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by Evolution
Free Bet Blackjack Live is an online live dealer blackjack game that automatically Splits and Doubles player bets without increasing the stakes. However, it also introduces a new rule that considers any Dealer 22 hand a Push. Released by Evolution in 2022, it boasts an RTP of 98.45%, which is a significantly lower rate than what you would find on regular Evolution blackjack tables. This tells us that the Free Bet rule itself is simply not that player-friendly, which is one of the biggest issues with this game.
Free Bet Blackjack is a relatively well-established variant of online live blackjack, and Evolution isn’t the first to bring it online. Although not adored by advantage players, it offers an interesting set of rules that could be helpful for newbie players. With most of that in mind, it can be summarized as a beginner-friendly version of Twenty-one that is not particularly interesting to skilled players or those looking to maximize their odds and profits.
Players from United States accepted!
United States
Rated :
3.2/5
| Game Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Game name | Free Bet Blackjack by Evolution |
| Game provider | Evolution |
| Game type | Blackjack |
| Streaming from | |
| RTP | 98.26% |
| Bet range | €5,000 - €5 |
| Max win | 100:1 |
| Side bets | Yes |
| Supported platforms |
|
| Supported OS |
|
| Languages |
Albanian
Arabic
Bulgarian
Chinese
Croatian
Czech
+23
All supported languages
|
Available since November 2022, Free Bet Blackjack by Evolution is not an innovation for this provider. The original Free Bet Blackjack enjoyed the same rules, but was presented in a one-to-many format in which all the players at a single table shared the same hand. That version is still available as Infinite Free Bet Blackjack. In this review, we’ll instead talk about the version of the game with seven fixed seats and limited player numbers.
In most practical terms, the two versions of Free Bet Blackjack are indistinguishable – both have the same game rules, RTP, side bets, and so on. However, this 7-seat Free Bet Blackjack only allows 7 players at one table at a time. There is also an option to Bet Behind, but this means that the minimum bet is set higher at $5 compared to Infinite Free Bet Blackjack’s $1.
Effectively, this version is for those who play at higher stakes and want a more authentic live casino experience. Infinite Free Bet Blackjack, on the other hand, is a great alternative if you’re playing on a budget and/or want rounds to go by faster.
Needless to say, this Evolution Free Bet Blackjack has all the production qualities of the original. We won’t waste too much time pointing out the obvious high standard of professionalism for the dealers, either. Let’s get right into the rules, which are what makes this live blackjack variant feel different from most standard tables.
If you know how to play blackjack at a live casino, you’ll easily figure out how this one works.
Find an available Free Bet Blackjack table and take a spot. Once the next round starts and the dealer gets to you, you’ll receive two cards. The goal of blackjack is for your hand to be as close as 21 as possible without going over. If it’s closer than the dealer’s, you win. However, going over 21 immediately results in a loss.
Once it’s your turn, you have four options. Hitting means that the dealer will give you one more card. Standing means you don’t want any more cards. That much works as usual.
The main distinguishing features of Free Bet Blackjack are its rules relating to how Doubling and Splitting work. We’ll assume you already know the basics of what doubling down and splitting mean in blackjack and how these moves usually work. If not, we recommend reading this comprehensive guide to doubling in blackjack.
For starters, you cannot Double whenever you want. Instead, the game will automatically Double Down for you whenever you have a hand total of 9, 10, or 11. After doubling, you’ll receive one more card and then stand.
The good news is that Free Bet Blackjack does not require you to double your stake when Doubling. Any potential winnings are still doubled, of course, but no additional investment is necessary from the player. That’s why the game’s called “free bet” blackjack.
Similarly, you can’t Split. Your hand will automatically Split all pairs except 10, J, Q and K. Again, this is completely free.
You can still win or lose all hands after Splitting independently of each other. However, you can’t double after splitting.
There’s a catch, though. In Free Bet Blackjack, the main bet pushes if the dealer draws a hand total of 22. This means your full stake is returned to you, but you don’t win anything as you would have in regular blackjack.
That covers most of the unique rules of Free Bet Blackjack. The others are the same as with standard Evolution Live Blackjack. Dealers draw to 17 and Blackjack pays 3:2. 8 decks are used per shoe, and the shoe is shuffled roughly ¾ of the way through.
Side bets in Evolution’s Free Bet Blackjack are also fairly common as far as live casino blackjack tables go. There are two options:
The unique rules and features of Free Bet Blackjack make it easily distinguishable from most other live casino blackjack games.
Automatic Splitting and Doubling seems like a great boon to beginners at first glance. These two moves often complicate standard blackjack strategies, though they’re also an indispensable part of every blackjack chart ever made.
The fact that you don’t have to invest additional cash makes things even more attractive. It all seems like a win-win situation, but it’s really not.
