Pai Gow Poker has become one of the most popular casino table games. It involves the player competing against the banker to make the better low and high hand than the house.
What it will do is speed up the game a lot. Just like dealing the cards face up in Blackjack increases the number of hands per hour. A little history. Pai Gow Poker became very popular in California, so after a while the Nevada Casinos took a look at it. But they decided that the game didn't justify table space. Face Up Pai Gow Poker™ features head-to-head play against the dealer and offers the optional Fortune BonusSM and Ace-High wagers. As in standard Pai Gow, each player and dealer receive seven-cards, but in Face Up Pai Gow Poker the dealer’s cards are dealt face-up. Face Up Pai Gow Poker is a commission-free game. You do not pay a.
This is a slow-paced, relaxing game. The low number of hands dealt per hour and the number of pushes keep players in the game longer. Some consider it a great way to get comp drinks with little risk.
There are five types of Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas. Each is a bit different. All is explained below, along with details of which casinos offer Pai Gow Poker.
Pai Gow Poker Variants in Las Vegas
Fortune Pai Gow is based on the traditional version of the game. Players may bank this game. The button moves around the table.
Banking is optional. Winners pay a five percent commission on all wins.
Emperor’s Challenge Pai Gow
Emperor’s Challenge is another Pai Gow Poker variant that is based on the original game. Like Fortune, players may bank and pay a five percent commission on wins.
The difference between Fortune and Emperor’s Challenge is the side bets.
Pai Gow Plus is another classic variant.
It is essentially the original version of the game.
Face Up Pai Gow
Face Up Pai Gow now accounts for about two-thirds of the Pai Gow Poker installs in Las Vegas. That is an incredible feat considering the game did not exist a few years ago.
In Face Up Pai Gow, the dealer looks at the house hand before players act. If the dealer has an ace high pai gow, the hand pushes. If the dealer has any other hand, it is set face up and players set their hands accordingly.
This version turns a skill game into pure luck.
There is no commission on wins in Face Up Pai Gow. Players may not bank.
This was the first version of Pai Gow Poker that eliminated the five percent commission on wins. The dealer pushes if the house has a queen high pai gow. Players may not bank. There is no commission on wins.
Best Las Vegas Casinos for Pai Gow Poker
There are many variables that go into what makes a Las Vegas casino the best one for Pai Gow Poker. Some players have a specific variant in mind. To others, the ambience and minimum bet matters more.
Variant | Max Bet | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Aliante Casino | Emperor’s | 5 | 1000 | 3 |
Arizona Charlie’s Decatur | Emperor’s | 5 | 500 | 1 |
Club Fortune | Emperor’s | 5 | 200 | 1 |
Eastside Cannery | Emperor’s | 5 | 1000 | 1 |
M Resort | Emperor’s | 10 | 2000 | 3 |
The Strat | Emperor’s | 10 | 2000 | 2 |
Westgate | Emperor’s | 15 | 2000 | 1 |
4 Queens | Face Up | 15 | 500 | 1 |
Aliante Casino | Face Up | 5 | 1000 | 1 |
Aria | Face Up | 25 | 10000 | 2 |
Bally’s | Face Up | 15 | 5000 | 1 |
Binion’s | Face Up | 10 | 1000 | 1 |
Boulder Station | Face Up | 5 | 1000 | 3 |
Cannery | Face Up | 5 | 1000 | 1 |
Circus Circus | Face Up | 20 | 1000 | 2 |
Encore | Face Up | 25 | 10000 | 2 |
Fiesta Henderson | Face Up | 5 | 1000 | 1 |
Flamingo | Face Up | 15 | 3000 | 2 |
Gold Coast | Face Up | 10 | 2000 | 2 |
Green Valley Ranch | Face Up | 10 | 2000 | 4 |
Harrah’s | Face Up | 10 | 5000 | 4 |
Linq | Face Up | 10 | 3000 | 2 |
Luxor | Face Up | 25 | 3000 | 2 |
Mandalay Bay | Face Up | 25 | 5000 | 2 |
MGM Grand | Face Up | 25 | 10000 | 2 |
Mirage | Face Up | 25 | 10000 | 3 |
NYNY | Face Up | 25 | 3000 | 2 |
