SG Digital ZAPPIT Blackjack Review — Play the Original at These Licensed Sites
The name Geoff Hall might ring a bell to hardcore gaming fans. This guy invented several new blackjack variants and then raked it in by patenting & licensing them to land-based and online casinos around the world.
One of Geoff’s signature creations is called “ZAPPIT,” a thrilling version that he eventually sold to SG Digital. ZAPPIT Blackjack online allows you to discard a 2-card hand and get another in certain situations. The original version is quite hard to find online, but we managed to locate a couple of excellent operators that have it. Read more about them and learn the rules with the help of our review.
Where to Play SG Digital ZAPPIT Blackjack Online

Fortunately, one of the most reputable and longstanding online gaming sites has this title in its portfolio. 888casino is available in the UK and most big EU markets. We checked the site’s US version for New Jersey’s residents, and it also had the game in stock. This site offers hundreds of slots & table games, including premium live dealer streams from Playtech and Evolution. New customers can start playing for free with a neat no-deposit bonus.
Examining SG Digital ZAPPIT Blackjack Rules

This game’s manual says that it plays “just like normal blackjack,” with the exception that you can swap your entire hand if the conditions are right. While we agree that the card values and the basic goal are the same, there are many other details and small changes that we need to discuss. Let’s begin:
Winning Conditions
- Ideally, you’d want to see a score of 21 from your first two cards. That way, you either win or draw with the dealer if they also get a natural. Alternatively, you can request more cards to try and get closer to that score than the dealer without going over 21;
- Draws occur whenever you and the dealer stand on hands with an equal point tally.However, SG Digital ZAPPIT Blackjack rules state that if the dealer stands on a 22 and you don’t have a natural, the game results in a push, so your money will be returned;
- You’ll lose if the house gets a higher score and when you bust your hand by going over 21;
Card & Dealer Rules
- Six 52-card French decks are in use. They are reshuffled between games;
- The house will always draw until they have at least 16 points. They stand on hard 17s (hands with no Ace in them) and hit soft ones (those that contain an Ace);
- ZAPPIT blackjack by SG Digital will check for a natural when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace or is worth 10 points. In the former case, you’ll be offered insurance;
Split & Double Down
- Splitting & doubling down is possible as the first action you take on a hand and requires you to wager an amount equal to your original bet;
- Doubling is permitted on any 2 cards, while splits require you to have a pair with an equal point value;
- When you double down, your hand receives exactly one more card and automatically stands. Hitting splits is permitted, except when dividing an Ace pair;
- You can double following a split, but re-splitting is not allowed;
ZAPPIT & Multi-Hand Mode
- According to SG Digital’s ZAPPIT Blackjack rules, you can substitute 2-card hands worth 15, 16, 17, or 18 points with an entirely new hand for free. This action isn’t possible if the hand is soft;
- You can only zap a hand once;
- If you receive a 21 as a result of zapping, it’s not considered a natural blackjack;
- Simultaneous play with up to 3 hands is possible if you place additional bets on each new position you wish to activate;
A Guide to Playing SG Digital ZAPPIT Blackjack Online

ZAPPIT Blackjack by SG Digital features new mechanics that slightly alter the recommended playstyle. Therefore, we advise you to test it and see how everything goes before wagering real cash.Fortunately, the 888 and 777 casinos present demo modes that you can play for free once you register an account. After you create a profile, follow these steps to get going:
- The easiest way to locate the title is by typing “ZAPPIT” in the search bar. Once you click on the thumbnail and a new screen appears, make sure to switch the toggle at the top of the screen from “real” to “demo.”
- After the loading screen, you’ll see a neat blue table filled with three yellow circles in the middle. SG Digital’s ZAPPIT Blackjack online is quite modern and works flawlessly on computers, phones, and tablets. You can even play in portrait mode on your smartphone, but do note that some of the buttons will move to adjust to the screen orientation.
- A row of playing chips is situated near the bottom of the screen. Select a denomination that suits you and tap on any circle you wish to activate in the following round. The “Deal” button will light up. Press it when you’re ready to play.
- Our SG Digital ZAPPIT Blackjack review team recommends using a standard basic strategy list for games in which the dealer hits soft 17s. You can get tips on how to play optimally from our dedicated “strategy” page. In some situations, you’ll need to use the “ZAPPIT” option. Read on to learn more.
When to Zap Your Hand
- Against any dealer up-card when you have a hard 15, 16, or 17;
- On a hard 18, when the dealer shows 9, 10, or an Ace;
- On a pair of 8s when the dealer shows 2-5 or 8, 9, 10, or Ace. Otherwise, split;
- Versus a 9, 10 or Ace when you’ve got two 9s;
The Payouts and Return Rates of the Thrilling Table Game
The game adheres to standard conventions in terms of payouts, so you’ll get even money for non-natural wins and 3:2 when you’re dealt a blackjack. However, SG Digital’s ZAPPIT Blackjack rules for pushing on 22 and hitting soft 17s increase the house edge, and the fact that you can zap hands doesn’t make up for it entirely.
If you stick to a basic strategy, your expected return rates stand at 98.87%. That’s lower than the 99.50% average for this gaming genre. Using insurance is suboptimal, as it comes with an RTP of 92.60%.
To Conclude
The payouts of this title might not be as rewarding as regular blackjack, but they’re still superior to most other games of chance. Overall, our experts enjoyed playing ZAPPIT Blackjack by SG Digital, as it has great graphics, smooth animations and presents a change of pace from the typical representatives of the genre.
Still, everyone has different tastes, so our advice to you is to test the game yourself. You can do it for free and in minutes if you register at the excellent websites that we’ve listed. If you make the move to real-money betting, don’t forget to browse the bonus section and pick up one of the lovely welcome promotions.