Introduction
Free Bet Blackjack is a popular variation of the classic Blackjack game, featuring risk-free betting with “Free Double Down” and “Free Split” decision options. You compete only against the dealer, rather than other players.
The objective of the game is to get a higher card count than the dealer, but without ever exceeding 21. The best hand is Blackjack — when the sum of the first two cards dealt has a total value of 21.
Game Settings
- Played with 8 standard 52-card decks.
- Dealer must draw on 16 or less and always stand on 17.
- Double Down on any two initial cards.
- Double Down after a Split, except when splitting Aces.
- Double Down receives one card only.
- Free Double Down on your two-card hard 9, 10 and 11 totals.
- Split initial cards of equal value.
- Free Split on all pairs except 10, J, Q, and K.
- Only one Split per hand.
- Split of Aces allowed.
- No Hit on Split Aces.
- Insurance is offered with an open Ace.
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2.
- Insurance pays 2 to 1.
- Push the game round when hands tie.
- Push the game round when the dealer busts with a score of 22.
How to Play
To play, select the value of your bet and place it on the bet spots you prefer. You can place or modify your bets until the betting timer runs out.
Once the betting timer expires, the Dealer deals one card face-up to each seat, starting from the seat to their left, following the next seat in turn, and ending with the Dealer. A second card face-up is then dealt to each seat, but the Dealer receives their card face-down.
If the value of your initial two-card hand is exactly 21, you have Blackjack!
You are then offered to improve your hand and select one of the decision options — Hit, Stand, Double or Split, starting from the first seat to the Dealer’s left through to the last seat in clockwise order.
When all decisions are made, the Dealer reveals their hidden card and deals additional cards as needed, following the rule of drawing to 16 and less and standing on 17.
If the Dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, you may purchase Insurance to offset the risk of the Dealer having a Blackjack. After the time to place an Insurance bet is over, the Dealer’s hand is checked for Blackjack. If it is a Blackjack, the game round ends. If not, the game round proceeds to the Decision Options stage.
Card Values
The game is played with 8 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.
Hand combination examples:
7♣ + 4♦ = 11
5♣ + 10♠ = 15
K♥ + Q♣ = 20
A♣ + 5♥ = 6 or 16
A♥ + 10♠ = Blackjack
The suit of the cards is irrelevant in the main Blackjack game.
Side Bets
This Blackjack game also includes optional side bets — Perfect Pairs (PP) and Twenty-One-Plus-Three (21+3). You have the chance to win on any side bet, whether you later win or lose on your main Blackjack bet. Betting on side bets requires placing the main bet first.
Perfect Pairs (PP) side bet gives you the chance to win if your first two cards form any pair. There are three types of pairs, each with a different payout:
- Perfect Pair — two identical cards (e.g., two Queens of Hearts)
- Coloured Pair — two cards of a different suit but the same colour (e.g., 2 of Hearts and 2 of Diamonds)
- Mixed Pair — two cards of a different suit and colour (e.g., 2 of Spades + 2 of Diamonds)
Winning side bets are displayed immediately once the two initial cards are dealt to each hand. A winning PP hand is not affected by the dealer’s hand.
Twenty-One-Plus-Three (21+3) side bet gives you the chance to win if your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard form any of the following winning combinations (similar to ones in poker), each with a different payout:
- Suited Trips — three identical cards (e.g., three Aces of Hearts)
- Straight Flush — three cards in sequence and of the same suit (e.g. 10, Jack and Queen of Spades)
- Three of a Kind — three cards of the same value but different suits (e.g., Queen of Hearts, Queen of Diamonds, and Queen of Clubs)
- Straight — three cards in numerical sequence but in different suits (e.g., an Ace can be used to achieve an Ace, 2 and 3 Straight or Queen, King and Ace Straight)
- Flush — three non-sequential cards in the same suit (e.g., 2, 6 and King of Clubs)
Winning side bets are displayed immediately once the two initial cards are dealt to each hand. If your hand contains two winning combinations, only the highest is paid out.
Taking Your Seat
Click/tap the SIT HERE icon to occupy a free seat at any stage of the game.
If the Multiseat option is available, you may occupy more than one seat by clicking/tapping the Seat icon. The number of maximum seats allowed is indicated in the Payouts & Limits window. Once you have taken the number of maximum seats allowed, other free seats become unavailable to you.
As soon as you occupy a seat, it changes to occupied. Your nickname is displayed under your seat.
Place your bet on the main bet spot before the timer ends.
