| Updated: September 18, 2025Released in April 2019, Free Chip Blackjack is an intriguing variation of online blackjack from Playtech, one of the largest and most reputable developers of online casino software. With its three types of side bets and free chips for doubling and splitting, Free Chip Blackjack is certainly among the most innovative and exciting takes on classic blackjack ever created.
Rules and Gameplay
Free Chip Blackjack is based on the standard Las Vegas-style game, but it also features some unconventional and interesting rules. It is played with six decks of 52 cards, and the dealer can peek for blackjack if his up-card is an Ace. The dealer hits on soft 17 and stands on hard 17 or higher. Players may hit, stand, and split up to three times – hitting on split aces is allowed. Players can double on any two cards.
The rules seem quite standard – at least, so far. The objective of the game and the payouts for blackjack and insurance are also standard at 3:2 and 2:1, respectively. However, if the dealer’s up-card is a 10, he automatically loses. If the player is holding 17, the dealer also loses. In fact, there are several special situations listed under the Bust Bonanza paytable, which include increased payouts.
Distinctive Features
As you can see, Playtech’s Free Chip Blackjack is not your typical game of blackjack. Let’s start with Bust Bonanza and its special rules for dealer busting. If the dealer goes over 21, he busts and the player receives a regular 1:1 payout. The dealer also busts with a 10 up-card, and the payout is then 3:1. If the player has 17, the payout is 5:1. If both conditions occur simultaneously, the payout increases to 9:1.
If the player is holding 17 and the dealer’s up-card is an Ace, the dealer loses and the player receives the game’s top prize of 45:1. It is also possible for both the player and the dealer to have 17 – in almost all such cases, the player wins, but there is one exception. If the player’s 17 is formed by more than two cards, the current round is considered a tie.
The other thing that sets this game apart from other blackjack variations is its free chips. These free chips are available only in two situations, and they allow players to double and split for free. Players can double on hard 9, 10, and 11, and split on any pair except pairs of 10-value cards. In addition, the more free chips they collect, the higher the extra prizes they receive – 1 chip pays 3:1, 2 chips pay 10:1, and so on, while 7 chips award an extra payout of 1000:1.
Conclusion
Playtech’s Free Chip Blackjack is a unique and entertaining version of virtual blackjack, and it has an average RTP of 99.23%. In addition to the free chips and Bust Bonanza, it also offers the standard Playtech Perfect Pairs side bet.