Pai Gow Poker Online Guide: where to play in 2025!

Pai gow poker is a classic casino card game. It started in California card clubs and eventually spread to casinos throughout the United States. It is based on the game pai gow tiles, which uses Chinese dominoes. It was altered to use cards to conform with California club regulations.

The original pai gow poker game was played at a table with a rotating bank. Players were allowed to bank the other players at the table or pass. Each player at the table goes up against the banker's hand. The strength of the other player’s hands is not relevant.

Pai gow poker evolved over the years. Outside of California, most pai gow poker games do not permit player banking, which slowed the game down and confused players and dealers. Most casinos deal a pai gow poker game with a fixed house banker. This includes online ones.

Advantages of Playing Pai Gow Poker at Online Casinos

The online version has become the better option since live pai gow poker has become more about jackpot chasing than the true game. It is available anywhere with an internet connection. Online pai gow poker comes in PC, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms. It can be played on almost any modern device.

The minimum bet for online pai gow poker is usually $1. At live casinos, it is at least $10, but usually $15 or $25. Some luxury Las Vegas Strip casinos require $50 to play a hand of pai gow poker.

Another positive of online pai gow poker is that it still plays like the original version of the game. There is skill involved with setting hands. Most live pai gow poker games are dealt face up now. The online game plays as slowly or quickly as the player wants. The live game drags on with only about 20 hands dealt per hour.

Internet casino sites offer free pai gow poker. This is not possible at live games. Those players must risk money to learn the game.

Five of the Best Online Casinos for Pai Gow Poker

Many online casino sites offer pai gow poker with slight variations. Below, you can find our top recommendations for trusted online casinos that feature pai gow poker.

1

MYBOOKIE CASINO

BONUS:

150% up to $750

★★★★★

4.8 / 5

CASINO WITH EXCELLENT LOW STAKES GAMES

SOFTWARE:

NUCLEUS, RIVAL, RTG, BETSOFT

GAMES

500+

RELOADS

MANY

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

My Bookie offers pai gow poker as low as $1. The software is simple. One of the best features for low-limit players is that nickels are in play. This means that winning $1 bets only have a $0.05 commission taken. Some casino sites charge $0.25 here.

VISIT MYBOOKIE CASINO NOW

2

BETONLINE

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.7 / 5

RELIABLE OPTION FOR ONLINE PAI GOW

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG, BETSOFT

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

VARIES

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

BetOnline offers three separate $1,000 deposit bonuses. If that is too big for your bankroll, any amount up to $1,000 is awarded on each of the first three deposits. This means you can get a $300 bonus when depositing $100 three times. Pai gow poker is a qualifying bonus game.

VISIT BETONLINE NOW

3

WINPORT CASINO

BONUS:

300% up to $3,000

★★★★★

4.6 / 5

TRUSTED OPTION WITH PAI GOW

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG, BGAMING, BETSOFT

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

MANY

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

While most online casinos have plain pai gow poker tables, WinPort offers unique graphics. The table offers bright colors, cards, and quick animation to make the game feel like a live table.

VISIT WINPORT CASINO NOW

4

IGNITION CASINO

BONUS:

150% up to $1,500

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

LONGSTANDING CASINO OPERATOR WITH PAI GOW

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

VARIES

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Ignition Casino also offers an incredible pai gow poker bonus. Players receive a 150% up to $1,500 casino bonus. It only takes a $1,000 deposit to receive the maximum $1,500. There is also an online poker match bonus in the same amount.

VISIT IGNITION CASINO NOW

5

BOVADA CASINO

BONUS:

125% up to $1,250

★★★★★

4.3 / 5

LONGSTANDING CASINO OPERATOR FEATURING PAI GOW

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

100% up to $1,000

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Bovada offers a simple pai gow poker software that deals cards quickly. It also has one of the best online poker pai gow poker bonuses. Players receive three 125% up to $1,250 bonuses from their first deposits (crypto-only).

VISIT BOVADA CASINO NOW

What is Pai Gow Poker?

Pai gow poker is a casino table game. A 53-card deck is used. There is a joker in the deck. It is not a traditional wild card. It may only be used to complete straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flushes. Otherwise, it is an ace.

The game involves a banker hand and up to six players. At a live table, seven cards are dealt to each seat and the banker. Seats receive cards, even when unoccupied. In most cases, the banker is the house. However, there are versions of California and Fortune Pai Gow Poker where players may bank.

