7 cards.
○ Bust with 8 or more cards.
Payouts
○ Blackjack pays 3:2.
○ Winning hand pays 1:1.
○ If the dealer has Blackjack, insurance pays 2:1.
Your payout depends on the type of bet placed.
