Free Bet Blackjack live Table Game by evolution

Evolution is fairly considered the giant in the live online casino industry, and its real dealer blackjack collection is also a thing worth noting. Free Bet Blackjack is one of such products launched in 2018. It’s an Infinite Blackjack product, which means that an unlimited number of players can join the game simultaneously. Its main features that make this version different from others are Free Bets and the fact that the dealer’s 22 results in a push. In this review, you’ll learn how to play Free Bet Blackjack with a live dealer by Evolution, what strategies are suitable for different bankroll amounts, and what casinos are suitable for this game.

Free Bet Blackjack by Evolution: Basic rules

Unlike traditional blackjack real dealer games, Free Bet Blackjack rules have certain exceptions that make this type really unusual and interesting. The basic game objective is standard since you still need to get a blackjack combination to get paid 3:2 or get a more valuable hand than the dealer has yet not to exceed 21. Here, you’ll face an interesting fact since in your case of exceeding 21, you lose, and when it comes to the dealer’s 22, it’s a push. This quality may seem dishonest, but it compensates for free Double and Split bets. Here are the basic rules and parameters:

• When the value of your first two cards is 21, it’s Blackjack
• The game has Insurance at the dealer’s Ace with the 2:1 payout
• The game is played with eight decks
• The dealer always stands on 17
• Players can double on any two initial cards
• Free splits are available on all pairs (except for 10, J, Q, K)
• The free Double option is available on the two-card hard 9, 10, and 11 totals
• Gamblers can split initial cards of equal value (only one split per hand and only a single card dealt to each Split Ace)
• Split isn’t available after the Double option
• The Six Card Charlie rule applied (you win when you have six cards worth up to 21)
• When your and the dealer’s hands are equal, it’s a push, and your bet is returned

Free Bet Blackjack online: live dealer streams

Evolution can be fairly called the king of live gambling software for online casinos. Its studios have all the necessary tools for high-quality streams, so playing Free Bet Blackjack is a pleasure, be it a desktop or mobile iOS and Android gameplay. You’ll enjoy the studio with all the necessary tools, including the ones in charge of high video resolution and different angles to show all the details.

How to play Evolution’s Free Bet Blackjack

Free Bet Blackjack online is a live dealer casino game with accessible navigation, quite simple rules, and some special perks. Thanks to the game’s convenient interface, you can start playing in a few minutes after signing up at your online casino. The five basic steps are as follows:

1. Open an online casino account and sign up since real money online games are available for real deposits only (before this, you can watch the stream but can’t place bets) 
2. Examine the rules if necessary and adjust the game settings accordingly
3. During the period when bets are accepted, put chips of the values you choose on the table on betting positions you prefer
4. When bets are closed, the round begins, so you don’t need to push the start button
5. During the round, you get the cards and have a range of actions to choose from, including hitting, standing, and using free Double and Split bets

Card values in live Free Bet Blackjack 

While Evolution’s Free Bet Blackjack odds are somewhat below average due to the dealer’s push at 22, a range of other rules is standard, including card values. The game accepts an unlimited number of players and is played with eight standard 52-card decks. The cards are counted as follows:

• Cards from 2 to 10 have their face value, so you get what you see
• Face cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are all worth ten
• Aces have values of both 1 and 11 (whatever is more favourable to the hand)

First, you and the dealer get one card face-up. Then, the dealer provides players with another face-up card, while the dealer’s second card is face-down. After this, you make decisions trying to get the most valuable hand yet not to get over 21.

Free Bets

On the main screen, on the right, you’ll find the ‘Quick Help’ widget which summarises the main new options specific to the Free Bet Blackjack live game. Information regarding free bets is as follows:

• Free Double is available on hand 9, 10, or 11
• Free Split is available on all pairs (except 10, J, Q, K)
• The dealer will Push with a total of 22

In case of the push with the dealer’s 22, your bet is returned, but when you bust with your cards, this won’t happen. Interestingly, when you have Blackjack, it’s the win for you.

Insurance

When the dealer’s up-card is an Ace (not a ten or a face card), you can optionally purchase Insurance for one-half of your main bet. It works when the dealer really has Blackjack and players get paid 2:1 in this case. However, when the dealer’s second card isn’t 10, J, Q, or K (no Blackjack), the insurance bet is lost, so be careful with such extra spending during the round.

