The game of Pai Gow (more correctly referred to as Pai Gow Poker) is played with a fifty-three card deck. This Pai Gow deck is a regular deck of playing cards with the presence of a joker added to the mix. Pai Gow rules require a player to bet on the hand prior to the start of the Pai Gow game. Once all players have placed their bets, the Pai Gow hand may begin.

Pai Gow is a casino game played amongst players, as the house is absent any direct and active role in the game. Instead of having players compete against the house, which is usually the dealer in most casino card games of chance, each player competes against the banker. The banker is designated prior to the start of the Pai Gow hand. Each player at the Pai Gow table will have the chance to be the banker on a revolving basis, as the banker position moves from the dealer’s left to his right upon completion of each hand.

Best places to play online pai gow

Casino		Welcome Bonus	Software	Visit
	Casino Action	€1250 free bonus for 1 hour	Microgaming	Play Now
	Europa Casino	deposit €20 take €100	Playtech	Play Now
	William Hill Casino	€300 sign up bonus	Playtech	Play Now
	Titan Casino	€4000 max deposit bonus	Playtech	Play Now
	EuroGrand Casino	€1000 welcome bonus	Playtech	Play Now
	Tropez Casino	€3000 welcome bonus	Playtech	Play Now
	Prestige Casino	€1500 free spins	Playtech	Play Now

Pai Gow Rules on Playing a Hand

When the deal begins, each player in the Pai Gow game receives seven cards. With these seven cards, each Pai Gow player must construct two separate hands. One hand must contain 5 cards, while the other hand will contain 2 cards. Important to note, the five-card hand must outrank the 2-card hand. Failure to follow this important Pai Gow rule results in an immediate loss. Additionally, in the construction of Pai Gow hands, the joker may only play the role of completing flushed hands (which include straight flushes), as well as straight draws. If the joker cannot be utilized in this capacity, Pai Gow rules state the joker is an Ace.

Pai Gow Rules on Showdown

Once each player constructs their two hands, the showdown occurs. In the showdown, the banker’s hand is compared to the hands of the players’ individually. Should either the banker or player win both the 5-card hand and the 2-card hand, money changes hands. If the two hands split, then the hand is considered a push for that player and money does not move from player to banker or banker to player.

Pai Gow Rules on Hand Order

• The highest hand one can possess is five of a kind in Aces. This hand uses the joker in completing the hand.
• The next highest Pai Gow hand is a royal flush. The royal contains A thru 10 all suited. The joker may be utilized to complete the royal flush, per Pai Gow rules governing the use of the joker.
• Quads or four of a kind.
• Full-House, which is three-of-a-kind, combined with a pair (A-A-A-3-3).
• A flush, which is 5 cards all suited the same. Pai Gow rules allow the use of a joker in completing the flush.
• A straight, which is five sequential cards and may use a joker (8-9-10-J-Q).
• Trips – 3 cards of the same exact rank (3-3-3).
• Two-pair – Paired cards with another group of paired cards (5-5-7-7).
• A single pair – Two cards of the same value (8-8).
• High-card – Ace high.

Pai Gow Rules Governing How the House Is Paid

In every casino game, the house has to be paid in one fashion or another. Pai Gow is no different. In Pai Gow, players and bankers must pay a fee or commission to the house. Pai Gow rules require players to pay their juice up front. The commission amounts to five percent. Players will prepay $.05 for every $1 wagered in advance of the Pai Gow hand‘s start.

The Pai Gow rules surrounding the banker’s commissions are slightly different. While the player pays the fee up front, the banker is taxed on his winnings. Thus, if a banker loses or breaks even, he pays no commission. However, if the banker wins $100 from a hand of Pai Gow, he owes $5 to the house as his “tax.”