What do 3:2 and 6:5 mean?
A payout ratio states the profit relative to the stake when the specified result wins. Divide the first number by the second: 3 ÷ 2 is 1.5, while 6 ÷ 5 is 1.2. Then multiply that figure by the stake. The second ratio produces less profit for an identical qualifying win, even though its first number is larger.
For an illustrative C$20 stake, the profit is C$30 at 3:2 or C$24 at 6:5. Adding back the stake gives total returns of C$50 and C$44 respectively. These examples assume the stated payout applies and no separate fee is deducted. They are arithmetic illustrations, not tested transactions, advertised table minimums or suggested stakes.
Profit is different from the total returned
Use two columns when checking a result: profit and total returned including the original stake. For the same C$10 example, 3:2 means C$15 profit and C$25 returned; 6:5 means C$12 profit and C$22 returned. Treating the C$25 total as C$25 profit counts the original stake twice. Check how the game labels its balance and settlement display.
The profit difference is 0.3 times the stake for each qualifying natural win. C$3 is 20% of C$15, so the 6:5 profit is 20% smaller than the 3:2 profit in this comparison. This is not a 20% loss on every hand, a 20-percentage-point change in house edge, or a statement about the game's overall return to player.
| Stake | 3:2 | 6:5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | $7.50 | $6.00 | $1.50 |
| $10.00 | $15.00 | $12.00 | $3.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $24.00 | $6.00 |
Arithmetic examples, not suggested stakes. For the separate checks: provinces · withdrawal times.
Does every hand totalling 21 receive that payout?
No. Loto-Québec's AGS Blackjack rules distinguish an initial ace plus a ten-value card from other combinations totalling 21. The natural-blackjack payout applies to the qualifying initial hand. A three-card 21 is a different result. Do not apply the ratio simply because the screen displays the number 21.
Loto-Québec's general casino rules describe a push when player and dealer both have blackjack; the stake is neither won nor lost. Other ordinary winning hands are paid at even money under those general rules. For any variant, read its own treatment of ties and split hands before interpreting a result. A list of card totals alone is not a complete settlement rule.
What do the Canadian primary sources actually establish?
The AGS document lists 6:5 and 3:2 configurations, rather than one payout covering every version. Separately, the general Québec casino rules say table-specific variations can replace the general payout. These documents demonstrate why the exact game and displayed table rule matter; they do not establish which table is open today or what a different operator currently offers.
OLG PlaySmart describes several blackjack variants and separate side wagers. A familiar blackjack name therefore does not establish that all rules are identical. Keep the main-hand payout and any side-bet paytable in separate notes. A large side-bet prize does not change the meaning of the main game's 3:2 or 6:5 label.
Which other rules belong in the comparison?
Record the game's full name, provider, deck configuration and the rule shown for a dealer soft 17. Québec's general rules describe soft 17 using an ace and a six, and allow different dealer drawing rules. Also record the permitted doubling, splitting and surrender options. A payout label alone is not enough to select a matching rules explanation or strategy chart.
For example, the separate Espacejeux Casino du Québec three-hand blackjack document specifies eight decks shuffled after each hand. That detail belongs to that named game, not to every product with blackjack in its title. Keep the source URL, access date and exact version alongside each observation so another reader can check whether the comparison uses the same game.
What the payout comparison cannot tell you
These calculations explain settlement of a specified winning hand. To estimate an overall expected return, you would need the complete rules, outcome probabilities and an explicitly stated model of player decisions. A short session can differ widely from such an expectation. Neither payout ratio promises income, makes a larger stake safe, or means that continuing to play will recover an earlier loss.
For a Canadian site comparison, keep three records separate: the applicable provincial product, the game's rules, and the account's withdrawal conditions. This guide does not verify a current table's availability or approve an affiliate programme. After understanding the payout, use our province and withdrawal guides for those separate checks. The CAD examples are illustrative amounts and contain no claim that we played a real-money hand.
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