Palace Station | Face Up | 10 | 3000 | 4 |
Palazzo | Face Up | 25 | 20000 | 3 |
Palms | Face Up | 10 | 2000 | 3 |
Paris | Face Up | 15 | 5000 | 2 |
Park MGM | Face Up | 25 | 10000 | 2 |
Planet Hollywood | Face Up | 15 | 5000 | 2 |
Plaza | Face Up | 10 | 1000 | 2 |
Rampart | Face Up | 5 | 1000 | 4 |
Red Rock | Face Up | 10 | 2000 | 5 |
Rio | Face Up | 15 | 5000 | 2 |
Sam’s Town | Face Up | 5 | 1000 | 3 |
Santa Fe Station | Face Up | 5 | 1000 | 3 |
Silverton | Face Up | 10 | 2000 | 1 |
Sahara | Face Up | 10 | 3000 | 1 |
Suncoast | Face Up | 10 | 2000 | 3 |
Sunset Station | Face Up | 10 | 1000 | 3 |
Texas Station | Face Up | 5 | 500 | 2 |
Treasure Island | Face Up | 10 | 5000 | 2 |
Venetian | Face Up | 25 | 20000 | 3 |
Wynn | Face Up | 25 | 10000 | 2 |
Aria | Fortune | 25 | 10000 | 2 |
Bellagio | Fortune | 25 | 10000 | 1 |
Caesars Palace | Fortune | 25 | 5000 | 4 |
California | Fortune | 15 | 500 | 2 |
Cannery | Fortune | 5 | 1000 | 1 |
Cosmopolitan | Fortune | 15 | 10000 | 2 |
Cromwell | Fortune | 10 | 3000 | 4 |
Downtown Grand | Fortune | 10 | 1000 | 1 |
Fiesta Rancho | Fortune | 5 | 500 | 2 |
Flamingo | Fortune | 15 | 3000 | 3 |
Fremont | Fortune | 10 | 500 | 1 |
Gold Coast | Fortune | 10 | 2000 | 2 |
Golden Nugget | Fortune | 15 | 5000 | 2 |
Harrah’s | Fortune | 10 | 5000 | 3 |
Linq | Fortune | 10 | 3000 | 1 |
Main Street Station | Fortune | 15 | 500 | 1 |
Mandalay Bay | Fortune | 25 | 5000 | 1 |
MGM Grand | Fortune | 25 | 10000 | 1 |
Orleans | Fortune | 10 | 2000 | 2 |
Paris | Fortune | 15 | 5000 | 5 |
Park MGM | Fortune | 25 | 10000 | 1 |
Planet Hollywood | Fortune | 15 | 5000 | 3 |
Rio | Fortune | 15 | 5000 | 2 |
Santa Fe Station | Fortune | 5 | 1000 | 1 |
Silverton | Fortune | 10 | 2000 | 1 |
Sahara | Fortune | 10 | 3000 | 1 |
South Point | Fortune | 10 | 2000 | 8 |
Tropicana | Fortune | 10 | 2000 | 2 |
Wynn | Fortune | 25 | 10000 | 2 |
Fiesta Henderson | No Commision | 5 | 1000 | 2 |
Bellagio | Plus | 25 | 10000 | 2 |
The D | Plus | 10 | 2500 | 1 |
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow Poker is spread at over 60 Las Vegas casinos. There are several variants dealt, even within the same casino.
There are several bets available at a Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker table. The main bet has a minimum of at least $5, depending on the casino. Side bets can often be made for $1 or $5.
The player and dealer start with seven cards. The deck has a joker that may be used to complete straights and flushes. Otherwise, it is an ace.
In traditional versions of the game, the player sets that hand before the dealer does. It is separated into a five-card and two-card hand. The five-card hand must be higher than the two-card one. The dealer then sets the banker hand.
If the player beats both dealer hands, the bet is paid, sometimes with a five percent commission. If the dealer wins both hands or wins one and ties one, the house wins. If the dealer ties one and loses one, the hand pushes. If the player and dealer split with one win each, the hand pushes. Some casinos permit players to bank once per round.
In Face Up Pai Gow Poker, the dealer sets the house hand first. If the dealer makes an ace-high pai gow, the hand pushes all around. If it does not, players set their hands based on the best way to beat the dealer’s exposed one. Players may not bank in Face Up Pai Gow.
We carry out an annual survey of Las Vegas casinos and the table games they offer. This allows us to publish details of every table game available in Vegas, and the best place to play it.
See the page below for the latest version of our full survey.
Pai Gow Poker is a popular table game in Las Vegas. It is spread at 60 casinos. Many have multiple tables.
One draw of Pai Gow Poker is its slow pace and number of pushes. This helps players stay in the game longer and rack up free drinks. The low minimum bet is also another draw. Some casinos spread it for as little as $5 at locals’ joints.
