What Are the Payouts for Blackjack?

In blackjack, the goal is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. Face cards are worth 10, aces are worth 1 or 11, and all other cards are worth their face value. The player must first place a bet before receiving any cards. After the player receives their two cards, they can either “hit” and receive another card from the dealer, “stand” and keep their current hand, “double down” and double their bet in exchange for one more card, or “split” their hand into two separate hands if they have two cards of the same value.

If the player goes over 21 at any point, they “bust” and lose their bet. If the player has not busted and has a higher hand than the dealer, they win 1.5 times their bet. If the player has not busted and has a hand that ties the dealer’s hand, it is a “push” and the player keeps their original bet.

There are many different payout schemes in blackjack, but most casinos use what is known as a “3:2” payout. This means that for every $2 that the player bets, they will win $3 if they win the hand (excluding pushes).

Blackjack is one of the few games in the casino where the player actually has a positive expectation; in other words, over time, they will win more money than they lose. However, this does not mean that players will always walk away winners; short-term fluctuations in luck will always occur.