Blackjack payouts: 3:2 vs 6:5 explained
The payout on a natural blackjack (an ace plus any 10-value card on the opening deal) is one of the most important numbers on a blackjack table. The two most common payouts are 3:2 and 6:5, and the difference between them has a big impact on your expected return.
How the payouts compare
At 3:2, a £10 blackjack pays £15. At 6:5, the same hand pays £12. That £3 difference per blackjack hand adds up quickly. A natural blackjack appears roughly once every 21 hands. Over 100 hands at £10 a hand, a player gets about 4-5 naturals. At 3:2 those hands pay £15 each. At 6:5 they pay £12 each — a difference of roughly £12-15 per 100 hands before any other rule adjustments.
The house edge impact
A 6:5 blackjack payout adds approximately 1.39% to the house edge on its own. That alone turns a game with a house edge under 0.5% into one with an edge above 1.8% — worse than many slot machines. Always check the payout before playing. Look for the text on the table felt or in the game rules. If you cannot find a 3:2 table, single-deck games sometimes carry 3:2 despite other rule differences that need evaluating separately.