Many casinos are now paying 6:5 ratio on hands that are "natural" blackjack.  This is an abomination from the perspective of any regular player, and it should be something you consider seriously before venturing to the casino. 

Historically, blackjack dealers have paid 3:2 for a natural blackjack hand (that is an Ace combine with any 10 value card).  The 3:2 ratio is a bonus, and it is used to incent players to join the game, and keep them there.   Not only is it exciting to receive a blackjack, it is quite lucrative.   

Let’s examine this from the perspective of the power of the ratio.  When you receive a natural blackjack and the dealer doesn’t push (get a natural blackjack too), at a 3:2 table, you win your full bet, plus a 50% cap.  Contrast that with the 6:5 table where your natural blackjack pays you a meager 20% cap in addition to your bet.

The casinos are increasingly threatened by players who are mastering the game.  This is great!  Nonetheless, they are resorting to changing the game in ways that reduce your player advantage.  This is NOT GOOD AT ALL. 

One of the ways the house changes the player advantage is to reduce the payout on natural blackjack.  Consider the effects on your bankroll:

 A $5 bet on a 3:2 table pays $7.50 for a blackjack.

 A $5 bet on a 6:5 table pays $6 for a blackjack (a $1.50 disadvantage – not too big)

 A $100 bet on 3:2 table pays $150 for a blackjack.

 A $100 bet on a 6:5 table pays $120 for a blackjack (a $30 disadvantage – starting to be somewhat significant).

 A $500 bet on a 3:2 table pays $750 for a blackjack. 

 A $500 bet on a 5:2 table pays $600 (a $150 disadvantage)…

 Extrapolate this to higher limit tables, and you can see why this is a problem.

 When you don’t receive a full payout for a natural blackjack, which is should be your God given right at the casino, then you’re essentially starting from a deficit position.  The amount by which your payout is disadvantage could amount to multiple hands at the table minimum that you play to carry you through a losing streak.  Alternatively, it could make a big portion of your profit for the night.  The casino’s are robbing players when they pay 6:5. 

Most of the time you’ll find 6:5 payouts at single deck and 2 deck games.  However in some local casino’s they’ll pay out 6:5 on lower limit tables like $5-500 (EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE A 6 DECK CONTINUOUS SHUFFLE SHOE!).  Now that is absolute theft.

It is your responsibility to know the conditions of the table before you play.  Read the writing on the felt, and make sure it doesn’t ready “Dealer Pays 6:5 on blackjack” or you’re playing right into your own disadvantage.  There is an undercurrent afoot amongst regular blackjack players to protest these casinos by not playing there.  Only if they feel the sting in their pocketbooks at the end of the day will they resort to paying generous (appropriate) payouts on natural blackjack.