Las Vegas Pai Gow Minimum Bets
$5 Pai Gow Poker |
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$10 Pai Gow Poker |
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$15 Pai Gow Poker |
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$25 Pai Gow Poker |
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$50 Pai Gow Poker |
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How to Play Pai Gow Poker
#4: Compare Hands with Dealer – Once the player’s hands are set, the dealer shows its cards. The dealer sets the hand based on the house way. This varies from one casino to another in terms of how aggressive it wants to play. Pai Gow Poker is unlike any other game as the operator can determine how the house sets its hand as long as it publishes the method for all players to see.The dealer’s hand is then compared to each player’s hand.
Face Up Pai Gow Rules
- If both player hands beat both dealer hands, the player wins.
- If both dealer’s hands beat both of the player’s hands, the house wins.
- If the dealer ties one of the player’s hands and wins the other, the house wins.
- If the player wins one hand and ties the other, the hand is a push.
- A tie between a dealer’s hand and the player’s hand is known as a copy in Pai Gow Poker.
Pai Gow Commission
Some casinos require the player to pay 5% of any win as commission. In general, these houses will permit players to bank the game. Otherwise, a commission-less game is spread where the house has a push hand. These push hands may be a queen-high dealer pai gow, or if the house is forced to play a nine in the low hand.
Even if you are not in Las Vegas, you can play Pai Gow Poker online.
Complete Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker Survey 2018
Pai Gow Poker Trainer
Casino | Game | Min Bet | Max Bet | # of Tables | Video |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 Queens | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 500 | 1 | No |
Aliante Casino | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 3 | No |
Aria | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 4 | No |
Arizona Charlie’s Boulder | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 1 | No |
Arizona Charlie’s Decatur | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 500 | 1 | No |
Bally’s | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 1 | No |
Bally’s | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 2 | No |
Bellagio | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 6 | No |
Bellagio | Pai Gow Poker | 50 | 10000 | 1 | No |
Binion’s | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 1 | No |
Boulder Station | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 2000 | 2 | No |
Caesars Palace | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 2 | No |
Caesars Palace | Pai Gow Poker | 50 | 5000 | 2 | No |
Caesars Palace | Pai Gow Poker | 100 | 5000 | 1 | No |
California | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 500 | 2 | No |
Cannery | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 3 | No |
Club Fortune | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 200 | 1 | No |
Cosmopolitan | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 5000 | 2 | No |
Cosmopolitan | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 2 | No |
Cromwell | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 3000 | 3 | No |
Downtown Grand | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 1 | No |
Eastside Cannery | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 2 | No |
Encore | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 1 | No |
Excalibur | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 1 | No |
Fiesta Rancho | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 500 | 1 | No |
Fiesta Henderson | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 3 | No |
Flamingo | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 3000 | 2 | No |
Flamingo | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 3000 | 2 | No |
Fremont | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 500 | 1 | No |
Gold Coast | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 4 | No |
Golden Nugget | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 1 | No |
Green Valley Ranch | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 5 | No |
Hard Rock | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 2 | No |
Harrah’s | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 5 | No |
Linq | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 3000 | 2 | No |
Luxor | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 3000 | 1 | No |
M Resort | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 4 | No |
Main Street Station | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 500 | 1 | No |
MGM Grand | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 1 | No |
Mirage | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 2 | No |
Monte Carlo | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 3 | No |
NYNY | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 2 | No |
Orleans | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 4 | No |
Palace Station | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 4 | No |
Palazzo | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 20000 | 1 | No |
Palazzo | Pai Gow Poker | 50 | 2000 | 3 | No |
Palms | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 2 | No |
Paris | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 3 | No |
Paris | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 3 | No |
Paris | Pai Gow Poker | 100 | 5000 | 1 | No |
Paris | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 3 | No |
Planet Hollywood | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 4 | No |
Planet Hollywood | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 1 | No |
Plaza | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 1 | No |
Rampart | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 2 | No |
Red Rock | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 4 | No |
Rio | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 4 | No |
Sam’s Town | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 2 | No |
Santa Fe Station | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 4 | No |
Silverton | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 2 | No |
Sahara Las Vegas | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 10000 | 2 | No |
South Point | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 2000 | 7 | No |
Stratosphere | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 2 | No |
Suncoast | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 2000 | 3 | No |
Texas Station | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 500 | 2 | No |
The D | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2500 | 1 | No |
Treasure Island | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 5000 | 2 | No |
Tropicana | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 1 | No |
Venetian | Pai Gow Poker | 50 | 20000 | 1 | No |
Westgate | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 1 | No |
Wynn | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 4 | No |