In the traditional version, players set their hands first. This involves a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand. There is a five percent commission on winnings in traditional pai gow poker. At Face Up Pai Gow Poker, the dealer sets the house hand first. Players then know how to best set their hands to beat it.

In both versions, the player must beat the bank to win. The player’s five-card hand is compared to the banker’s five-card hand. The two-card hands are also compared. If the player wins both hands, the bet is paid. If the banker wins both hands, the bet loses. If the player wins one and the banker wins the other, it is a push. That happens about twice every five hands.

At traditional online, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, and the California card room version of the game, a five percent commission is removed from all wins. EZ Pai Gow versions do not have a commission. If the banker has an ace-high seven-card hand with no straights or flushes in Face Up Pai Gow Poker, the hand ends, and the players push the dealer. This is called a dealer ace-high pai gow.

In EZ Pai Gow, a queen-high dealer pai gow pushes the table. It does not matter if the banker would have beaten the player, it still pushes.

What Happens When the Banker and Player Tie on One of the Hands?

In some cases, the player and dealer will have the same hand. This is more common in the front two-card hand. For example, if both the banker and player have an ace-king on the two-card hand, that ties.

This is called a copy in pai gow poker. The banker wins all copies. It is the same as a loss for the player.

This is the advantage of being the banker when allowed by the card club or casino. Online games do not permit players to bank. Neither do face-up ones.

If the player wins one hand and copies the other, it’s a push. When the player copies one and loses the other to the banker, the bet loses.

History of Pai Gow Poker

Pai gow poker is loosely based on what is called pai gow tiles today. It was invented in 1985 by Sam Torosian. He was the owner of the Bell Card Club in California at the time.

Pai gow tiles uses Chinese dominos. California card clubs can only use playing cards. Torosian invented a game that could be played under those conditions.

Originally, pai gow poker required the bank to pass around the table. Most casinos do not permit that anymore. In California card clubs, pai gow poker players have the option to bank. There is a prop banker who handles the action when players pass.

How Do You Play Pai Gow Poker?

There are two ways to play pai gow poker. One is at an online casino. The other is live at a casino.

Rules for an online Pai Gow Poker game at MyBookie.ag

Playing Online Pai Gow Poker

The first step of playing online pai gow poker is creating an account. This process is simple. Your name, email address, and other personal information are required.

Most casino sites allow players to try the software out for free to ensure they are comfortable before playing for real money. This is perfect for those who enjoy free pai gow poker.

A deposit is required to play real money pai gow poker. The most popular options are credit and debit cards, like Visa and Mastercard, and crypto, like Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Ethereum.

Once your casino site account is funded, it is time to play real money pai gow poker. Choose the casino’s table game menu and double-click pai gow poker. The game will open.

Choose your preferred denomination, then click the betting circle on the felt the number of times required to equal your preferred wager. The minimum bet is usually $1.

When your bet is set, hit the deal button. The player and banker hands each receive seven cards. Click the two that should go in the front of the hand for the low. There may be a house way button to help with any close decisions.

When your hand is placed how you want to play it, click the set button. The banker’s hand is then shown.

If both player hands beat both banker hands, the bet wins. A five percent commission is removed from the payout for the house.

If both banker hands beat both player hands, the chips are taken by the dealer. If each side wins one hand, it is a push and the bet is returned to the player. If either of the player’s hands ties the banker, this is a copy. The banker wins all copies.

Online pai gow poker tip: Some online pai gow poker games round the commission up to the nearest quarter. This means that the best value occurs when bets are made in $5 increments.

For example, a $1 and $5 bet both have a $0.25 commission in this situation. Paying a 25% commission on a pai gow poker win sends the house advantage close to 15% when the real house edge is close to 3%.

Playing Live Pai Gow Poker

The goal of a live pai gow poker game is identical to the online version. The player wants both hands to beat the banker. Getting there plays differently.

At a live pai gow poker table, chips may be brought from other tables or purchased from the dealer. Place chips in the betting circle and seven cards are dealt.

The player must create two hands. Five cards stay behind for the high hand. Two cards are placed in the front. The back hand must beat the front one or else the hand automatically loses.

A $300,000 jackpot at The Orleans in Las Vegas courtesy of The Orleans Hotel & Casino and VegasPublicity.com

Unlike online casinos, there is no software to prevent missetting a hand. However, the house usually allows players to make one mistake during a session.