All we have to do to negate Free Bet Blackjack’s advantages is point out the simple fact that the main bet has 98.26% RTP. While this figure is strong in the wider world of gambling, it’s extremely low compared to most other blackjack tables, which usually sit between 99.2% and 99.51%.
This leaves Free Bet Blackjack in an awkward position of offering a new feature that doesn’t really add to the gameplay but doubles the house advantage. Most players are probably better off playing regular Evolution Live Blackjack.
Like with most forms of blackjack, the most reliable strategy is to just follow a blackjack chart.
However, you should keep in mind that the fact the dealer doesn’t lose on 22 significantly changes the game’s statistics. This specific outcome occurs in more than 7.2% of all rounds of blackjack. That’s why the game RTP is so much lower despite offering “free” Splits and Doubles.
Moreover, the strategy is adjusted so that every potential Split or Double should be made. The game does this automatically, though, so there’s no point in worrying about it.
If you’re looking to optimize your strategy for Free Bet Blackjack, the best thing to do is probably play a different blackjack table. If you’re adamant about sticking to this version, though, just follow standard charts.
Despite the rule changes, most payouts remain industry-standard. That means most rounds can win you even money with a 3:2 blackjack. Bet Insurance is an option, paying 2:1. The same largely goes for the side bets.
The only thing you have to keep in mind is that your main bet pushes on a dealer 22.
| Bet/Hand | Payout | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Bet Blackjack Payouts | |||
| Regular Win | 1:1 | ||
| Blackjack | 3:2 | ||
| Blackjack Insurance | 2:1 | ||
| Perfect Pairs Side Bet | |||
| Mixed Pair | 6:1 | ||
| Colored Pair | 12:1 | ||
| Suited Pair | 25:1 | ||
| 21+3 Side Bet | |||
| Suited Trips | 100:1 | ||
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | ||
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 | ||
| Straight | 10:1 | ||
| Flush | 5:1 | ||
Free Bet Blackjack RTP sits at 98.26%, which is a noticeable decrease over the industry-standard 99.5%. It seems that getting Double and Split hands for free does not outweigh the fact that the dealer will lose a lot less often.
As for the side bets, 21+3 and Perfect Pairs come with the usual RTP of 96.30% and 95.90%, respectively.
Make sure to choose the game that suits your taste and budget. For more extensive guides on live blackjack basics, read this article.
The UI elements in this game are simple and sensible with no unnecessary clutter. The betting options are all placed next to their respective table positions, which should be familiar to any online blackjack player. As mentioned above, you can also opt to Bet Behind other players, which becomes available if another player takes a seat at your table.
The set menu of features is also typical for most Evolution live casino tables. That means there’s a live chat, audio/video settings, and so on, all arranged at the top of the screen.
Free Bet Blackjack tables are seemingly streamed from a different studio than standard Evolution Blackjack. This studio is shiny and festive, with brightly-lit backgrounds contrasted behind deep red table felt. It’s nothing too crazy or outside the box, but it was made in the usual flashy but authentic style that Evo is known for.
As expected, the stream is also a full HD broadcast with minimal stutters. You can also adjust video settings to match your available hardware and/or internet connection. Multiple view modes are available, including a mobile view and a betting view that minimizes the video broadcast in favor of a larger and more informative betting interface.
When it comes to dealing blackjack, professionalism and speed are of the utmost importance. Especially considering there are separate seats for every player, which means the game flows at a slower pace. You’ll find yourself with plenty of downtime between turns if you’re at a busy table.
That said, we have nothing but praise for Evolution’s professionally-trained dealers. They’re communicative and polite but make sure to always keep the game moving forward, keeinly aware that others are likely waiting their turn.
All in all, it’s a quality live dealer blackjack experience with no big surprises, unpleasant or otherwise.
Free Bet Blackjack is based on a reasonable idea and the game itself is made well enough. That’s why we can’t really give it a bad rating.
That said, we can’t recommend this version of blackjack over others. Our reasoning is simple – the RTP is lower, which means you’ll lose more in the long run. Getting Splits and Doubles for free is nice, but it’s just not worth it when you take into account the increased house edge and the altered statistics.
Most notably, the Free Bet rules also affect basic blackjack strategy in unpredictable ways. There’s an optimal chart for free bet blackjack, of course, but this only illustrates our problems with the game: you’ll have to work harder than usual just to win less overall. Tables with more standard rules have better overall returns, more consistent statistics, and accept more reliable strategies.
Of course, Evolution was merely working with previously established rules. When it comes down to it, the game achieves what it set out to do. The execution is once again flawless, but the fundamental idea of how Free Bet Blackjack works means that it’s simply worse than standard blackjack.
Very Good
Last Update: January 13, 2025
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