Ever since Microgaming was established as a company, this software provider has been at the forefront of the online casino industry, developing high-quality games for its millions of fans all over the world. When it comes to table games, Microgaming ranks among the top three companies to offer them. Microgaming’s blackjack selection is especially great and there are over two dozen unique games at your disposal. However, today we would like to bring to your attention Triple Sevens Blackjack, an interesting and rewarding variation. It is played with five 52-card decks and the base game also feature high RTP values.
Basic Rules and Payouts
Triple Sevens Blackjack is not unlike every other blackjack title out there. You aim to have a better hand than the dealer and not go over the 21 limit. There are five decks in the shoe, which is a somewhat odd number where blackjack is concerned. The dealer will draw to 16 and stand on soft 17s. Whenever you win a hand the game will pay even money, however, if you score a blackjack you will take back a 3:2 payout. If both you and the dealer score blackjack, then it is considered a draw and your money is returned.
However, the interesting aspect of Triple Sevens Blackjack does not come from its base gameplay, instead, from its progressive jackpot. Called ‘progressive’ because it rises in value with every bet, this type of jackpot can incredibly large sums before it is won. In our case, there have been recorded instances where the jackpot has reached $100,000 or over. If won, the jackpot will revert back to its default value and the process repeats.
So how do you got about winning this jackpot? This is where the namesake of the game – the Triple Sevens bet – comes into play. This side bet is optional, valued at $1.00 and placed alongside your main one. Basically, you win the side bet whenever your hand has some form of combination with Sevens. For example, if your first card is a Seven you receive 5:1, while a Pair of Sevens pay 25:1. A Suited Pair will pay 50:1, whereas Three Sevens will net you a 250:1 reward. If you manage to get Three Suited Sevens, the payout quadruples to 1,000:1. But we are still to discuss the progressive jackpot. There are three extra Diamond Seven cards in the deck. If you somehow succeed in getting all three of them, you are awarded the progressive jackpot.
Insurance
Insurance is available whenever the dealer draws an Ace as their opening card. You can take this side bet as a failsafe against a potential dealer’s blackjack. Insurance is worth half of your stake and it pays 2:1. Should the dealer hit a blackjack you will recoup your initial bet and not suffer a loss. However, if they do not, you will lose the side bet and the money you wagered.
Double Down
Double Down is a great action to take at the appropriate times. Whenever you feel your hand is better than anything the dealer can get, you should Double Down and increase the size of your bet twofold. You will be dealt one more card and stand. You can do so on your opening hand if it has a value of 9, 10, or 11. You can also Double Down after you split a pair.
Splitting
Splitting is a core function of blackjack variations and it is also available in Triple Sevens Blackjack whenever you are dealt a pair of identical cards. Doing so, you will add another bet on the table and separate your hand into two individual ones. If one of your split hands involves an Ace and a 10-value card, this is not considered blackjack. Moreover, you can also Double Down after splitting a hand.
Triple Sevens Blackjack House Edge and RTP
The house edge and RTP values of any game are important and they indicate how fair it is in terms of odds. In the case of Triple Sevens Blackjack, the base game has an RTP percentage of over 99%, much like most good blackjack variations. However, the Triple Sevens side bet is a different story. Since the odds of winning the jackpot do not change but the payout does, the house edge is always fluctuating. There is some complicated math behind this and we will not bother you with that, but remember that the lower the jackpot is the higher the house edge goes. Ideally, you want to play for the jackpot when it starts nearing $100,000.