Pai Gow Poker uses cards, but it takes much of its name from a classic Chinese game that uses dominos. It was created in 1985 by Sam Torosian, although he was misinformed about patent laws regarding card games and never made any money off his invention.

• For example, Fortune Pai Gow Poker is a variant that allows you to make a $5 side bet on the ranking value of your 7-card hand. If you have a 4 of a kind, you’ll receive an additional “Envy Bonus.” Another version of the game is called Jackpot Pai Gow Poker. As the name implies, it allows you to make a side bet on an exclusive jackpot.
• Pai Gow Mania – This offers two side bets based on your first three cards, and then on all seven of your cards. Fortune Pai Gow – You make a side bet on a poker hand ranking of trips or better. This is one of the more popular variations. Emperors Challenge – This is a side bet on a seven-card pai gow (no hand).
• Pai Gow Poker with Bonus Side Bets. 95% of the Pai Gow Poker Tables in Las Vegas offer side bets. The only casino off the top of our head we can think of not offering a side bet is Treasure Island. Fortune Pai Gow Poker Progressive.

While the game is relatively new, it has enjoyed a great deal of success thanks to the opportunity for side wagers and big hands, as well as the presence of the semi-wild joker card. With the rise of online gambling, it has continued to grow in popularity thanks to its presence in most virtual casinos.

If you’ve ever wanted to know how to play the game, this article has you covered. In addition to detailing the basic rules, we’ll also discuss side bets and some basic strategy. Even if you’ve never played before, it’s our hope that you’ll leave this article with enough knowledge to jump right into a game.

Pai Gow Poker Variations and Side Bets. Since it was invented back in the 80s, Pai Gow Poker has gained a lot of popularity, and this has resulted in the rise of several different variations of the game. With these different verisons there will also come with some side bets.

The game is played with a standard set of 52 cards, as well as a single joker. While the joker isn’t always wild, it can serve as an ace and also be used to complete any of the following: royal flush, straight flush, flush, or straight.

Up to seven players can take part in a game of Pai Gow Poker. Each of these individuals is playing against the banker (or dealer). At online casinos, the house almost always acts as the banker.

In land-based casinos, players sometimes alternate in the role of the banker, although the house dealer continues to distribute the cards. In such instances, the dealer also plays a hand. In order to be the banker, a player has to have enough chips in front of them to cover all bets made by the other players.

Each player begins by making a bet that’s at least the amount of the table minimum. Once this happens, the players and the dealer each receive seven cards.

The player must now arrange his cards into a five-card hand (“high hand”) and a two-card hand (“low hand”). The high hand must have a superior poker value to the low hand.

The standard poker rankings are used throughout the game. The only exception is a straight comprised of A2345, which is considered the second best straight in the game. This rule isn’t always in place in casinos, so be sure to check before play begins.

The best ranking possible for the low hand is a pair. Otherwise, the value of each card is used to determine its strength.

Once all players have set their hands, the banker reveals his cards and begins to do the same. Casino employees must arrange their cards according to a pre-determine set of rules known as the “house way.” A player acting as banker, however, may arrange the cards in any manner that they choose.

Next, the dealer compares their hand against each player, starting with the high hand. If the player wins both hands, they receive an even money payout with a 5% commission taken out for the banker. If the player loses or ties on both hands, then the house collects their entire bet. If the player wins one and ties one, then their wager is considered a push.

In games where a player acts as banker, this role is supposed to rotate or zig-zag around the table. If a player does not wish to be the banker, they may decline. In this case, the right moves on to the next player in line (who may also pass on it).

Pai Gow Strategy Made Simple

You’ll find a number of strategies for Pai Gow Poker scattered across the Internet, and some are more complex than others. In this section, it’s my intention to present some basic tips that should improve your game without giving you a headache at the same time.

