How To Play Pai Gow Poker

  1. How To Play Pai Gow Poker And Win
  2. Play Pai Gow Poker Online For Money
  3. How To Play Pai Gow Poker In Las Vegas
  4. How To Play Pai Gow Card Game
  5. Youtube How To Play Pai Gow Poker

Aug 17, 2009  Pai Gow Poker is a great game to play if you want some casino games action while still conserving your bankroll. Since there are a lot of ties, and the game usually takes slightly longer to play than other popular table games and slot machines, your bankroll will survive longer than if you played many other games.

How To Play Pai Gow Poker And Win

How to Play

Fortune Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard 52 card deck, including a Joker, for a total of 53 cards.

The rank of each card used in Fortune Pai Gow Poker, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Ace also may play as the lowest card in the straight Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5. The Joker may be used as any type of card to complete a straight, flush, straight flush, or must otherwise only be used as an Ace.

The hand rankings for the game of Fortune Pai Gow Poker, in order of highest to lowest are as follows:

  • 7 Card Straight Flush (no Joker) A hand that consists of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking that does not utilize a joker. An ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, and 8 is the highest ranked 7 card Straight Flush (No Joker) hand and a 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked
  • 7 Card Straight Flush (No Joker) hand. Royal Flush + Royal Match A hand that consists of ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 suited and king and queen suited
  • 7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker) A hand that consists of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking that utilizes a joker. An ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, and 8 is the highest ranked 7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker) hand, with one of those cards being substituted with a joker, and a 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked 7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker) hand, with one of those cards being substituted for a joker.
  • Five Aces A hand that consists of five cards containing all aces
  • Royal Flush  A hand that consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit
  • Straight Flush A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking. A king, queen, jack, 10, and 9 is the highest ranked Straight Flush and a 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked Straight Flush.
  • Four of a Kind  A hand that consists of four cards of the same rank. Four aces is the highest ranked Four of a Kind and four 2’s is the lowest ranked Four of a Kind
  • Full House A hand that consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair. Three aces and two kings is the highest ranked Full House and three 2’s and two 3’s is the lowest ranked Full House
  • Flush A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, but that are not in consecutive ranking. An ace, king, queen, jack and 9 is the highest ranked Flush and a 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 is the lowest ranked Flush.
  • Straight A hand that consists of five cards that are in consecutive ranking, but that are not the same suit. An ace, king, queen, jack and 10 is the highest ranked Straight and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and ace is the lowest ranked Straight.
  • Three of a Kind  A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. Three aces is the highest ranked Three of a Kind and three 2’s is the lowest ranked Three of a Kind.
  • Two Pairs  A hand that consists of two pairs. Two aces and Two kings is the highest ranked Two Pairs and two 3’s and two 2’s is the lowest ranked Two Pairs
  • One Pair  A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two aces is the highest ranked Pair and two 2’s is the lowest ranked Pair.
  • High Card  A hand that consists of five cards that do not make any of the hands listed above. An ace, king, queen, jack, and 9 is the highest ranked High Card hand and 7, 5, 4, 3, and 2 is the lowest ranked High Card hand.

Fortune Pai Gow Poker is played on a table which seats a maximum of seven players.

Players may place wagers bearing in mind the posted table minimum and maximum. Players must make a Fortune Pai Gow Poker game wager and will then have the option to make a Fortune Bonus Bet wager as well.

Each player puts up any bets they wish to place for the next hand. Players have the option of placing a Fortune Bonus Bet wager at this time as well. The cardroom dealer will then follow the dealing procedures and standards of play, as described above.

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Once the cards have been distributed, each player shall set their hands by arranging the seven cards into a two card hand and a five card hand. The two card hand is placed above the five card hand, and the five card hand must rank higher than the two card hand, according to the ranking of hands.

When all the players’ hands have been set, the dealer exposes the Designated Player’s hand and sets it according to the “House Way” as described below:

  • No Pair  The second and third high cards will be placed in the Low hand; the highest and all remaining cards will be placed in the High Hand.
  • One Pair Use the highest two single cards in the Low Hand; place the pair and all remaining cards in the High Hand. Two Pairs If high pair is Aces, Kings, Queens – always split. If high pair is Jacks, 10’s, 9’s, – split unless Ace is front. If high pair is 8’s, 7’s, 6’s – split unless King is front. If high pair is 5’s, 4’s, 3’s – split unless Queen in front.
  • Three Pairs  Put highest pair in front. Three of a kind If Aces – always split. If Kings and below – never split. If two sets of three of a kind – split highest set.
  • Straight, Flush, Straight Flush With no pair – always play the complete hand. With one pair – always play the complete hand. With two pairs – play according to two pairs strategy. With three of a kind – play complete hand in back, pair in front. If straight, flush, and/or straight flush – put the two highest cards in front that will leave any complete hand behind.
  • Full House Put the highest permissible pair in front.
  • Four of a kind If Aces, Kings, Queens – always split. If Jacks, 10’s, 9’s – split unless King in front. If 8’s, 7’s, 6’s – split unless Queen in front. If 5’s and below – never split. If 4 of a kind with a pair – play complete hand behind.
  • Five Aces Put pair of Aces in Front.