At a Face Up or Dealer Open Pai Gow table, the dealer’s hand is set first. This allows players to know what they must beat. At a traditional pai gow table, the players set hands first, just like at a casino site.

In Face Up Pai Gow Poker, the dealer automatically pushes on ace-high. At Dealer Open, any hand with at least two jacks causes the entire table to lose to the dealer. At EZ Pai Gow Poker, it is a queen-high house hand that causes the dealer to push versus all players.

The hands are compared in the same way online casinos do. A 5% commission is taken from wins in games that are not face up. Other games pay even money.

Types of Pai Gow Poker Games

There are many different ways to play pai gow poker. Most are live versions. There are a couple of video ones, including at online casinos.

Online Pai Gow Poker

Online pai gow poker is one of the most popular ways to play the game. The biggest reasons are its $1 minimum bet and ease of playing from anywhere. Most online pai gow poker games do not have side bets. It is the player versus the dealer in a heads-up format. There are no other players at the table.

Live dealer pai gow poker does not exist. The online game is only available in the video format.

Video Pai Gow Poker

Video pai gow poker is available on some Casino Wizard machines. The minimum bet is usually $5. This game plays like the online version except that side bets are available.

Commission Pai Gow Poker

Fortune Pai Gow Poker and Emperor's Challenge with a 5% commission on wins were once the most popular pai gow poker games. These days, both are difficult to find in most casino markets. Over 90% of Las Vegas pai gow poker tables are now dealt face up.

In commission pai gow poker games, players set their hands before the dealer. Winning bets have a 5% commission. Players may bank the action as the chip rotates around the table.

Face Up Pai Gow Poker

Face Up Pai Gow Poker is the most popular pai gow poker variant. The banker sets the house hand first. If the banker hand has an ace-high pai gow, meaning the seven-card initial hand has an ace but no pairs, straight, flush, straight flush, or royal flush, the hand ends in a push, regardless of what the other players have. Side bets are paid as normal.

Players know the best way to set their hands at face-up games because the banker’s hand shows first. However, in some cases, it will be impossible to win a hand due to bad cards. There is no commission in Face Up Pai Gow Poker.

Dealer Open Pai Gow Poker

Dealer Open Pai Gow Poker is also a face-up version of the game. Instead of an ace-high pai gow, the house wins versus all players when the dealer has at least two jacks. It does not matter how the hand would be set, and the strength or weakness of the player's hands is irrelevant. Side bets are paid as normal on a push.

EZ Pai Gow Poker

EZ Pai Gow Poker is a version of no-commission Pai Gow that's not face-up. The players set their hands first, and then the dealer goes. However, if the dealer has a queen-high pai gow (no pair, straight, or flush), then the entire table pushes regardless of the strength of the players' hands.

Live Dealer Online Pai Gow Poker

While many casino games have live dealer options online, pai gow poker does not. This is likely due to how slow the game plays and the need to deal every seat at the table hands to mimic the live version. As live dealer options expand to games like Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em, it is possible pai gow poker will join the live dealer scene in the coming years.

House Advantage of Pai Gow Poker Variants

The house edge in face-down pai gow poker games is debatable. It depends on how close one plays to perfect strategy, which has never been determined.

In typical 5% commission face-down games, the house advantage is around 2.7% on the player. Most online pai gow poker games are dealt in this way. When a player banks, it drops to about 0.25%. Online games do not permit player banking.

There are three types of face-up pai gow poker games. A game that pushes on a dealer queen-high pai gow poker holds about 1.3%. Face Up Pai Gow Poker that pushes on an ace-high pai gow poker holds about 1.8%. This is about the same house advantage as Dealer Open Pai Gow Poker wherein a pair of jacks wins it all for the dealer.

Banker House Ways

The house way is how the banker sets the hand for the casino. In most cases, this is how players should set hands too. All live casinos will share the house way list with players. Dealers are happy to help players with any questions about it. Video and online pai gow poker games often have a house way button that automatically sets the player’s hand.

Since pai gow poker has never been completely solved, casinos use different house ways. Some are more conservative, hoping to push more often. Others are more aggressive, hoping to scoop all bets while increasing the chances of losing as opposed to making a push.