• If you have a poor hand with no pairs, straights, or flushes, make sure the high hand contains your best card. The next best two cards should be allotted to your low hand.
• If you have two pair, and the highest pair is jacks through aces, split the pairs by putting the best one in the high hand and the other in the low hand. The exception to this rule occurs when the second pair is deuces. When this happens, play the two pair together in the high hand and move the two highest remaining cards to the low hand.
• If you have two pair of tens through deuces, split them unless you have an ace. If this happens, play the two pair in the high hand along with the ace and move the next highest card to the low hand.
• If you have three pair, move the highest pair into the low hand.
• If you have a three-of-a-kind, play them together unless they’re aces. In that case, leave a pair of aces in the high hand and move the other ace—along with the next highest card—into the low hand.
• If you have four-of-a-kind comprised of aces or face cards, then always split them. The only exception is when you also have another pair. In this case, use it in the low hand instead.
• If you have four-of-a-kind comprised of sevens through tens, split them. The exception is when you also have an ace or better. If this is the case, keep the four cards in the high hand and move the others to the low hand.
• If you have four-of-a-kind comprised of sixes or lower, then always keep the cards together.
• If you have a full house, move the pair into the low hand. The exception comes when you have an extra pair. In this case, use the highest pair in the low hand.
• If you have a straight or flush, you should keep it in the high hand.
• If you have five-of-a-kind, split them. An exception is when you also have a pair of kings. Under these circumstances, move the pair of kings to the low hand.

In addition to the standard ways of making a profit, Pai Gow Poker also has some side bets that are available to players. These vary from one casino to the next, so always check before you begin play.

• Fortune

This side bet pays based on the strength of the player’s seven cards, with a natural 7-card straight flush delivering the highest return. If another player at the table has a four-of-a-kind hand or higher, the bettor also receives an additional amount known as an “Envy Bonus.”

• Pai Gow Insurance

In order to achieve a “pai gow,” a player needs seven cards that are of different ranks (also known as “singletons”). The overall house edge on this bet is 7.35%, and a lower high card—such as a 9—pays more than a Q or K high card.

• Emperor’s Challenge

Offered at some land-based casinos, this option wager pays the most for a natural 7-card straight flush. The overall house edge is 4.171%.

• Jokolor

This side wager pays under two conditions: (1) the player has a joker in their hand, or (2) the player has a joker and six cards of the same color (3) the player has seven cards of the same color.

• Progressive Pai Gow

In addition to the basic rules, the player can make an optional $5 side bet and take a chance at winning a percentage of the progressive jackpot. The hand with the biggest payout is a natural royal flush or five aces plus a pair.

In most casinos, the house makes more off the bonus wagers than they do from collecting a commission. This is due to the fact that side bets often carry a sizable house edge, so my advice for the smart player is to avoid these appealing options whenever they’re presented.

Pai Gow Poker Hand Probabilities

The following probabilities are meant to illustrate how often you can expect to achieve a specific hand while playing Pai Gow Poker:

Pai Gow Poker Trainer

If you’d like to improve your overall skill at the game, try incorporating some of these tips and strategies the next time you play:

Pai Gow Poker Side Bets

The differences between the land-based and online versions of the game are few in number, which works to the advantage of the player who likes to jump from one format to the other. The biggest adjustment may be that the house always acts as the banker, and the fact that games are one-on-one. Other than that, you shouldn’t expect a great deal of variation.

Since Pai Gow Poker is a proprietary game that requires the patent holder to get paid before someone can use it, not all online casinos are going to include it. This often comes down to the software designer, so make sure a specific online site offers the game before opening an account.

Pai Gow Poker isn’t as old as craps or blackjack, but it’s managed to attract a sizable fan base within a short period of time. While it features a slower pace than some casino options due to hand adjustments and house commission, it makes up for this by offering respectable payouts and excitement that’s on par with traditional poker.

There are four types of Pai Gow Poker that are dealt in Las Vegas. Face Up Pai Gow Poker is the most popular. It entered the market in 2018. Today, about two out of every three Pai Gow Poker games in our Las Vegas Table Game Survey are this version.

