What Is Blazing 7’s in Blackjack?

Blazing 7’s is a type of rare side bet in blackjack that rewards players for drawing sevens.
The more sevens the player draws, the bigger the reward, and the highest payouts offer progressive jackpots.
There are two distinct variants of the side bet and two different paytables. Both variants can use either paytable, resulting in four versions of Blazing 7’s in total.
Like most side bets, Blazing 7’s has a sizable house advantage that varies depending on the size of the current pot.

Quick Facts

Bet name	Blazing 7’s
Decks used	Six
Bet range	$1-500
Min payout	2:1
Max payout	Progressive jackpot
House edge	48.25 – 53.34% (not accounting for progressive payouts)
Availability	Only available in select land-based casinos

How the Side Bet Works

The Blazing 7’s side bet in blackjack is incredibly straightforward and doesn’t require a lot of knowledge to play. However, we still recommend being familiar with the basics of blackjack before attempting to play.

The bet pays based on the number, color, and sometimes suit of any 7s drawn at the beginning of the game. However, the two versions are different based on which cards they look at to find those sevens.

In both cases, all you need to do to play is place your chips at the designated position for the Blazing 7’s bet. Here’s how the bets work once the chips are down:

Version 1

Pays based on how many sevens the player draws with their first three cards.
If the player draws one or two sevens as their initial two cards, they win a 2:1 or 25:1 payout, respectively.
If the player hits and draws a third seven, they win one of the higher rewards based on the relevant paytable.
If the player doesn’t hit, they don’t draw a third card and thus can’t win more than 25:1.
If the dealer hits blackjack, the player doesn’t draw a third card and thus can’t win more than 25:1

Version 2

Pays based on how many sevens appear in the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card.
If the player draws one or two sevens as their initial two cards, they win a 2:1 or 25:1 payout, respectively. The dealer’s up-card is not counted when it comes to these two prizes.
However, this variant means that at least three cards will always be drawn. As such, you can win any potential prize in any round.
This version of Blazing 7’s can win or lose regardless of the main round outcome.

While similar in most ways, the two versions of Blazing 7’s are still significantly different in terms of probability. As such, carefully check the rules and paytables of any table you’re playing on. Ensure that you understand which variant of the wager is offered and how it works.

Paytables

There are also two distinct Blazing 7’s paytables with different payout spreads. The main difference between the two is that one pays the full jackpot on any three sevens of the same suit, while the other only pays the jackpot for thee sevens of diamonds.

Note that both Version 1 and Version 2 of Blazing 7’s can have either of these two paytables. That means that there are actually four variants of the size bet depending on which combination of rules and payouts the table is using.

Here are the two paytables side by side for easy comparison:

Outcome	Paytable 1	Paytable 2
One seven	2:1	2:1
Two sevens	25:1	25:1
Three sevens	200:1	200:1
Three sevens of the same color	10% of Jackpot	500:1
Three sevens of the same suit	100% of Jackpot	10% of Jackpot

Broadly speaking, the first paytable has a smaller house advantage than the second, regardless of which version of the side bet you’re playing.

Probabilities

To better understand the probabilities for every outcome in Blazing 7’s, we’ve compiled all of the data on the table below.

It directly compares the probability of hitting any winning outcome between the two variants of the side bet.

Outcome	Version 1 Probability	Version 2 Probability
One seven	14.24%	14.24%
Two sevens	0.53%	0.52%
Three sevens	0.031%	0.031%
Three sevens of the same color	0.008%	0.0072%
Three sevens of the same suit	0.0015%	0.0012%
Three sevens of diamonds	0.0004%	0.0004%

As you can see, the bet is generally quite volatile, and any result other than two sevens requires quite a bit of luck.

Progressive Jackpot & House Advantage

It’s important to understand that Blazing 7’s is a progressive feature. That means that a portion of every bet goes towards one big pot that can be triggered using the wager’s highest-paying rewards.

In other words, the maximum payout for the bet varies based on the size of the pot. If the pot has had time to grow and swell over time, the payouts for Blazing 7’s become significantly higher.

This is an important fact if we want to consider the game’s house advantage. We highly recommend that you understand how RTP works before reading on.

As a refresher, a bet’s RTP is essentially the percentage of every bet that’s paid out to winning players, on average. As such, the RTP is based on two important figures – the probability of winning a bet and the bet’s potential payout. Broadly speaking, the more you can win with less risk, the higher a bet’s RTP will be.

