Blackjack's payouts are simple; the catch is in one of them. A natural pays 3:2 at a good table - and the tables that quietly pay 6:5 instead are how the house turns the best game on the floor into an average one. Played with basic strategy, the edge sits around 0.5%.
| Outcome | Pays |
|---|---|
| Natural blackjack (Ace + 10-value) | 3:2 (the standard) — beware 6:5 |
| Beating the dealer | 1:1 (even money) |
| Insurance (when offered) | 2:1 — but a bad bet |
| Push (tie with dealer) | Bet returned |
| Bust or losing hand | Lose the bet |
Unlike most games, blackjack's edge isn't fixed - it depends first on whether you play correctly. With perfect basic strategy on standard rules, the edge is about 0.5%, the lowest of any casino game. Play on instinct and you hand the house several extra points for free. The rules matter too: a 6:5 natural payout, or a dealer who hits soft 17, each nudge the edge up.
The single most important number at the table is what a blackjack pays. 3:2 pays $15 on a $10 bet; 6:5 pays only $12 and roughly triples the house edge for the same game. It's printed on the felt - check before you sit. Full breakdown: 3:2 vs 6:5 blackjack.
Insurance pays 2:1 and is offered when the dealer shows an Ace, but it carries about a 7% house edge - always decline it.
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A natural blackjack pays 3:2 at a standard table — $15 on a $10 bet. Some tables pay only 6:5 ($12), which roughly triples the house edge, so always look for 3:2.
About 0.5% with perfect basic strategy on standard rules — the lowest of any casino game. Playing without strategy, or at a 6:5 table, raises it substantially.
Insurance pays 2:1, but the dealer makes blackjack only about 31% of the time while the bet needs 33% to break even — roughly a 7% house edge. Decline it.