To leave your seat, click/tap the X button. Note that you cannot leave during an active game round if you have placed a main bet.
Bet Behind
The Bet Behind feature allows you to place bets on the hands dealt to other players at the table. You will share the outcome of the other player’s hand.
The player playing with the main bet in the seat makes all the decisions for that hand. To Bet Behind any player, place a bet in any activated Bet Behind spot at another player’s seat while betting is open.
You may Bet Behind players occupying other seats even if you have your own main bet placed, but you cannot Bet Behind on your own hand.
If you place a Bet Behind bet, and the player at that seat decides not to participate in the round, your bet will be refunded immediately.
The payout for Bet Behind bets is the same as for the main Blackjack bets.
The table limits for Bet Behind bets are available in the Payouts & Limits window.
The Winning Badge next to a player’s name highlights those with the longest winning streaks. The number in the middle of the star represents their consecutive game round wins. Note that any lost round results in the loss of the Winning Badge, regardless of previous win streaks.
An unlimited number of players may Bet Behind any player at the table.
The nickname below the seat identifies the player making all decisions for that hand. By default, Bet Behind follows the actions of the main player and automatically deducts the necessary funds from your balance for Double Down or Split options.
You can modify these preferences under the Bet Behind tab in Settings. The new preferences are stored in your account settings and applied from the next game round onward.
- If the player you Bet Behind decides to Double Down, but you have unticked the option “Double my bet when the main player Doubles Down”, the third card is offered to your hand as a Hit option, but you are not able to draw any additional cards.
- If the player you Bet Behind decides to Split, but you have unticked the option “Double my bet to cover both hands when the main player Splits”, your bet covers only the first split hand.
If the player you Bet Behind selects a Free Double Down or Free Split, it will automatically be applied to your hand as well and no additional funds are taken from your balance.
If the player you Bet Behind decides to Cash Out, you will receive a proportional share of their cash-out value based on your initial bet amount.
Placing Bets
The Table Name indicates the table you are currently playing at, and the Table Limits show the minimum and maximum bets allowed at the table.
Click/tap the Table Limits to view the Payouts & Limits, including the minimum and maximum limits and payout odds for each bet type, or open from the menu.
The Game Information Indicator informs you of the game status.
While the timer is displayed, you may place and modify your bets. After you have placed a bet, the DEAL NOW button becomes active.
Click/tap the DEAL NOW button to have the cards dealt instantly without waiting for the timer to expire.
The Chip Display allows you to select the value of the chips you wish to bet with. Only chip values that can be covered with your current Balance are available.
The Rebet button allows you to repeat the same bets from the previous game round. Once you have clicked/tapped the Rebet button, the Double and Undo buttons are enabled.
The Double button doubles all your placed bets. Every click/tap doubles your bets up to the maximum limit.
The Undo button removes the last bet you placed. This button is available only during the betting time. Once bets are closed, you will not be able to undo or change your bets. Clicking/tapping the Undo button repeatedly removes bets one by one, with the most recent bet removed first.
The Balance indicator shows your available funds and currency. Your balance has to be sufficient to cover all your placed bets.
If your balance is not updated (after placing bets, losing or winning), please refresh your game.
The Cashier button opens the Cashier window for deposits and withdrawals. On mobile devices, the Cashier button is available inside the game Menu.
The Total Bet indicator shows the total value of all bets placed in the current game round.
Each game round is identified by a Game name. The Time indicator shows your current local time.
Please use the game name for reference (or take a screenshot) if there are any questions and you wish to contact Casino Time Customer Support.
Blackjack Decision Options
Your hand’s value is displayed on the screen next to your seat. When it is your turn to make a decision about your hand, your seat will be highlighted. The timer will inform you of the time remaining to select an option.
Decision Buttons
After the hands are dealt, you must select an option based on the cards in your hand: Hit, Stand, Double Down, Split.
The icon for the option you select is displayed next to your seat.
If your first two cards are an Ace and 10, Jack, Queen or King, your hand constitutes a natural Blackjack – the best hand in the game. No further betting decisions are required.
Stand: no additional cards are drawn. This option is usually selected if the value of the hand is satisfying. If you do not select a decision option during the options time, the Stand option will be selected automatically.
Hit: an additional card is drawn to add to the value of your hand. You can Hit more than once before you decide to Stand once you are satisfied with the value of your hand or until the value of your hand equals 21. If you reach 22 or more, you automatically lose your bet on the hand.