Double, Hit, Stand or Split

Once you’ve got your first two cards, you can make a decision. You’ll see four options displayed on buttons of different colours (plus, two golden buttons in case of free bets):

• Double
  Your bet is doubled, and you get only one additional card. In this blackjack version, when you have a hard total of 9, 10, or 11, the option is free (you’ll see a corresponding golden button with the ‘Free’ label), so the free bet will be added to your total bet (you don’t pay for the double-up yet get this bet and can win more).
• Hit
  An additional card is drawn. You can use the Free Bet Blackjack chart to understand what are the most optimal cases for hitting to increase your hand value yet not to bust.
• Stand
  No additional cards are drawn. This decision is good when you have a quite high hard combination and understand that you can bust by getting one more card.
• Split
  The cards are split into two individual bets, so the total bet is doubled. For all the cards except for tens, Jacks, Queens, or Kings, you can also see the golden free bet buttons.

When your balance isn’t enough for certain options (eg. Double or Split in cases when the free bet option isn’t available), these buttons won’t be displayed. Please note that in cases when you don’t make a decision, the option will be selected automatically. For example, when the value of your initial cards is 11 or less, the system will choose Hit for your next step, and in other cases, you’ll stand.

Six Card Charlie Rule

This option is quite infrequent, but the Evolution live casino provider decided to add it to its Free Bet Blackjack. According to this rule, you automatically win when your hand consists of six cards with a total value of 21 or less. It’s true even when the dealer has Blackjack (however, if the Blackjack is revealed after the insurance offer, this rule isn’t applied). In case of splitting, each hand is evaluated individually.

Free Bet Blackjack navigation & interface

To play Free Bet Blackjack live by Evolution for real money, you won’t need to explore the game’s interface in detail since only a few fields and widgets are enough to check your balance, place a bet, and make decisions within the game.

Balance & betting tools

The game’s interface is quite straightforward, so you’ll easily find everything connected with payments and gameplay. The possible betting range is displayed above on the left. Below, you’ll see your balance, total bet, and the total amount won by all players within each round. The traffic light with a timer displays how much time you have to place a bet, so its green, yellow, and red indicators are helpful.

The chips are based below, and you can see that each has its value. You click or tap on it (depending on whether you play on a desktop or mobile) to choose this denomination; then, you determine the table’s betting position and put the chip there. While the bets aren’t closed, you have ‘Repeat’, ’Double’, and ‘Undo’ widgets to modify your total bet. Additionally, you can use the ‘All Side Bets’ button to use the selected chip for each side bet.

As well as other live dealer games, Free Bet Blackjack will be suitable for high rollers due to its wide betting range (please note that these limits may vary from casino to casino). Newbies can also find the game engaging since with the focus on only basic betting options and minimum bets, even a small balance of about $20 will be good for at least a few gaming sessions.

Game history

Unlike real dealer roulette games, where you can see detailed statistics with hot numbers and similar things, here, you can only track your game history, including your bets and wins/losses. It’s slightly inconvenient for players who prefer thorough analysis based on the results of previous rounds, so gamblers interested in the game’s results in the long run should watch the gameplay themselves. Just keep in mind that patterns don’t work in blackjack, and the outcomes are always unpredictable, even when you stick to the Free Bet Blackjack basic strategy (though it can minimise your risks).

Live chat

The chat field is on the left, and it’s a perfect option to get involved in the gameplay by communicating with the dealer and other players. Optionally, the game host can answer your questions. It’s worth noting that in some cases, you won’t be able to use the chat until you place the bet, but it may depend on the casino where you play.

Additional settings

In the menu line above on the right, you’ll find extra settings for video and sound parameters. Thus, you can adjust the video quality to your preferences and internet connection, while the sound settings can let you turn off only certain sound effects to focus, for example, on the dealer’s voice only. Additionally, you can track the game number to use it when having issues with this round. And via the special option in the menu below, you can add other Evolution’s games to this screen to play several games at the same time.

Side bets in Free Bet Blackjack online

Since payouts in the base Free Bet Blackjack game aren’t that high, some players may opt for side bets, which are riskier yet offer much larger rewards of up to 250:1 (Bust It with 8+ cards). In this game, Evolution added four side bet options, and you’ll find all these fields to place your stake below on the game’s table.

Any Pair

This betting option is based on the first two cards of your hand. When these two cards form a pair (eg. two Queens), you get paid for this. Moreover, when your pair is suited (eg. two Aces of Diamonds), the payout amount is different, which makes such combinations even more attractive.

