Avoid 6-5 blackjack because it pays $12 instead of $15 on a $10 blackjack, and that one change adds about 1.4 percentage points to the house edge. That makes it a bigger cost than any other common rule change. If a table’s felt or placard says “Blackjack pays 6 to 5,” look for a 3-2 game or play something else.
Difference between 6-5 and 3-2 blackjack
Blackjack can be one of the best bets in a casino. With good rules and basic strategy, a 3-2 game has a house edge well under 1%. Casinos that did not like such a small edge at low limits found an easy fix: cut the payout on a natural.
A standard blackjack game pays 3-2 when your first two cards are an ace and a ten-value card. A 6-5 game pays 1.2 to 1 instead of 1.5 to 1. It looks like a small change, but it hits the best hand you get.
In a six-deck game you are dealt a blackjack about 4.75% of the time, or roughly once every 21 hands. Here is what that costs a $10 player:
| $10 bet | 3-2 game | 6-5 game |
|---|---|---|
| Payout on a blackjack | $15 | $12 |
| Expected blackjacks per 100 hands | About 4.7 | About 4.7 |
| Extra cost per 100 hands | None | About $14 |
If you play about 70 hands an hour, that is close to $10 an hour, or one full bet, lost to the payout alone. Over a long weekend the gap adds up quickly.
Where 6-5 blackjack is common
Las Vegas is where most players run into it. Some variants always pay 6-5: Easy Blackjack, dealt at Strip casinos such as The Cosmopolitan and Treasure Island, is one. Before you sit down at a big Strip resort such as Caesars Palace or The Venetian, or any property run by Caesars Entertainment or another big operator, read the table sign.
Single-deck games are the classic trap. Many players have heard that single deck is the best way to play, but every single-deck game left in Las Vegas pays 6-5, which wipes out the benefit of the single deck. The famous 3-2 single-deck game at El Cortez closed in April 2024.
Some Nevada casinos do not deal a traditional 3-2 game at all; in downtown Las Vegas, Binion’s is one of them. For tables that still pay 3-2, from about $10 downtown and sometimes $5 in locals casinos, see our guide to the best blackjack in Las Vegas.
How to spot a 6-5 table
Every table that pays 6-5 has to show it, either on a placard or printed on the felt where 3-2 games say “Blackjack pays 3 to 2.” Check before you buy in, and check again if you move tables, because low-limit tables are the ones most likely to change rules. Most video blackjack machines in Las Vegas pay 6-5 too, so read the screen before you play.
If the only low-limit tables in the casino pay 6-5, you have better options:
- Raise your bet to the minimum of a 3-2 table if your bankroll allows it.
- Walk to another casino. Downtown and locals casinos are the usual places for low-limit 3-2 games.
- Play a different game, such as the pass line with odds at craps.
Blackjack online
In states that license online casinos, most online real money blackjack games pay 3-2, and online tables usually take smaller bets than a casino floor. Check the rules screen for the payout before you play, and stick to sites licensed in your state. Nevada does not license online casino games.
6-5 blackjack FAQ
How much worse is 6-5 blackjack?
It adds about 1.4 percentage points to the house edge compared with the same game paying 3-2.
Is single-deck 6-5 better than six-deck 3-2?
No. The lower payout costs far more than the single deck saves you, so a 3-2 shoe game is the better choice.
Can I find 3-2 blackjack in Las Vegas?
Yes. Downtown casinos deal 3-2 games from about $10, and many locals casinos deal them too, sometimes from $5.
Please gamble responsibly. In the US, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (call or text).