Felt Gaming is a relatively new provider of online casino software, established in 2013. The company has launched a strong selection of online table games, including a solid set of blackjack variations whose most distinctive trait is the wide range of available side bets.
At the time of writing, Felt Gaming offers as many as nine blackjack games for online play. The portfolio may not seem impressive in terms of size, especially when compared with the rich suites of long-standing studios like Microgaming and Playtech.
However, new Felt releases are launched all the time, so the company’s selection is constantly expanding with new blackjack titles. Perhaps more important is the fact that Felt Gaming creates highly authentic online blackjack games that perfectly capture the atmosphere of Las Vegas land-based casinos.
The software studio has sealed content supply deals with some of the most reputable gambling operators in the industry, including big names like LeoVegas, Betsson, Bwin, William Hill, Unibet, Mr Green, and bet365.
Continue reading if you are interested in learning more about Felt Gaming and its bespoke online blackjack variations as we explore their features, side bets, and key rules. We also include detailed information about Felt’s best blackjack variants, which you can play online for free or for real money.
Key Rules in Felt Gaming’s Blackjack Variations
Another great thing about Felt Gaming’s blackjack suite is that every game offers player-friendly rules that lower the house edge. Even better, the rules are consistent across all blackjack releases, making them easier to remember. Let’s examine some of the key rules you will find in Felt’s variations of 21. The house edge is roughly 0.37% with perfect basic strategy under the set of rules we describe below.
Decks
Dealer Rules
Odds
Splitting Rules
Doubling Down Rules
Insurance
Surrender
Decks
Felt’s blackjack is dealt from a virtual shoe that contains six full decks. The cards are shuffled by the Random Number Generator before each round begins, so advantage play is obviously not an option. The best you can do is follow perfect basic strategy to reduce the house edge to a manageable level. The use of six decks adds 0.02% to the casino’s advantage.
Dealer Rules
The dealer rules are identical across all Felt blackjack variations. The dealer hits to 16 and always stands on soft 17, which is great for the player because the S17 rule decreases the house advantage by 0.22%.
Felt Gaming has yet to release a European-style version of the classic game. Hole cards are in play in all current variants, meaning the virtual dealer receives one face-up and one face-down card. The hole card is revealed only after the players have completed their hands. For the peek rule, Felt’s virtual dealers check for blackjacks whenever their upcard is a ten or an ace.
Odds
The blackjack odds are the same in all variations. When the player’s starting hand consists of an ace and a ten-value card, they receive a bonus payout of 3 to 2, which means you get 1.5x your stake. However, if you split pairs and then draw a ten or an ace, the hand is counted as a regular 21 rather than a blackjack.
Splitting Rules
The splitting rules in Felt’s games are not as liberal as those in some other online blackjack variations, but the provider compensates with one special rule. Players can draw after splitting aces, a feature rarely available in other online versions of the game. Aside from this, you can split only once because resplitting is unavailable. Doubling down after a split is permitted.
Doubling Down Rules
The doubling down rules are not as flexible as in some other online blackjack variants. Here, players can double down only when their first two cards total 9, 10, or 11. These restrictions are unfavorable from the player’s perspective because they increase the house edge by 0.09%.
Insurance
Insurance against dealer blackjacks is offered when the dealer’s first card is an ace. Winning insurance bets pay at the standard odds of 2 to 1. When playing three betting spots simultaneously, players can decline or accept insurance for all three hands with a single mouse click, something we find particularly useful.
Nevertheless, we suggest you avoid this side wager because it carries a very high house edge and barely improves your winning odds. The software lets you turn off insurance prompts entirely, so the virtual dealer will never offer this annoying and disadvantageous bet.
Surrender
Neither late nor early surrender is available in the blackjack variations Felt Gaming has released so far. This omission works to the players’ detriment because it prevents them from folding bad hands like 16 or 15 against the dealer’s 10 and saving half of their original stakes.
Felt’s Blackjack Side Bets
The most distinctive trait of Felt Gaming’s blackjack variations is that they offer a wide range of additional betting options. These come in the form of exciting side bets that provide significantly higher returns than those available in the main game.
The software developer has dedicated an individual game to each group of side bets, although one version incorporates all of them. While thrilling, these wagers should not be placed regularly because they carry higher house edges, as you will see in the paragraphs below.
21+3 Bets
Perfect Pairs
Lucky Ladies
Lucky Lucky
Buster Side Bets
Suit ‘Em Up
21+3 Bets
21+3 is a group of side bets in which the player must form a qualifying poker hand using their initial two cards and the dealer’s upcard. The available wagers and their payouts are as follows: suited trips (100 to 1), straight flush (40 to 1), three of a kind (25 to 1), straight (10 to 1), and flush (5 to 1). The overall house edge for this group is 7.14%.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs is a group of side wagers featured in Felt’s dedicated variation of the same name, as well as in 6+1 Blackjack. These bets win whenever the player’s first two cards form a pair. Mixed pairs pay 6 to 1, while colored and perfect pairs pay 12 to 1 and 25 to 1, respectively. For reference, a perfect pair consists of two suited cards of the same rank. The house edge for Perfect Pairs is 6.11%.