Once the Designated Player’s hands are set according to the “House Way”, each player’s hand is exposed, in turn, and compared to the Designated Player’s hands to determine the winners, losers, or tie hands.

Each Player’s five card hand will be compared to the Designated player’s five card hand, and each player’s two card hand will be compared to the Designated Player’s two card hand, in turn, starting with the “Action” button, to determine the winner according to the following criteria:

  1. The Fortune Pai Gow Poker game wager wins if the two card hand and the five card hand held by the player ranks higher than the Designated Player’s two card hand and five card hand. Winning Fortune Pai Gow Poker game wagers are paid 1 to 1.
  2. The Fortune Pai Gow Poker game wager loses if the two card hand and the five card hand held by the player ranks lower than the Designated Player’s two card hand and five card hand.
  3. The Fortune Pai Gow Poker game wager “pushes” if one of the hands held by the player ranks higher than the Designated Player’s corresponding hand, and the player’s other hand ranks lower than the Designated Player’s corresponding hand. In this case, neither the player nor the Designated Player wins or loses; the wager is a “push” and is returned to the player.
  4. If one hand is identical in rank to the Designated Player’s hand, it is a “copy hand.” The Designated Player wins all “copy hands.” The pai gow wager will push should the Players hand contain a “copy hand” and a subsequent winning hand. The pai gow wager shall lose when the players hand contains a “copy hand” and a subsequent losing hand.

How To Play Pai Gow Poker In Las Vegas

The Fortune Bonus bet considers the best hand possible among the player’s seven cards and does not take into consideration how the five card hand and two card hand were divided. The hand ranking for the Fortune Bonus bet will coincide with the bonus pay table.

The Designated Player position rotation is offered in a clockwise motion every hand among all eligible Designated Players. Players will notify a staff member if they choose to be a Designated Player.

The Joker can be used as an ace, or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush on the Fortune Bonus Bet.

How To Play Pai Gow Card Game

The Designated Player pays qualifying Fortune Bonus Bet wagers from his or her own chip stack only if the Designated Player’s seven card Fortune Pai Gow Bonus hand loses to the player’s seven card Fortune Pai Gow Bonus hand. Wagers are collected or paid, to the extent that the Designated Player’s wager covers. Once the Designated Player’s wager has been exhausted, or the table maximum payout has been reached, the wagers not covered by the Designated Player shall be returned to the respective players. Fortune Bonus Bet will have a max aggregated payout of $50,000 per betting spot per hand.

Fortune Bonus Bet Pay Table Hand Payout:
  • 7 Card Straight Flush – 5,000 to 1
  • Royal Flush + Royal Match – 2,000 to 1
  • 7 Card Straight Flush with Joker -1,000 to 1
  • 5 Aces – 400 to 1
  • Royal Flush – 150 to 1
  • Straight Flush – 50 to 1
  • 4 of a Kind – 25 to 1
  • Full House – 5 to 1
  • Flush – 4 to 1
  • 3 of a Kind – 3 to 1
  • Straight – 2 to 1

Rake is collected before cards are dealt. It is paid by the Designated Player, at a rate determined by the cardroom and posted at the table.

The Designated Player Requirements:

Must provide $30,000 per table for initial operational start up and maintain $30,000 in play per hand.

See designated player Rules in poker room.

Youtube How To Play Pai Gow Poker

Per Florida Regulation 61D-11.002(5)(b): In 3-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Holdem,Fortune Pai Gow, and One Card Poker the dealer button will rotate around the table in a clockwise fashion on a hand by hand basis to provide each player desiring to the designated player an equal opportunity to participate as the designated player.

60. Per Florida Regulation 61D-11.002(5)(c): In 3-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Holdem,2 Card Poker, and One Card Poker, the room does not require the designated player to cover all potential wagers.

Last Updated 7/14/2017 – Please see host for current rules and listing. The rules listed at the host will always be the most current and up to date version of these rules. 