However, the payouts in Blazing 7’s bets are not fixed – they’re progressive. As such, the bigger the current jackpot, the better the bet’s RTP.

That’s why the baseline house advantage of around 50% is a bit misleading – because the calculation doesn’t account for progressive features. The exact house edge is significantly lower than that due to the high rewards of jackpots. Better yet, the house edge shrinks even further as the pot grows.

Theoretically speaking, the pot could grow so much that the bet actually starts offering a negative house advantage. However, this is extremely unlikely to happen.

If you want to know more about blackjack probabilities and how to calculate them, our blackjack strategy calculator can help you find the statistically optimal move in any given situation.

Accounting for Progressive Features

While the exact house edge rates for Blazing 7’s are unclear, sources such as the Wizard of Odds list them as around 10-20% on average, depending on the current size of the progressive pot.

Strategy Tips

Unlike the main game of blackjack, the Blazing 7’s side bet is largely a matter of chance. You can’t directly influence which cards you’ll draw, so it just comes down to luck.

Statistically, the side bet stops having a house advantage once the jackpot reaches $500.000. Placing the bet at this moment would mean that the player has a statistical advantage over the house.
However, the pot at most tables rarely reaches over $50,000, so this info won’t be particularly helpful in most situations.
If you’re trying to hit the jackpot, it’s actually a good idea to use the minimum stake for the Blazing 7’s side bet. The reasoning is that jackpot payouts are fixed amounts and aren’t calculated based on the stake. That means that you’ll win the full pot whether you’ve wagered $5 or $500. However, the ratio between the stake and the payout is much higher if the stake is lower, indicating more favorable returns.
As such, tables with lower minimums allow you to more easily reach the point where the bet becomes favorable. For instance, some casinos allow players to place a Blazing 7’s bet with a $1 stake. In those cases, the bet becomes favorable when the pot reaches as little as $22,000.
You can also use a simple card counting technique to increase your chances of success. Our advice is to only place the bet if all sevens are still in the shoe. Assuming the game uses six decks, you should probably not make the bet if 4 or more sevens have already been discarded.

Waiting for the pot to reach a certain threshold before betting is technically a form of advantage play because it can allow players to gain a statistical advantage over the casino. However, this is extremely unlikely to happen in practice. As such, the casinos won’t prevent you from doing so.

Should You Take the Bet?

While the bet suffers from a high house advantage, there are certain points at which it’s a good idea to place it. As we’ve described above, if the pot reaches a certain threshold, the bet becomes a lot more worthwhile.

So, when should you make the Blazing 7’s Bet?

Well, that depends on the variant of the game you’re playing and the minimum bet for the side bet. Depending on these factors, you should place the bet once the pot reaches a certain point, which is often referred to as the “break-even point”.

The break-even point is the amount of money required in the progressive pot for the bet to reach 0% advantage or 100% RTP.

The table below shows you all of the break-even points for Blazing 7’s bets based on the rules variant, paytable version, and minimum bet.

	$1 Minimum Bet	$5 Minimum Bet
Version 1 – Paytable 1	$23,722.09	$118,610.45
Version 1 – Paytable 2	$97,762.40	$488,812.02
Version 2 – Paytable 1	$22,462.41	$112,312.07
Version 2 – Paytable 2	$100,216.92	$501,084.62

To reiterate, you should only place the Blazing 7’s bet once the pot reaches the specified break-even point for that specific version of the wager.

As you can see, playing tables with the first version of the paytable gives you a significantly higher chance of snagging the jackpot. However, it’s also worth noting that the second paytable makes it more difficult to win the full pot. This, in turn, means that the pot is more likely to reach high amounts because it has more time to grow.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

✅ Rare, exciting way to spice up blackjack

✅ Progressive payouts that can reach huge amounts

✅ Potential to beat the house advantage using break-even points

❌ Huge base house advantage

❌ Not worth playing unless the jackpot reaches certain thresholds

❌ Rare and only available in land-based casinos

Example Hands

If you’re still unclear about the Blazing 7’s blackjack bet and how it works, we’ll illustrate a few specific outcomes.

Let’s start with the most common potential win – a single seven. This outcome works and pays the same regardless of which version you’re playing.

Regardless of which version you’re playing, if a 7 is one of the cards in your hand, you win 2:1.

Things largely work the same for two sevens. If you draw a pair of sevens, you win 25:1.

However, note that your third card and the dealer’s up-card don’t count for these particular wins. These payouts require you to draw sevens with your initial two cards in both cases.