Lucky Ladies
Lucky Ladies is another exciting category of optional wagers that Felt borrowed from Las Vegas casinos. These bets win whenever the player has certain pairs, a total of 20, or draws a Queen of any suit. The group features the following wagers: paired Queens of Hearts (100 to 1), matched suited twenty (30 to 1), suited twenty (10 to 1), and any Queen (even money). The house edge for Lucky Ladies is also high at 6.22%.
Lucky Lucky
Lucky Lucky side bets win whenever the dealer’s upcard and the player’s first two cards total 19, 20, or 21. Bonus payouts are awarded for the following hands: suited 7/7/7 (200 to 1), suited 6/7/8 (100 to 1), offsuit 7/7/7 (50 to 1), offsuit 6/7/8 (25 to 1), suited 21 (15 to 1), any 21 (3 to 1), any 20 (2 to 1), and any 19 (2 to 1). The house edge is relatively tolerable at 3.95%.
Buster Side Bets
Buster side bets form another unique group of wagers in which the player receives an extra payout when the dealer busts with a specific number of cards. These differ from the rest of the side wagers because they are settled after the dealer plays out their hand rather than immediately after the initial deal.
If you are lucky, they can earn you the following payouts: dealer busts with 8 or more cards when the player has blackjack (2,000 to 1), dealer busts with 7 or more cards against a player blackjack (800 to 1), an 8-card or more dealer bust (250 to 1), a 7-card bust (50 to 1), a 6-card bust (18 to 1), a 5-card bust (4 to 1), and a 3- or 4-card bust (2 to 1). The house edge for this group is 6.20%.
Suit ‘Em Up
Suit ‘Em Up bets are somewhat similar to Perfect Pairs. The player must obtain one of the following paired hands after the initial deal to collect a bonus payout: suited blackjacks (10 to 1), suited aces (50 to 1), any suited pair (5 to 1), suited 11 (3 to 1), and suited other (2 to 1). The casino holds an advantage of 4.65% with these side wagers.
Felt Gaming Perfect Pairs Blackjack
| Perfect Pairs Blackjack |
| Decks |
6 |
| RTP |
99.63% base game; 93.89% Perfect Pairs side bet |
| Blackjack Payout |
3 to 2 |
| Dealer Standing |
Dealer stands on soft 17 |
| Peek |
Yes |
| Double Down |
Players can double down only on totals of 9, 10, or 11 |
| Double Down after a Split |
Yes |
| Split |
Players can split once per hand |
| Hit Split Aces |
Yes |
| Surrender |
No |
| Insurance |
Yes |
| Insurance Payout |
2 to 1 |
Felt Gaming Blackjack Suit’em Up
| Blackjack Suit’em Up |
| Decks |
6 |
| RTP |
99.63% base game; 95.35% Suit’em Up side bet |
| Blackjack Payout |
3 to 2 |
| Dealer Standing |
Dealer stands on soft 17 |
| Peek |
Yes |
| Double Down |
Players can double down only on totals of 9, 10, or 11 |
| Double Down after a Split |
Yes |
| Split |
Players can split once per hand |
| Hit Split Aces |
Yes |
| Surrender |
No |
| Insurance |
Yes |
| Insurance Payout |
2 to 1 |
Must-Try Online Blackjack Variations by Felt Gaming
Felt Gaming’s blackjack suite is a proven performer across many reputable online casinos, and rightfully so. The games check almost all the right boxes in terms of functionality, playability, design, and authenticity.
The only aspects that need improvement are some of the playing conditions. We would like to see more flexible doubling and splitting rules in future Felt Gaming releases, and a suite of live dealer games would also be a welcome addition to the studio’s roster. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of Felt’s best blackjack offerings so far.
Caribbean Blackjack
Blackjack Plus
Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Buster Blackjack
Suit ‘Em Up Blackjack
Caribbean Blackjack
Caribbean Blackjack is a noteworthy achievement for Felt Gaming because it is an innovative and unorthodox variation that completely changes traditional blackjack gameplay. The variant borrows heavily from Caribbean Stud Poker, and, more importantly, it is linked to a progressive jackpot, a feature found in only a few blackjack games.
The interface is available in eight languages, catering to an international audience. The game is fully cross-compatible and runs smoothly on a wide range of portable devices. Another highlight is the extensive set of side wagers that give you a chance to win a portion of the progressive pool or even the entire jackpot.
