When you're dealt a "natural blackjack" (an Ace and a 10-value card as your first two cards), the casino pays you a bonus. The two most common payout structures are 3:2 and 6:5. While they might seem similar, the difference is crucial for players.
The 3:2 payout is significantly better for the player. The shift to a 6:5 payout increases the casino's advantage (the "house edge") by about 1.4%, which is a massive disadvantage for the player over time. For that reason, experienced players actively avoid 6:5 tables.
Casinos introduced 6:5 tables, often at lower-stakes games, simply to increase their profits from players who may not know the difference.
Always look for a table where the felt or a sign explicitly states, "Blackjack Pays 3 to 2." If a table doesn't specify the payout, assume it's 6:5 and find a different table. Avoiding 6:5 games is one of the easiest and most important decisions you can make to protect your bankroll at the casino.
| Bet | 6:5 Payout | 3:2 Payout | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | $1.20 | $1.50 | -$0.30 |
| $2 | $2.40 | $3.00 | -$0.60 |
| $3 | $3.60 | $4.50 | -$0.90 |
| $4 | $4.80 | $6.00 | -$1.20 |
| $5 | $6.00 | $7.50 | -$1.50 |
| $10 | $12.00 | $15.00 | -$3.00 |
| $15 | $18.00 | $22.50 | -$4.50 |
| $20 | $24.00 | $30.00 | -$6.00 |
| $25 | $30.00 | $37.50 | -$7.50 |
| $30 | $36.00 | $45.00 | -$9.00 |
| $35 | $42.00 | $52.50 | -$10.50 |
| $40 | $48.00 | $60.00 | -$12.00 |
| $45 | $54.00 | $67.50 | -$13.50 |
| $50 | $60.00 | $75.00 | -$15.00 |
| $55 | $66.00 | $82.50 | -$16.50 |
| $60 | $72.00 | $90.00 | -$18.00 |
| $65 | $78.00 | $97.50 | -$19.50 |
| $70 | $84.00 | $105.00 | -$21.00 |
| $75 | $90.00 | $112.50 | -$22.50 |
| $80 | $96.00 | $120.00 | -$24.00 |
| $85 | $102.00 | $127.50 | -$25.50 |
| $90 | $108.00 | $135.00 | -$27.00 |
| $95 | $114.00 | $142.50 | -$28.50 |
| $100 | $120.00 | $150.00 | -$30.00 |
| $125 | $150.00 | $187.50 | -$37.50 |
| $150 | $180.00 | $225.00 | -$45.00 |
| $175 | $210.00 | $262.50 | -$52.50 |
| $200 | $240.00 | $300.00 | -$60.00 |
| $225 | $270.00 | $337.50 | -$67.50 |
| $250 | $300.00 | $375.00 | -$75.00 |
| $275 | $330.00 | $412.50 | -$82.50 |
| $300 | $360.00 | $450.00 | -$90.00 |
| $325 | $390.00 | $487.50 | -$97.50 |
| $350 | $420.00 | $525.00 | -$105.00 |
| $375 | $450.00 | $562.50 | -$112.50 |
| $400 | $480.00 | $600.00 | -$120.00 |
| $425 | $510.00 | $637.50 | -$127.50 |
| $450 | $540.00 | $675.00 | -$135.00 |
| $475 | $570.00 | $712.50 | -$142.50 |
| $500 | $600.00 | $750.00 | -$150.00 |