21+3

Here, the combination will be formed of your first two cards and the dealer’s up-card. Your goal is to get certain poker combinations, and the more valuable they are, the better your reward:

• Suite Trips: an identical triplet of, for example, three tens of Spades
• Straight Flush: you need to get cards of the same suit and in numerical sequence (eg. eight, nine, and ten of Diamonds)
• Three of a Kind: you get three cards of the same value (eg. three Queens) yet of different suits
• Straight: it’s the numerical sequence yet with different suits (eg. four of Clubs, five of Hearts, and six of Diamonds)
• Flush: these are non-sequential cards in the same suit (eg. five, ten, and Ace of Spades)

Hot 3

Another side bet of the Free Bet Blackjack live casino game is Hot 3. This bet allows gamblers to bet on the three card combinations, considering the first two cards and the one dealer’s open card. These combinations are different from the 21 + 3 option and are based on certain totals of these hands:

• Total 19: eg. five of Diamonds, ten of Hearts, and four of Spades
• Total 20: eg. six of Hearts, nine of Diamonds, and five of Clubs
• Total 21 (suited): eg. seven of Hearts, ten of Hearts, and four of Hearts
• Total 21 (unsuited): eg. seven of Spades, ten of Diamonds, and four of Hearts
• 7-7-7: eg. seven of Diamonds, seven of Spades, and seven of Clubs

Bust It

You bet that the dealer’s hand value will exceed 21 and it busts. Please note that this bet is pushed when a player has Blackjack. Payouts for this bet depend on the number of cards the dealer busts with, and the more cards, the larger the reward. The betting option starts from busting with 3 cards and comes up to 8+ cards.

Free Bet Blackjack house edge & payouts

You will like the game for its unusual gaming model and lots of betting options with different potential rates. But the Free Bet Blackjack house edge should also be considered, as well as the RTP for these betting options. Actually, the higher the RTP, the lower the house edge, and in this game, the RTP is somewhat lower by default due to the dealer’s opportunity to have a push when busting and getting 22. However, chances of having free bets and high potential payouts for side bets let players win a lot here.

Potential payouts

In the main game, Free Bet Blackjack by Evolution pays 3:2 for a blackjack combination as the first hand and 1:1 as any other winning hand. In case of insurance and the dealer’s blackjack, you get paid 2:1. When it comes to side bets, their payouts vary a lot and depend on both the bet type and the outcome:

• Any Pair
  You get 8:1 for any pair and 25:1 when it’s a suited pair.
• 21 + 3
  For a Flush, you get 5:1. Higher payouts of 10:1, 30:1, 40:1, and 100:1 are provided for Straight, Three of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Suited Trips.
• Hot 3
  Here, live online casino players can count on payouts of 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, 20:1, and 100:1 for Total 19, Total 20, Total 20 unsuited, Total 21 suited, and 7-7-7 results.
• Bust It
  For these side bets, payouts are provided according to the number of cards with which the dealer busts. You’ll get 1:1, 2:1, 9:1, 50:1, 100:1, and 250:1 for the dealer busting with 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8+ cards.

Live Free Bet Blackjack RTP

Besides Blackjack Free Bet odds, players who want to understand potential payouts should consider the game’s RTP. The optimal theoretical payout percentage here depends on the bets you place, so it will be lower for side bets and higher for the main game:

• Blackjack: 98.45% (based on the first hand in the shoe)
• Any Pair bet: 95.90%
• 21 + 3: 96.30%
• Hot 3: 94.60%
• Bust It: 94.12%

Considering this rate, some side bets don’t look so bad, especially due to their potential, and can be compared to a good online slot. For example, the 96.30% RTP for 21+3 is quite high, and the payout potential, in this case, varies from 5:1 to 100:1, though the best RTP of 98.45% is available in cases when your risks are minimised, and the house edge is as low as 1.55%. 

Just consider that the Free Bet Blackjack odds here are still quite low (because the dealer’s hand worth 22 is now a push, instead of being a player win) compared to standard blackjack games where you experience an RTP of over 99% to keep the house edge much below average.

Free Bet Blackjack strategy: Basic strategy & options by risk levels

The Evolution live casino provider did its best to create a game with simple rules and understandable mechanics. However, to master the game and not let the house edge increase dramatically, it’s worth following the Free Bet Blackjack strategy and planning your bankroll and gaming style according to your budget.

Live Free Bet Blackjack basic strategy

There is no secret that Free Bet Blackjack vs Blackjack odds are different since the standard version doesn’t have exceptions like free bets and the dealer’s push at 22. Thus, the standard version has better payout parameters, but the Free Bet version has larger potential rewards due to a range of extra options. At any rate, when following the blackjack basic strategy and considering some basic tips, the house edge will be minimised:

• When it comes to free bet options, you should split in nearly all cases, except for your pair of fives where it’s better to use the free double option and a pair of tens when it’s better to stand
• Traditionally, consider the difference between soft and hard combinations since your hand worth 14 with an Ace will be much safer when hitting, compared to the hard 14 when you can easily bust
• With hands of hard 17 or soft 20 (A + nine), you should always stand
• Don’t be afraid to hit when your hard total is five to eight

Low-risk Free Bet Blackjack strategy

Let’s consider the $50 bankroll for newbies and low-rollers. In this case, you shouldn’t focus on side bets and spend no more than 5% to 10% per round. For example, you can place ten standard bets in the main game worth $5 per round, and if there is an opportunity to Split or Double for free, don’t miss these options.

