# Why 3:2 and 6:5 blackjack payouts matter

> Blackjack pays 3 to 2 or 6 to 5: worked arithmetic on a £10 stake, where to find the payout in a table's rules, and what is still unchecked.

Source: https://seatcheck.uk/blackjack-pays-3-to-2-or-6-to-5/
Updated: 2026-11-13

A blackjack paying 3:2 returns £15 of profit on a £10 stake, while 6:5 returns £12, so a 6:5 table pays £3 less on every natural you are dealt. This applies to a £10 stake as of 13 November 2026. It depends on the payout printed in the table's rules and on how frequently naturals occur, a frequency we have not published.

## The arithmetic on four stakes

The payout is quoted as profit against stake. Your stake is returned on top.

**Profit on one natural, 3:2 against 6:5 · derived, checked 13 November 2026**

| Stake | Profit at 3:2 | Profit at 6:5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| £5 | £7.50 | £6.00 | £1.50 |
| £10 | £15.00 | £12.00 | £3.00 |
| £25 | £37.50 | £30.00 | £7.50 |
| £100 | £150.00 | £120.00 | £30.00 |

Formula: profit = stake × 3 ÷ 2, or stake × 6 ÷ 5. The difference is one fifth of the stake, 20% of it.

**Takeaway:** at 6:5 each natural pays one fifth of the stake less than at 3:2.

## Why it matters for the house edge

A lower payout on naturals raises the house edge. We do not publish a percentage here because no provider figure has been read. The term is defined in [House edge in blackjack, defined](https://seatcheck.uk/house-edge/).

Other rules move the edge too, such as soft 17 and the number of decks, and they are compared in [Payout and dealer rules published for live blackjack tables](https://seatcheck.uk/blackjack-rule-variants-snapshot/).

**Takeaway:** the payout is one rule among several, but it is the easiest one to read.

## Where to find the payout

The payout is printed in the table's rules or information panel and on the provider's rules page. Some lobbies label it on the table. Steps are in [Reading a live blackjack table's rules in five steps](https://seatcheck.uk/read-live-blackjack-table-rules/).

Do not rely on a review or an assistant's answer. Read the table you are about to join.

**Takeaway:** read the rules panel before you stake.

## Operator snapshot

**Blackjack payout shown in live lobby: source, date · checked 13 November 2026**

| Candidate operator (licence to be confirmed) | Payout shown |
|---|---|
| bet365 | Not checked |
| William Hill | Not checked |
| Coral and Ladbrokes | Not checked |
| LeoVegas | Not checked |
| Grosvenor Casinos | Not checked |
| 888casino | Not checked |

**Takeaway:** the presence of 6:5 at an operator is shown by a dated snapshot, never by memory.

## What the gap adds up to

The gap per natural is one fifth of the stake, so over n naturals it is n × stake ÷ 5.

**Total shortfall at 6:5 against 3:2, £10 stake · derived, checked 13 November 2026**

| Naturals dealt to you | Shortfall at 6:5 |
|---|---|
| 5 | £15 |
| 10 | £30 |
| 20 | £60 |

The number of naturals a session brings is a frequency we have not published, so we give no forecast. The check takes seconds before you sit down.

**Takeaway:** the shortfall is linear in the number of naturals, and reading the rules panel costs nothing.

## How we checked this

The table is our arithmetic and can be repeated with a calculator. No lobby or provider page was read on 13 November 2026. Report an error through [Wrong figure on a Seatcheck page? Report it here](https://seatcheck.uk/corrections/).

## FAQ

**What does 3:2 mean at blackjack?**

A natural pays three units of profit for every two staked. On £10 that is £15 of profit, and your £10 stake comes back as well.

**What does 6:5 mean?**

A natural pays six units of profit for every five staked. On £10 that is £12 of profit, which is £3 less than at 3:2.

**Where do I find the payout at a live table?**

In the table's rules or information panel, and on the provider's published rules page. Read it before you take a seat.

**Which of the six candidate operators show 6:5 tables?**

We have not checked. As of 13 November 2026 no lobby snapshot is published, so we make no statement from memory.

**How much is the difference over many hands?**

It is £3 per natural on a £10 stake, so 20 naturals would be £60. How frequently naturals occur is a frequency we have not published.