Play Free Bet Blackjack by Evolution Gaming

A Practical View

To give you a more accurate view of how this table plays, we tested Evolution Gaming’s Free Bet Blackjack, released in 2019. The game is hosted by a live dealer and uses the American Blackjack rule set, with the Free Bet mechanic added on top of the standard format.

What caught our attention was the colour of the game on the table, as it was a rich red, which distinguishes it from the usual green tones that are inherent in Evolution.

As for the atmosphere, there is little background noise. There is no looping sound, only the voice of the dealer and the cards.

Free Bet Blackjack is also different from Evolution’s standard blackjack tables because of its staking format. It is available in two main versions: an unlimited table, where players bet behind a shared hand, and a seven-seat table, where up to seven players can take individual seats.

But let’s move on from that superficial first impression to a detailed look at the table’s features. After all, that’s what sets this game apart from the rest.

Key Game Elements

Free Bet Blackjack is very similar to classic blackjack but with one twist: free doubling and splitting on qualifying hands. This means you can double or split your bet without putting any extra money on the table. The trade-off is a slightly lower RTP and a dealer stake on 22. If the dealer rolls exactly 22, your bet is returned instead of being paid out.

Here’s what the game looks like under the hood.

Gameplay

The casino game has a simple round structure. You place a bet, then you are dealt two cards, and then you choose to “hit”, “stand”, “double” or “split” depending on your hand. Free doubles and splits are automatically marked when your hand qualifies, so there is no need to search for them at all.

Free Bet Blackjack Table

I found the controls to be quite responsive, with splits and doubles registering instantly, and the auto-confirmation works quickly as expected. With a minimum stake of £1, this is a solid starting point if you’re new to live blackjack, although I’d advise you to be aware of the lower RTP before increasing your stakes.

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Bet Types

When it comes to betting, Free Bet Blackjack UK offers four additional side bet options in addition to your main stake. Side stakes are available for purchase at the start of each round. However, they can only be placed until the dealer signals that betting is to stop.

• Any Pair: Pays out if your first two cards share the same rank. Suited pairs pay 25:1; mixed pairs pay 8:1.
• 21+3: Combines your two cards with the dealer’s face-up card to form a three-card poker hand. Suited trips pay 100:1, a straight flush pays 40:1, three of a kind pays 30:1, a straight pays 10:1, and a flush pays 5:1.
• Hot 3: Based on the total of your two cards and the dealer’s up card. Three sevens pay 100:1, a suited 21 pays 20:1, an unsuited 21 pays 4:1, a total of 20 pays 2:1, and a total of 19 pays 1:1.
• Bust It: Pays out if the dealer busts, with bigger payouts the more cards the dealer uses to bust. A bust on eight or more cards pays 250:1, seven cards pays 100:1, six cards pays 50:1, five cards pays 9:1, four cards pays 2:1, and three cards pays 1:1.

For me, Bust It is one of the most interesting of the four side bets. After all, playing Bust It provides some coverage against the dealer hitting 22 (which funds your free bet). I wouldn’t recommend making side bets on every hand, given their low RTP. Although I think that selectively playing BUST It makes more sense in this version than in a standard blackjack game.

Jordan Conroy Editor

Features

Free Bet Blackjack limits its selection of special features. There are no blackjack bonuses or multipliers. The only additional benefits are the two types of built-in Free Bet features and the Six Card Charlie rule.

• Free Double Down: When your opening two cards total 9, 10, or 11, you can double your stake at no extra cost. If you win, the doubled amount is paid in full. This applies to the initial hand only, not after a split.
• Free Split: Any pair except 10-value cards (10, J, Q, K) can be split for free, turning one hand into two without an additional stake. Each new hand is then played independently. Splitting aces gives each hand one card.
• Six Card Charlie: If your hand reaches six cards without busting, you win regardless of the dealer’s hand, except against a dealer blackjack.
• Dealer Push on 22: If the dealer busts with exactly 22, your hand is pushed, not paid. This is the rule that funds the free stakes, and it has a meaningful impact on the overall RTP.

I think the Free Double and Free Split rules are useful if you hesitate on those choices, but they are not a gift. The dealer’s 22 push rule is the price, so a Free Bet Blackjack strategy chart still matters more than clicking every option by habit.

Jordan Conroy Editor

The table below explains how to play Free Bet Blackjack by covering every possible outcome, from the main hand to all four side bets, so you know exactly what each result pays before you sit down.

Real Feedback

We tested Free Bet Blackjack ourselves and focused on how the side bets fit into each round and how the live table compares with RNG blackjack.

The table stayed readable while I checked the main stake, side-bet boxes, and action buttons. I could see how to play each round without having to hunt for Hit, Stand, Double, or Split. The Free Double prompt on a hard 10 was easy to spot, but the dealer’s 22 push rule kept me from treating it as a certain gain. Compared with RNG blackjack, the live dealer pace felt more measured, though I would still place side bets early because the timer can close quickly.

Jordan Conroy Editor

Our Verdict

After playing Free Blackjack with a free bet, we can say that this is a really well-built game. Here, the free splits and doubles really give you a real advantage. Playing with two different formats allows you to choose your own style of play, and with a minimum stake of £1, it’s very easy to get started. The dealer keeps betting when it gets 22, and the RTP is 98.45%, so we recommend checking everything before playing. If you want to play Free Blackjack with a free bet online, Evolution Gaming has the exclusive rights to this format.

The strongest and weakest parts are listed below:

• Pros:
• Free doubles on 9, 10, or 11
• Free splits on all pairs except 10-value cards
• Bust It offsets the push on 22
• Infinite and Seven-Seat formats
• £1 minimum bet

• Cons:
• 98.45% RTP is lower than some blackjack games
• A dealer push on 22 can cost a winning hand