To win the side bets, you must form a qualifying five-card poker hand. You play two hands each round, so the poker hand consists of the first two cards from each hand and the dealer’s face-up card. There is also a Five Card Bonus. Consult the table below for the exact payouts.
Caribbean Blackjack Paytables for the Progressive and Five Card Bonus Side Bets
| Progressive Side Bet |
Five Card Bonus Side Bet |
| Event |
|
Payout |
Event |
Payout |
| Royal Flush |
|
Jackpot |
Royal Flush |
250 to 1 |
| Straight Flush |
|
$2,500 |
Straight Flush |
150 to 1 |
| 4 of a Kind |
|
$250 |
4 of a Kind |
25 to 1 |
| Full House |
|
$100 |
Full House |
50 to 1 |
| Flush |
|
$25 |
Flush |
7 to 1 |
| Straight |
|
$10 |
Straight |
4 to 1 |
| 3 of a Kind |
|
$5 |
3 of a Kind |
3 to 1 |
| # |
|
# |
Two Pairs |
2 to 1 |
| # |
|
# |
One Pair (A-T) |
1 to 1 |
| # |
|
# |
One Pair (9-2) |
Pushes |
Blackjack Plus
Blackjack Plus is one of the studio’s latest blackjack releases and introduces unique features that are absent from most other games. The headline addition is the Autoplay feature, which lets the virtual dealer automatically play a set number of hands according to perfect basic strategy.
The game also offers a new customization option that allows you to change the color of the virtual felt, with several choices, including less traditional shades like gray. The gameplay speed is fully adjustable, with three settings: slow, medium, and high. Activating the Speed Pay feature further accelerates the action.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Perfect Pairs is a classic in the Felt blackjack canon because this group includes the most popular side wagers in the game of 21. These bets win whenever the player’s first two cards form a pair, with the top payout of 25 to 1 awarded for two suited cards of the same rank.
The game allows you to place up to three side bets alongside three main-game wagers. The minimum stake for the side bets is only $0.10, so placing them occasionally is not expensive. Perfect Pairs features a blue table felt and all the enhancements mentioned earlier, including a tutorial, Speed Pay, and the option to turn off insurance completely.
Buster Blackjack
Buster Blackjack gives you another reason to celebrate when the virtual dealer goes over 21. The game includes a range of proposition bets in which you essentially wager that the dealer will bust. The number of cards the dealer draws to bust, and in some cases their exact value, determines the payout.
The top bonus payout (2,000 to 1) is awarded when you have a blackjack and the dealer busts with eight or more cards. Otherwise, the game adheres to the standard Felt rules discussed earlier, yielding a house edge of just 0.37%. Although it lacks the extensive customization options of Blackjack Plus, Buster Blackjack still offers Speed Pay and the ability to control dealer and background sounds.
Suit ‘Em Up Blackjack
Suit ‘Em Up Blackjack is another standout title from Felt Gaming, impressing with its design, playability, and authentic sound effects. You can even hear the swish of the cards as they are dealt.
The Suit ‘Em Up side bets debuted on the Las Vegas Strip in 2013 and quickly spread to North America’s land-based casinos before Felt brought them online. The top prize is 50 to 1 for a pair of suited Aces. Suit ‘Em Up Blackjack delivers a life-like casino experience, an intuitive interface, and an ultra-modern design.
Felt Gaming Buster Blackjack
| Buster Blackjack |
| Decks |
6 |
| RTP |
99.63% base game; 93.80% Buster Blackjack side bet |
| Blackjack Payout |
3 to 2 |
| Dealer Standing |
Dealer stands on soft 17 |
| Peek |
Yes |
| Double Down |
Players can double down only on totals of 9, 10, or 11 |
| Double Down after a Split |
Yes |
| Split |
Players can split once per hand |
| Hit Split Aces |
Yes |
| Surrender |
No |
| Insurance |
Yes |
| Insurance Payout |
2 to 1 |
Felt Gaming Blackjack Plus
| Blackjack Plus |
| Decks |
6 |
| RTP Base Game |
99.63% |
| RTP Perfect Pairs Side Bet |
93.89% |
| RTP 21+3 Side Bet |
92.86% |
| RTP Lucky Ladies Side Bet |
93.78% |
| RTP Lucky Lucky Side Bet |
96.05% |
| RTP Suit’em Up Side Bet |
95.35% |
| RTP Buster Blackjack Side Bet |
99.63% |
| Blackjack Payout |
3 to 2 |
| Dealer Standing |
Dealer stands on soft 17 |
| Peek |
Yes |
| Double Down |
Players can double down on any two cards |
| Double Down after a Split |
Yes |
| Split |
Players can split once per hand |
| Hit Split Aces |
Yes |
| Surrender |
No |
| Insurance |
Yes |
| Insurance Payout |
2 to 1 |