Face Up Pai Gow Poker is faster and has a lower house edge than the other versions. The other two common Pai Gow Poker variants are Fortune and Emperor’s Challenge. The only other Pai Gow Poker game is a single no commission one in the locals market.

Where to play Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas

The pandemic caused inflation to hit most of the $5 Pai Gow Poker games in Las Vegas. There are still a few in the locals market. The most common minimum bet is $10. It is $25 at most Las Vegas Strip casinos.

The list below is sorted by the expected minimum bet. The games are listed under that by Pai Gow Poker variant. The minimum bet may be higher during busy hours. Some casinos deal multiple versions of Pai Gow Poker.

Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker minimum bet

How to play Pai Gow Poker

A Pai Gow Poker game uses a 53-card deck that includes a joker. This card may be used to complete a straight, flush or straight flush. If it cannot be used for that purpose, it is an ace.

Players receive seven cards after making a bet that may include multiple optional side bets. The cards are split into a five-card low and two-card high hand. The five-card hand must beat the two-card hand. Once players have set hands, the house hand is exposed. The house has a set of rules it uses for its hands. Once set, it is compared to each player’s hand.

If the player’s five-card and two-card hands both beat the banker, the player is paid even money. There is a 5% commission in Emperor’s Challenge and Fortune Pai Gow Poker. If the banker’s two hands beat both player hands, the house wins. If the banker wins one, and the player wins the other, it is a push.

The banker wins all ties. This is called a copy in Pai Gow Poker. This is usually the house. However, players may bank at Emperor’s Challenge and Fortune Pai Gow Poker. The casino’s dealer becomes a player hand. The player banker is up against each player at the table. The house takes 5% of net winnings when a player banks. The player banker wins all copies just like the house usually does.

How Face Up Pai Gow is different from the traditional game

Face Up Pai Gow Poker turns a poker game into one of luck. It is best suited for players that do not want to worry about strategy and want to go after the jackpot and other side bets. There is no skill involved in Face Up Pai Gow Poker. The house sets its hand first. If it is an ace-high pai gow, meaning a hand with no pair or better, the house pushes all player hands. If the dealer does not push, the hand is set. The player’s hand is set by the dealer as he or she helps the player find the best hand.

Players may not bank in Face Up Pai Gow Poker.

No Commission Pai Gow Poker

No Commission Pai Gow Poker has one installation in Las Vegas. It is at Boulder Station. In our 2020 Las Vegas Table Game Survey, this game had just one install. It was at Fiesta Henderson. This game pushes all players when the dealer has a queen-high pai gow. We have never seen this table open at either casino so it is likely only available during peak hours. There is no player banking at No Commission Pai Gow Poker.

Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker FAQ

What is the minimum bet for Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas?

Some locals casinos deal $5 Pai Gow Poker. It is typically $10 or $15 in downtown Las Vegas and $15 or $25 on the Strip.

What types of Pai Gow Poker are dealt in Las Vegas?

Emperor’s Challenge, Face Up, Fortune and No Commission are all Pai Gow Poker versions dealt in Las Vegas.

Pai Gow Poker Hands

What is the most popular version of Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas?

About two-thirds of Las Vegas tables for the game are Face Up Pai Gow Poker.

Can I bank at Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas?

Emperor’s Challenge and Fortune Pai Gow Poker allow players to bank.

Is there a commission at Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker tables?

Emperor’s Challenge and Fortune Pai Gow Poker have a 5% commission. Face Up Pai Gow does not.

Pai Gow Poker Odds

Why is there not a commission at Face Up Pai Gow Poker?

The dealer pushes all players with an ace-high pai gow. This offsets the commission and keeps change off the table.

Are there any video Pai Gow Poker machines in Las Vegas?

No. The last one was at Riviera. It was removed in 2011.