Blazing 7’s Blackjack
Side bets are a popular way to add some excitement to your blackjack sessions. The core game is popular – although with wins and losses in one or two betting units each time – it does not have the big win potential of many other casino table games.
Over the years, multiple side bets have been created to add that big win potential. Blazing 777 Blackjack was created by Bally (now part of Scientific Games). This gives you prizes based on the number of 7’s you are dealt. They can include a big progressive jackpot.
As you’ll see below, the 7’s themed side bet is completely independent from the hand against the dealer. There are different pay tables and rules found in different casinos. Whether you are enjoying blackjack in your local casino or playing real money blackjack online – there is little doubt that adding a side-bet can make the game a lot more exciting.
Basics: How the Blazing 777 Blackjack side bet works
To play this side bet, you’ll place an additional wager separately from the main game. In live casinos this is typically a $5 bet. Note than this does not need to be the same size as your bet on the blackjack hand. That will be a function of your bankroll and the table minimum in your casino.
After the cards are drawn, you are paid on the side bet depending on how many 7’s and what suit they are. A single 7’s in your own hand triggers the minimum prize.
There are two versions of the rules for this game that kick in when you are dealt two 7’s. Either:
- The dealer’s up card is counted as the 3rd card, or
- The next card a player draws is counted
When the dealer gets a blackjack, only your two cards count (capping the side bet prize at two 7’s for that hand).
Blazing 7’s Blackjack: Progressive jackpots
You’ll need to account for the size of the progressive jackpot, how it is won and whether there is a percentage of the jackpot secondary prize to fully understand the 777’s side bet.
There are two ways this is paid:
- Any suited 7-7-7
- Only 7-7-7 in Diamonds
The size of any progressives is key to the house edge of this bet. Typically, the ‘regular’ prizes for one, two or three (unsuited) 7’s returns only 50% (approximately) of the bets placed. Obviously, this is a terrible bet for the player. When you take the jackpot into account, the bet has the potential to have a positive long-term expectation. This would need the main prize to be more than $500,000 – which is a rare occurrence for this side-bet.
A positive expectation accounting for the progressive does not accurately describe the experience of most players. This type of bet is more for entertainment and the excitement of knowing you are at least in with a shot at a huge prize should the cards fall your way.
Typical pay tables for Blazing 7’s Blackjack
Here are pay tables which include different ways of paying the progressive jackpot. Note that there are regular small returns for hitting one or two 7’s in addition to the bigger prizes.
Pay Table Type 1
- 7-7-7 of the same suit: Pays progressive jackpot
- 7-7-7 of the same color: 10% of current progressive
- 7-7-7 of any color / suit: 200 to 1
- Any 2 sevens: 25 to 1
- Single 7: 2 to 1
Pay Table Type 2
- 7-7-7 in Diamonds: Pays progressive jackpot
- 7-7-7 of the same suit: 10% of current progressive
- 7-7-7 of the same color: 500 to 1
- 7-7-7 of any color / suit: 200 to 1
- Any 2 sevens: 25 to 1
- Any 1 seven: 2 to 1
With pay table 2 making it harder to win the progressive, this has a chance to go far higher than for the first version before it is won.
Odds of Hitting 7’s in Blackjack Hands
Blazing 777 Blackjack pays out reasonably frequently, with each dealt hand having at two shots at hitting a 7. The odds of multiple 7’s shrink fast, with the odds of them being suited very small. The probabilities below are based on a typical blackjack game with 6 decks of cards per shoe.
- No Win: This will happen just over 85% of the time
- One 7: 14.2% of the time
- Two 7’s: 0.005% of the time
- Three 7’s: 0.0003% of the time
- Three Colored 7’s: 0.000068%
- Three Suited 7’s: 0.000015%
- Three Diamond 7’s: 0.000004%
Those are long odds, though the big returns when you do hit will definitely make for a memorable blackjack session.
What other Blackjack side bets can I play?
Blazing 7’s Blackjack is a popular combination of the great game and a jackpot side bet. You can find this (and similar bets based on 7’s) both live and online. There are many other ways that blackjack has been adapted with side bets to make up for the single (or rarely 2x or more when you double or split) wins and losses.
Here are some of the more popular ones:
- Perfect Pairs: This pays out if your own cards are paired. Expect huge prizes (including jackpots) if you get dealt a pair of black aces.
- 21+3 Side Bet: For this bet, your two cards and the dealer’s up card count. Prizes are based loosely on poker hands. Expect a big prize for a mini-royal, and prizes for flushes and straights.
- Lucky Ladies: Picture cards are a welcome sight in Blackjack. In this side bet, queens have a special role. The best prize comes when you have a pair of queens in hearts, when the dealer gets a blackjack.
Wrapping up: Blazing 777 Blackjack
Side bets do have a bigger house edge than the main blackjack game. What you get in return for giving up some ‘expected value’ is a shot at a big prize. With this side bet, that prize can sometimes involve a big progressive jackpot. If you’ve never played Blazing 777’s, you are welcome to test the game out above. If you run out of credits on our free blackjack game, refresh your browser and the game will reload with more demo credits.
With the main game paying out wins in one or two units of your bet, a way to win 200+ units when you do get lucky is a popular addition. You’ll get paid for a single 7 – though the big money comes when you get 3 of them, preferably in the same suit.