Part I: Games & Gaming · Card Games — Baccarat & Blackjack

Perfect Pairs

Blackjack (Side Bet)

A popular blackjack side bet that pays when a player’s first two cards form a pair. Payouts are tiered: a Mixed Pair (same rank, different color and suit) typically pays 5:1; a Colored Pair (same rank and color, different suit) pays 10-12:1; and a Perfect Pair (identical card — same rank and suit) pays 25-30:1.

In practice

Perfect Pairs carries a house edge of 2-11% depending on the paytable and number of decks. It is one of the most common blackjack side bets globally. Surveillance should ensure the side bet is only paid on the player’s first two cards, not after splits.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.