In the example above, only the two cards on the left count towards calculating payouts. As such, the hand above doesn’t win anything, while the one below only wins a 2:1 payout.

In both versions, the third card is used only if the first two cards are already sevens. In that case, the third card is used to determine whether there will be three sevens as well as their suit and color, all of which affect the final payout.

Blazing 7’s vs Other Blackjack Side Bets

Blazing 7’s is a relatively rare betting option that you won’t find at most tables. In fact, it’s currently only available in specific brick-and-mortar casinos all over the world.

However, we can use more common blackjack side bets as a handy reference point.

21 + 3 – This popular side wager enjoys a much lower house edge than Blazing 7’s, ranging from 2.74% to 3.60% depending on the variant and paytable. However, it also only offers fixed payouts of up to 100:1. It has no progressive elements or break-even points, so it can’t overcome the house advantage.
Perfect Pairs – Similarly enjoys a lower house edge at 4.1%. However, that’s still a fairly low RTP rate by blackjack standards, and it can’t be lowered in any way. That said, Perfect Pairs can be used in tandem with Blazing 7’s because it can ensure a double payout if you hit two sevens.
Lucky Ladies – A simple and attractive side bet that rewards any player 20-point hand, with special bonuses for hands featuring Queens. However, it has a massive house edge of 13.34% and is best avoided by strategically-minded players.

You can check out this article to find out more about common blackjack side bets, how they work, and whether they’re worth playing.

FAQ

What is blazing 7’s in blackjack?

Blazing 7’s in blackjack is a special side bet that wins whenever players draw sevens as part of their initial hand. Progressive jackpots are also paid out if the player’s third card or the dealer’s up-card is also seven.

What are the odds of hitting Blazing 7s?

The odds of winning any payout are roughly 14.82%. However, the odds of winning the full jackpot are between 0.0004% and 0.0015%, depending on the variant.

How much does Blazing 7’s in Blackjack pay?

The side bet pays 2:1 for a single seven, 25:1 for two sevens, and 200:1 for three sevens. Colored and suited combinations of 3 sevens collect a part of a progressive jackpot.

What does 777 mean in Blackjack?

This usually refers to the Blazing 7’s side bet, which awards large payouts for hitting three sevens.

Where can I play Blazing 7’s Blackjack?

The variant of the game is currently only available in land-based casinos. However, many venues all over the world have it available, ranging from casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City to European casinos in France and Italy.

Responsible Gambling Disclaimer

The Blazing 7’s side bet adds a very volatile new twist to the classic game of blackjack. However, it’s important to remember that gambling should always be approached responsibly.

Please always remember to:

Gamble for Fun, Not Profit: View gambling as a form of entertainment, not as a way to make money.
Set a Budget and Stick to It: Decide how much you are ready to spend before you start playing and never exceed that limit.
Set Time Limits: Determine how long you will play for and stick to these limits, even if the gameplay turns out to be very exciting.
Never Chase Losses: If you experience losses, resist the urge to bet more in an attempt to win back what you’ve lost, as this can lead to a cycle of increasing losses.
Know When to Stop: If you’re on a winning streak, it can be tempting to keep playing, but it’s important to know when to walk away with your winnings.
Avoid Gambling Under the Influence: Do not gamble when you’re feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Be Aware of the Odds: Understand that the house always has an edge in casino games, and there are no guaranteed winning strategies.
Seek Help if Necessary: If gambling gets out of your control, contact helpful organizations, such as:

Key Takeaways

The Blazing 7’s side bet is an exciting addition to select blackjack tables that allows players to win progressive rewards by drawing sevens.

While the wager has a massive house edge, you can overcome it by waiting for the progressive jackpot to reach certain thresholds. However, this is a rare extra feature that isn’t available in most blackjack tables. As such, waiting for the pot to reach these amounts is not a reliable strategy to beat blackjack.

If you want to try your luck in Blazing 7’s blackjack, be careful which version you’re playing and don’t bet if the pot is small and hasn’t had time to grow yet.

What Is Blazing 7’s in Blackjack?

Quick Facts

How the Side Bet Works

Version 1

Version 2

Paytables

Probabilities

Progressive Jackpot & House Advantage

Accounting for Progressive Features

Strategy Tips

Should You Take the Bet?

Pros and Cons

Example Hands

Blazing 7’s vs Other Blackjack Side Bets

FAQ

Responsible Gambling Disclaimer

Key Takeaways

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