Medium-risk Free Bet Blackjack strategy

Here, we’ll proceed from the $100 bankroll and betting limits of 10% to 15% of your bankroll. Thus, you can have at least ten rounds worth $10 per spin. This $10 amount can be divided into several options to cover not only the main bet game but also at least one side bet (Hot 3 and Any Pair look quite attractive for newbies).

High-risk Free Bet Blackjack strategy

In this case, we’ll consider a quite large $1000 bankroll for high rollers. Try to activate several or even all side bets and have your bet per round at a rate of about 15% to 20%. For example, you can have 50 rounds worth $20 per round, where at least half your bet is distributed between the available side bets.

Betting systems

Unlike strategies where you rely on a current game situation, your cards, and basic rules, here, you just follow a certain sequence to track your bets and results in the long run. These systems are suitable for basic gameplay and shouldn’t be combined with side bets. Plus, you should always play responsibly and remember that none of these bets can beat the house edge in the long run. These are the most popular betting systems for live blackjack casino games:

• Martingale
• Fibonacci
• Parolli
• D’Alambert

Free Bet Blackjack Casinos: What Things to Consider

On our site, you can find Free Bet Blackjack casinos that not only meet the industry’s standards but have also been checked by our experts, including the detailed terms and the performance while playing on different devices. You can opt for this rating or use these tips to play an online gambling site with a focus on live dealer software:

• Check the gaming library
  When you access Blackjack Free Bet, it’s awesome, but it’s much better when the site has some more games, including other Evolution products and live online casino software from other brands.
• Consider bonus terms
  Bonus offers for live software are really infrequent, but even when you find ones, make sure that you are happy with the wager since it can exceed 800x due to game contribution (eg. 5% for live games).
• Explore payment options
  To play for real money, check available payment options and make sure that you find the limits suitable. If interested in fast and anonymous payments, try cryptocurrency casino banking options like Bitcoin.
• Examine general terms
  Besides things connected with live online gambling, consider some general aspects, such as the casino’s licensing, restricted countries, responsible gambling tools, and deposit turnover before a withdrawal.
• Test mobile gaming
  Evolution is one of the leaders when it comes to mobile-optimised software, but your online casino should also meet these standards, so test the mobile casino version on different iOS and Android devices. 

Evolution provider: review & popular games

By entering the gambling scene in 2006, Evolution made a splash, becoming one of the most desired live suppliers within the first several years. Its games are outpacing thanks to many factors. First of all, the company is built on the skills of experts who rule it and work on different projects. Besides, Evolution acquires large gambling vendors, which speaks for its financial independence and allows the brand to apply unique technologies. Digiwheel’s acquisition in 2021 allowed Evolution to significantly improve its live shows based on money wheels, such as Crazy Time and Funky Time, while NetEnt’s acquisition in 2020 caused the development of the Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt live show based on the popular NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest slot. Below, you’ll find the top 5 live online casino games by Evolution.

Blackjack Party by Evolution

When you understand standard casino blackjack rules or have already played live online blackjack in other variations, the rules of this game won’t surprise you. However, its main highlight is the festive atmosphere players enjoy during the game. The dealer, or even several dealers within the same session, will listen to music, sing, and do lots of other things to entertain players while hosting a live blackjack game with several side bets, an infinite number of seats, excellent stream quality, and the Bet Behind option.

Funky Time by Evolution

It’s a new yet legendary Evolution’s live show launched in 2023. This online casino game is unique since you access not only a classic wheel with multipliers but also four mini-games with extra bonuses and cartoon characters hosting each. ‘Around 100 people were involved in getting Funky Time live’, said Todd Haushalter, Evolution’s Chief Product Officer. Try to get the most valuable cocktail in the Bonus Bar mini-game and let Mr Funky walk on a 63-square dance floor for as long as possible in the VIP Disco Bonus game!