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
  • Aliante Casino
  • Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and Boulder
  • Binion’s
  • Boulder Station
  • Cannery
  • Club Fortune
  • Eastside Cannery
  • Fiesta Rancho and Henderson
  • Sam’s Town
  • Santa Fe Station
  • South Point
  • Suncoast
  • Texas Station
$10 Pai Gow Poker
  • 4 Queens
  • Cosmopolitan
  • Downtown Grand
  • Excalibur
  • Fremont
  • Gold Coast
  • Golden Nugget
  • Green Valley Ranch
  • Hard Rock
  • Linq
  • Luxor
  • M Resort
  • Main Street Station
  • Monte Carlo
  • New York New York
  • The Orleans
  • Palace Station
  • Palms
  • Plaza
  • Rampart
  • Red Rock
  • Silverton
  • Sahara Las Vegas
  • Stratosphere
  • The D
  • Treasure Island
  • Tropicana
  • Westgate
$15 Pai Gow Poker
  • Flamingo
  • Paris
  • Planet Hollywood
  • Rio
$25 Pai Gow Poker
  • Aria
  • Bellagio
  • Caesars Palace
  • Encore
  • Harrah’s
  • Palazzo
$50 Pai Gow Poker
  • Venetian

How to Play Pai Gow Poker

#1: Place Your Bet – Players start by making a wager on the hand. There are usually at least two other side bets. Some Las Vegas casinos offer three. These may include a progressive jackpot, high hand, crown hand and Pai Gow Insurance, which pays if a player makes a hand that does not have any pairs or better.
#2: Seven Cards are Dealt – Once the players make bets, the dealer gives each player seven cards. The order is determined by a machine or dice shaken by the dealer or player. These cards are given in consecutive order and not dealt in a normal poker manner. Seven cards in a row come out of the shuffle machine at the table. The dealer also receives seven cards.
#3: High and Low Hands – Players must set the seven cards into two separate hands. These two hands are low and high. The high hand, consisting of five cards, must beat the low hand, which is only two cards.

#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.

  • 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.

Play

Complete Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker Survey 2018

CasinoGameMin BetMax Bet# of TablesVideo
4 QueensPai Gow Poker105001No
Aliante CasinoPai Gow Poker510003No
AriaPai Gow Poker25100004No
Arizona Charlie’s BoulderPai Gow Poker510001No
Arizona Charlie’s DecaturPai Gow Poker55001No
Bally’sPai Gow Poker1550001No
Bally’sPai Gow Poker2550002No
BellagioPai Gow Poker25100006No
BellagioPai Gow Poker50100001No
Binion’sPai Gow Poker510001No
Boulder StationPai Gow Poker520002No
Caesars PalacePai Gow Poker2550002No
Caesars PalacePai Gow Poker5050002No
Caesars PalacePai Gow Poker10050001No
CaliforniaPai Gow Poker155002No
CanneryPai Gow Poker510003No
Club FortunePai Gow Poker52001No
CosmopolitanPai Gow Poker1050002No
CosmopolitanPai Gow Poker25100002No
CromwellPai Gow Poker2530003No
Downtown GrandPai Gow Poker1010001No
Eastside CanneryPai Gow Poker510002No
EncorePai Gow Poker25100001No
ExcaliburPai Gow Poker1010001No
Fiesta RanchoPai Gow Poker55001No
Fiesta HendersonPai Gow Poker510003No
FlamingoPai Gow Poker1530002No
FlamingoPai Gow Poker2530002No
FremontPai Gow Poker105001No
Gold CoastPai Gow Poker1020004No
Golden NuggetPai Gow Poker1550001No
Green Valley RanchPai Gow Poker1020005No
Hard RockPai Gow Poker1020002No
Harrah’sPai Gow Poker2550005No
LinqPai Gow Poker1030002No
LuxorPai Gow Poker1030001No
M ResortPai Gow Poker1010004No
Main Street StationPai Gow Poker105001No
MGM GrandPai Gow Poker25100001No
MiragePai Gow Poker25100002No
Monte CarloPai Gow Poker1010003No
NYNYPai Gow Poker1020002No
OrleansPai Gow Poker1020004No
Palace StationPai Gow Poker1020004No
PalazzoPai Gow Poker25200001No
PalazzoPai Gow Poker5020003No
PalmsPai Gow Poker1020002No
ParisPai Gow Poker1550003No
ParisPai Gow Poker2550003No
ParisPai Gow Poker10050001No
ParisPai Gow Poker1550003No
Planet HollywoodPai Gow Poker1550004No
Planet HollywoodPai Gow Poker2550001No
PlazaPai Gow Poker1010001No
RampartPai Gow Poker510002No
Red RockPai Gow Poker1020004No
RioPai Gow Poker1550004No
Sam’s TownPai Gow Poker510002No
Santa Fe StationPai Gow Poker510004No
SilvertonPai Gow Poker1010002No
Sahara Las VegasPai Gow Poker10100002No
South PointPai Gow Poker520007No
StratospherePai Gow Poker1010002No
SuncoastPai Gow Poker520003No
Texas StationPai Gow Poker55002No
The DPai Gow Poker1025001No
Treasure IslandPai Gow Poker1050002No
TropicanaPai Gow Poker1020001No
VenetianPai Gow Poker50200001No
WestgatePai Gow Poker1020001No
WynnPai Gow Poker25100004No