Pai Gow House Way

The dealer must follow certain guidelines when composing his or her hand, which is known as the “house way.” Although there are slight differences in the specific formula followed at different casinos, the following procedure is generally used:

Pai Gow

A pai gow is nothing. When a hand has no pair, straight, or flush, the highest card goes in the five-card back hand. The second and third highest cards go in the low front hand. The other cards join the high card in the back.

Pair

When a hand includes a pair and nothing else, take the two top cards that are not part of the pair and put them in the two-card low hand. The pair and the three lowest cards go in the back high hand.

Two Pair

The most difficult part of the house way relates to two pair. The house way puts pairs into three categories for this hand:

• Low pairs: 2s to 6s
• Middle pairs: 7s to 10s
• High pairs: Jacks to kings

Some casinos put sixes in middle pairs and tens in high pairs. When the house has three pair, the highest goes in the front low hand. For two pair, these are the general rules:

• Always keep two low pairs together and put the highest two unpaired cards in the front, regardless of what they are. Aggressive casinos will split these pairs if there is no ace or king.
• When dealt a low pair with a middle or high pair, split unless an ace can be put in the front hand to keep the two pair together.
• Keep two middle pairs together only if an ace may be placed in the front.
• Always split a middle pair and a high pair or two high pairs.
• Always split two pair with aces.

The two pair rule trumps straight and flushes with one exception: Play a straight or flush consisting of two low pairs unless an ace can be played in the front.

Three of a Kind

When dealt three aces without a full house or another set of trips, play a pair in the back hand and one of the other aces with the highest kicker in the front. Keep all other trips together and place the next two highest cards in the front. When dealt two sets of trips, put a pair of the highest ones in the front.

Straights and Flushes

Follow the two pair rule, except play the straight or flush if an ace can be put in the front. Put one pair in the front if a straight or flush can be played in the back high hand. This is also the play when dealt three of a kind with a straight or flush. If the hand can place an ace in the front and keep a high pair in the back, break the straight or flush and play the pair with an ace.

Pai gow poker straight tip: The highest straight in pai gow poker is 10 to ace. The second highest is ace to five. All other straights are in the proper order. This rule also applies to straight flushes.

Full Houses

When dealt a full house at pai gow poker, place the highest pair possible in the front. This means the pair in a full house or the highest pair out of two sets of trips.

Four of a Kind

There are several types of four of a kind hands in pai gow. Here are the possibilities and how to play them.

Four of a Kind Without Another Pair or Trips

When dealt quads without the ability to put a pair in the front, always split jacks and higher into a pair in the front and back. With quad 7s to 10s, split unless an ace or king is available for the low hand in the front. Always keep four sixes and lower together.

Four of a Kind With Pair or Trips

If dealt quads with a pair or trips, play the four of a kind together and play the other pair in the front. With quads and trips, put two of the three trip cards in the front and play the other card as the kicker in the back. This hand is called a supertanker.

Four Aces Plus the Joker

Four aces with the joker is five aces. That is the best possible hand. However, it should be split into three aces in the back with a pair of aces in the front unless the other two cards are kings. In that case, play five aces in back with a pair of kings in the front. In all other cases, play the other two cards with the three aces.

Three Aces Plus the Joker

Three aces plus the joker make quad aces. Play this as four aces, meaning split for a pair each in the front and back, unless the joker can be played in a straight or flush that keeps a pair of aces in the front.

Pai Gow Poker Hand Rankings

There are two hands in a pai gow poker game. The five-card high hand in the back ranks like most poker games, except the joker allows the possibility of five aces. The front low hand is a two-card hand.

Ranking the Low Hand

A pair is the best hand in the front. If there is no pair, the high card plays. Ace is the highest. The highest card is used to determine its strength. For example, an ace and a two beat a king and a queen because the ace is higher than king.

If the highest card in the low hand ties between the player and banker, the kicker breaks the tie, If both cards have the same rank, it is a copy, which the banker wins.

Ranking the High Hand

The high hand ranks like a video poker one based on the following list:

• Five aces
• Royal flush
• Straight flush
• Four of a kind
• Full house
• Flush
• Straight
• Three of a kind
• Two pair
• Pair
• High card

How the Joker Plays in Pai Gow Poker

There is one joker in a pai gow poker game. It is used as the fifth card in the high hand in a straight or flush. Otherwise, it is an ace. If a flush already has a natural ace in it, the joker replaces the next card missing, starting with the king. The joker always plays as an ace in the low hand. It only makes a pair when played with a natural ace.