Immersive Roulette by Evolution

This real dealer casino game variation was launched in 2013, but players still keep on enjoying this type. Due to numerous HD (High Definition) cameras and random auto-camera sequences, the 200 frames-per-second live video captures each and every movement of the ball, providing players with high-quality close-up views and slot motion replays. Thus, you enjoy realistic and pleasant to-the-eye gameplay with visual effects. In 2014, Evolution won Game Of The Year with this catchy multi-camera title.

Monopoly Live by Evolution

In 2021, Evolution launched one of its most mind-blowing money-wheel-based live shows. Monopoly Live is based on both the concept of a traditional wheel with multipliers and a 3D mini-game where you see a virtual character walking on the board with prizes, so the longer his way, the higher the rewards. Basically, players deal with 54 segments of the wheel where 1x, 2x, 5x, and 10x multipliers are combined with ‘Chance’, ‘2 Rolls’, and ‘4 Rolls’ segments to get random rewards or enter the bonus round.

Lightning Roulette by Evolution

When you find traditional online casino roulette boring, even when it’s played with a dealer, Lightning Roulette is the next level to try out. Basically, it’s European Roulette where you can place all the standard bets, but when it comes to Straight Up bets, your winning potential increases a lot since each round features randomly generated Lucky Numbers worth 50x, 100x, 200x, 300x, 400x, or 500x. The drawback to this variation is that non-multiplied Straight Bets pay 29:1, compared to the standard 35:1.

Other live blackjack games to play online

Here are some more popular online casino blackjack games with dealers to play for real money. Is Free Bet Blackjack better? Well, we can’t say that any of these versions is the most outstanding since all these variations are suitable to certain players’ preferences. For example, some gamblers don’t mind taking more risks due to the dealer’s push at 22 to get free Doubles and Splits, while others find this model too risky. To find the answer for yourself, compare this variation with several other popular live blackjack games.

All Bets Blackjack by Playtech

The Playtech live dealer provider created a perfect blackjack option for those interested in a range of additional options in addition to the standard gameplay. All Bets Blackjack offers a wide range of side bets, hence the name. Top 3, Perfect Pairs, Buster, Progressive, Lucky Lucky, and 21 + 3 are making the game full of new opportunities, but due to a quite high house edge associated with side bets, the game will be suitable to risky players with a large bankroll rather than newbies who want to delve into standard gameplay.

Blackjack by ViG

Visionary iGaming is a team of professionals focused on live online casino games of different types. Its blackjack games are quite standard and don’t boast a range of unusual mechanics, compared to the Free Bet version or other unique types. However, players fond of traditional gameplay will enjoy the quality offered by ViG since you’ll access a high-RTP table game hosted by a professional dealer. In addition, ViG offers Pairs and Rummy as side bets for players searching for more opportunities and higher potential.

Blackjack by Ezugi

Ezugi was established in 2012 and managed to become a popular B2B online gambling provider which is now a part of the Evolution company. Its variations of live online blackjack include a standard version, Unlimited Blackjack for numerous players to join the round simultaneously, and Blackjack Salon Prive where your bet will vary from $1000 to $10,000 to meet the needs of high rollers. Perfect Pairs, Perfect 11, Ten20, and 21+3 are the side bets Ezugi players can experience.

Quantum Blackjack Plus by Playtech

Playtech was among the first providers bringing multipliers to the blackjack table, and Quantum Blackjack Plus is a good example of this feature. Multipliers that can be applied to cards during the game are 2.5x, 3x, 5x, and 10x, and the maximum potential to multiply the winning hand is 50x. To make this possible, the game has an exception regarding the dealer’s push, which makes this version somewhat similar to Free Bet Blackjack. Here, a three-card dealer’s bust is a Push against the player’s hand win.

Blackjack by Vivo Gaming

Vivo Gaming entered the gambling sector in 2010. It’s busy creating live dealer software and integrating other solutions into online platforms. It holds the EGR B2B Award 2022, which shows that the brand meets modern industry needs. Its blackjack live online games are quite standard, though things like high-quality streams and professional studios make them so catchy. You can experience the Bet Behind feature and find a wide range of helpful tips and tools on the screen to better understand the game.

Final thoughts

Undoubtedly, Evolution is a provider that creates flawless real dealer casino online games, and this one is just the same. What is Free Bet Blackjack? Considering standard parameters, it’s a classic blackjack game with a real dealer, but there are several features that make it so special. Conveniently, you can have free bets when it comes to Doubles or Splits, but this happens at the cost of the dealer’s push at 22 instead of the bust in the standard rules. Additionally, you can experience the Six Card Charlie rule and several side bets. When such conditions don’t scare you and an opportunity not to pay for Doubles and Splits seems so attractive, you are welcome to play Free Bet Blackjack online for real money.