Double Down: your bet is doubled, and only one additional card is drawn. After doubling down, no further options are offered on the hand, and the game round either moves to the next seat or the Dealer takes the turn.
Free Double Down: if your initial two-card hard total is 9, 10 or 11, you are offered a “Free Double Down” option.
When you select Free Double Down a golden Double coin matching your original bet will be automatically added next to your bet spot, doubling your total bet for that hand.
If you lose the game round, you only lose your original bet.
In cases when the Double Down/Free Double Down fails and is cancelled, the decision will revert to a Hit.
Split: your hand will be split into two individual hands, each with a separate bet equal to your main bet if your initial hand is a pair of cards of equal value. A second card is then dealt to both your hands, and you can choose to hit, double down or stand on each new hand.
When splitting a pair of Aces, you will receive only one additional card. If you are dealt a card with a value of 10 on top of a split Ace, then it counts as 21, not a Blackjack.
Free Split: on your hand of pairs, except for pairs of 10s, Jacks, Queens or Kings, you will be offered a Free Split option.
When you select Free Split your original bet will be placed on the first of your split hands. A golden Split coin matching your original bet will be placed on the second of your split hands.
If you lose on your second hand with the Free Bet, you will not lose your original bet.
In cases when the Split/Free Split fails and is cancelled, the decision will revert to a Stand.
Cash Out
The Cash Out feature lets you settle your hand early, for a guaranteed payout before the round concludes. After the initial deal is over, a Cash Out button will appear on your screen alongside the other decision buttons. The dynamically calculated payout amount, displayed on the Cash Out button, is based on the value of your hand, the dealer’s face-up card, and any further decisions made for that hand.
When you split a hand, a separate Cash Out button will be available for each split hand. If you Double Down or bust, the Cash Out option for that hand will be disabled.
Clicking/tapping the Cash Out button ends the game for that hand, and the corresponding payout is added to your Balance when the game round is over. No further actions can be taken for that hand.
This feature applies only to the main bet and does not affect side bets. You can enable/disable the Cash Out feature anytime in Settings.
Early Decisions
The Early Decisions feature enables you to make a decision on your hand in advance without waiting for your turn. Simply click/tap on your preferred option, and the Dealer will act accordingly during your turn.
You can change your early decision anytime before your turn. Click/tap the icon representing your current choice and select a new option.
Honest Decision
The Honest Decision feature is enabled if no option is selected within the provided time or in case of disconnection, and a decision option is selected automatically:
- Stand if the value of your hand is 12 or more, and Hit if the value of your hand is 11 or less.
- If the Insurance offer is not acted upon, the No option is automatically applied to your hands.
Insurance
If the Dealer’s first card is an Ace, you can purchase Insurance to offset the risk of the Dealer having a Blackjack.
An additional betting timer begins to place the Insurance bet. The Insurance bet amount is half of your initial bet, and it pays out at odds 2 to 1 if the Dealer’s second card has a value of 10.
Click/tap Yes to purchase Insurance for all of your hands. If purchased, an Insurance icon will be displayed next to each insured hand.
Click/tap No if you choose not to purchase Insurance. If no decision is made within the provided time, No is selected by default.
Once the timer expires, the Dealer reveals whether it is a Blackjack. If the Dealer has Blackjack, the game round is over, and all insured hands are paid out accordingly.
If the Dealer does not have a Blackjack, the game round continues. Insurance bets are lost, but you still have the chance to win with your hand.
Game Result
After all the hands are settled, the Dealer’s hand is compared to each hand to determine the game outcome. Your total winnings are displayed in the win message on your screen.
You win when the value of your final hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand or when the dealer busts, unless the Push on 22 Rule is in effect.
Under the Push on 22 Rule, if the dealer busts with a hand of 22 and your hand is 21 or less, it will result in a Push and your bet amount will be returned. This rule does not apply to your hand if you take the Cash Out offer, or if your hand is Blackjack; in both cases you will receive the standard payout.
All winning hands are marked with a Win icon.
Hands with a Blackjack (initial two-card 21) automatically win unless the Dealer also has a Blackjack, resulting in a push. Note that Blackjack beats any hand of 21 made from split Aces or more than two cards.
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.
When a player takes a Cash Out offer, the hand is marked with the 
Cash Out icon, and no further decisions can be made on that hand in the round.
Hands exceeding 21 automatically lose and are marked with a Too Many icon 
. This does not apply to the Dealer’s hand.
Hands with a value lower than the Dealer’s hand lose and are marked with a 
No Win icon.
Once the game round is finished, all cards on the table are collected and discarded, and betting is opened for the next round.