Pai Gow Poker Side Bets

There are two typical side bets. One is the progressive. Another is the Fortune Poker one. The hand does not need to be kept together to win side bets. For example, a player who makes five aces can still play three in the back and two in the front. Any winning hand may be natural or with the joker unless otherwise noted.

There are a few different pay tables for the various side bets available in Pai Gow. However, they are all not too different from the payouts listed below:

Pai Gow Poker Progressive Side Bet

• Seven-card straight flush: 100% of progressive jackpot
• Five aces: 10% of the progressive jackpot
• Royal flush: 500/1
• Straight flush: 100/1
• Four of a kind: 75/1
• Full house: 4/1

Fortune Pai Gow Bonus

• Natural seven-card straight flush: 5,000/1
• Royal flush with king-queen suited in the front: 2,000/1
• Seven-card straight flush with joker: 1,000/1
• Five aces: 400/1
• Royal flush: 150/1
• Straight flush 50/1
• Four of a kind: 25/1
• Full house: 5/1
• Flush: 4/1
• Three of a kind: 3/1
• Straight: 2/1

The Fortune Pai Gow Poker side bet has envy bets. When a player bets $5, the envy is triggered. If another player at the table hits four of a kind or better, the envy bets also win based on the following chart:

• Natural seven-card straight flush: $3000
• Royal flush with king-queen suited in the front: $1000
• Seven-card straight flush with joker: $500
• Five aces: $250
• Royal flush: $50
• Straight flush: $20
• Four of a kind: $5

Practice & Free Play Games

Pai Gow Poker is a somewhat complicated game. It requires skill when the player sets the hand before the banker. That is how all online pai gow poker games are played. This is where free pai gow poker comes in.

Practice play Pai Gow Poker at Bovada

All online casinos permit free play. Most do not require the player to create an account first. This is a good way to try out the software. It helps new players understand how the game works. It also shows all the side bets available at a casino site and if there is a house way button.

Pai Gow Poker Bankroll Strategies

Pai Gow Poker is a slow game at a live casino. The player only theoretically loses about one bet every two hours. The bonus side bets are where the variance lies. If you only play the main bet, 20 units will get through almost any session. However, ending a session in the positive range is nearly impossible.

Side bets are either $1, $2, or $5. This can cause a loss of up to $100 an hour. Playing side bets requires a much larger bankroll. This adds about 20 side bets per hour or a total of 100 units to avoid busting during most negative variance sessions.

Online Pai Gow Poker Promotions

Pai Gow Poker qualifies for online casino bonuses. The wagering requirement rate is usually five or ten times slots. This means that a player can increase the return of online pai gow poker by 0.2 to 0.3 percent when playing with a bonus.

Online casinos with VIP programs also include the game in point calculations. This means players receive reload bonuses and free bets based on this action. That makes pai gow poker a great choice for online casino promotions.

Mobile Apps

All major online casinos have mobile apps for phones and tablets. These are available on iOS and Android platforms. The download is available on each casino’s website, or sometimes, there's no download and instead the game loads up within your web browser.

In the event that you do need to download an app, you'll need to confirm the installation. The app will open when this process is complete. Choose table games from the menu. If pai gow poker is available, it is found in this section.

Mobile gameplay on a free to play app

Players who prefer using a computer at online casinos may do that instead. These games work on almost every platform. No download is typically required.

Summary

Pai gow poker is a game of luck at most live casinos and one of skill at online ones. That is because Face Up Pai Gow Poker has taken over the casino world but does not exist on the internet.

Players set their hands after the dealer at Face Up Pai Gow Poker, so they know what is required to win. At online casinos, the player sets the hand first, which adds a layer of excitement the live game lacks these days.

Side bets are the main way to win big at pai gow poker. These have about triple the house advantage of the flat bet. At a live game, a seven-card straight flush takes down the progressive jackpot. Five aces get 10% of it. Casino sites don’t offer progressives but may have other side bets.

Live pai gow poker players typically chase progressive jackpots and free drinks. At casino sites, the goal is to clear bonuses and hope for a side bet to hit if available.

Click any of the links below to sign up for one of the best online pai gow casinos now:

Pai Gow Poker FAQs

We have done our best to include all of the most important information regarding pai gow poker, but of course, we cannot cover everything in one article. If you have any unanswered questions, please feel free to consult the frequently asked questions section included below.