This results in a push and you get your original wager back. The majority of games should end up with one winning hand and one losing hand. If you lose both hands then you lose the wager. If you win both hands, you win the wager minus commission (more on that shortly). The object of Pai Gow Poker is to beat the dealer in both hands.

There are seven cards dealt to each player and the dealer and everyone will make two hands from those seven cards.

It’s especially fun with a group of friends and can be way too much fun if you’re a drinker. Pai Gow Poker is a fun and easy low limits game to play once you know the rules. That changed in recent years and you can find a $5 - $15 game any day of the week in most (not all) casinos. It took awhile, but casino operators caught on that some people just looking to push hands all night in exchange for complimentary drinks. There was a time where some casinos on the Vegas Strip only offered $25 Pai Gow Poker games. Minimums are usually $5 or $10 in downtown Las Vegas and off the Vegas Strip. Minimum wagers on the Vegas Strip are anywhere from $5 to $25 depending on where you play. You’ll have to walk over to the Asian gaming area to play Pai Gow Poker. When I tell people that Pai Gow Poker is one of my favorite casino games, they give one of two looks - WTF? or YEAH! This isn't the most popular game with most casino guests. That means more time to play in the casino. Unlike the other games, the small house edge and volatility keep the bankroll alive longer. While casino operators are focused on generating more revenue from popular games like blackjack and roulette, games like Pai Gow Poker have been left alone. The lesson lasted about an hour and cost about $20 in tips for the cocktail waitress and dealer.ĭrinking and gambling is always fun but today I play Pai Gow Poker because of the slow pace of play and the small 1.46% house edge. We played low $5 limits, had quick drink service, and a very patient dealer helped us learn how to play this complicated but simple game. The only purpose of this visit was to learn how to play Pai Gow Poker. I didn’t learn how to play Pai Gow Poker until a bender on vacation in Las Vegas took a friend and me to the Gold Coast. The conversation continued and I learned that the game is easy to play, there are a lot of pushes so not too much money is lost, and cocktail service is quick. Some very not sober blackjack players mentioned that they like to get the party started at the Pai Gow tables. I was turned onto the game about 10 years ago at Mandalay Bay. Pai Gow Poker has become my go to game when gambling on the Vegas Strip over the past couple of years.

Play pai gow poker with friends