Payouts
Winning and pushed hands are paid out as follows:
- Winning hands are paid 1 to 1.
- Winning hands with a Blackjack are paid 3 to 2.
- Winning Insurance bets are paid 2 to 1.
- In case of a Push, your bet is returned to your Balance.
- When a Free Double Down or Free Split wins, the win amount is generated with the Free Bet according to the payout table. The value of the Free Bet is not included in the Total win.
- When a Free Double Down or Free Split hand ends in a Push, only your initial bet is returned to your balance. The value of the free bet is not included in the returned amount.
- Push on 22 Rule: if the dealer busts with a total of 22, active non-busted hands, except Blackjack, are a Push and your bet is returned.
Side bets:
PERFECT PAIRS
| COMBINATION | PAYOUT |
| Perfect Pair | 25 to 1 |
| Coloured Pair | 12 to 1 |
| Mixed Pair | 6 to 1 |
21+3
| COMBINATION | PAYOUT |
| Suited Trips | 100 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 40 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30 to 1 |
| Straight | 10 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
This information is also available in the Payouts & Limits window.
Navigation Controls
The Lobby button can be selected at any time from any game. It allows you to easily change the game table, select any other live game or simply leave the table. You will not be removed from your current table until you have selected the new game table you wish to join. You can use the Lobby to browse other games while remaining at the current table. Once on the Lobby page, please click/tap the Back to game button to exit the Lobby page and return to your open table.
Clicking/tapping the Chat button opens the chat window. You can chat with the Dealer and other players. The dealer will communicate with you directly and answer any questions regarding the game.
If you wish to speak with the Live Support, please select the corresponding chat room by clicking/tapping the Support button, and you will be assisted in a private chat.
Chat messages are monitored by dedicated Customer Support personnel at all times. Players who misuse Chat by abusing the Dealer or other players, or by using inappropriate and/or offensive language might have their chat privileges disabled.
Clicking/tapping the Volume Control button opens a slider and lets you adjust the sound volume at your table. Click/tap the Volume control button to mute the sound. To unmute, click/tap the Volume Control button icon again.
Click/tap the History button to launch a window showing details of your gaming activity. By default, it will open your history for today.
Simply select a game round from the list to review it in detail, arranged by game round information and information about bets.
Clicking/tapping the Game Help button opens the Help window.
Click/tap the Settings button to open the Settings window allowing you to select your preferences.
Under the tab General following settings are available:
- Manage video quality
- Manage video sounds
- Manage game sound effects
Under the Bet Behind tab, you can set your preferences on whether to follow or unfollow the behaviour of the main player when you Bet Behind other players.
Click/tap the Full Screen button to launch the Full Screen mode. To exit this mode, click/tap the button again or use the “Esc” key on your keyboard.
Subtitles
Subtitles may not be completely accurate. Please refer to the information from the in-game user interface as the primary source.
Card Shuffle and Change
Deck shuffling occurs once the cutting card is removed from the shoe and the game round has been completed.
When the cutting card appears during the play, it will be removed. The Dealer then informs that this is the last hand of the shoe, thus completing the hand. Upon completing this hand, no more cards are dealt until the shoe change or shuffle procedure occurs.
Cards are shuffled by a Shuffler on the shuffling table or by the Dealer at the gaming table, according to the shuffling procedure.
The shoe change procedure can be initiated before the cutting card is removed at the sole discretion of the shift management.
The card change procedure occurs once every 24 hours or, additionally, in the following cases:
- Table has been opened after a period of inactivity.
- Video stream was unavailable at the table.
- More than three cards fell on the floor during the game round.
- A card with a defective barcode is present in the shoe.
Game Inconveniences
If there is an error in the game, system, game procedure or transaction activity, the game round will be temporarily paused, and the Shift manager immediately notified. You and other players will be informed by an on-screen notification that the issue is being investigated.
If the error can be immediately resolved, the game round will continue as usual. If immediate resolution is not possible, the game round will be cancelled, and initial bets will be refunded to all players who participated in the game round.
If you wish to discuss any game related issues, please contact Live Support, providing them with details of the game in question including the the game name and the exact time it occurred..
Disconnection Policy
Pragmatic Play Live Casino services are delivered over the Internet, and occasionally disconnections may occur.
After being disconnected, check your winnings in the History window. If you have any questions regarding the game outcomes, please contact Live Support within the game or Casino Time Customer Support, providing them with details of the game in question including the the game name and the exact time it occurred.