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Pai Gow Poker Online Casino Games in Canada, How to Play Pai Gow Poker in Canada

How to Play Pai Gow Poker in Canada

Hand rankings in online casino Pai Gow games are the same as those for poker with one exception. In some versions of online Pai Gow casino games the A,2,3,4,5 straight beats the 9,10,J,Q,K straight. Once hands are compared and determinations are made concerning whether either the player or dealer won or the round resulted in a push, it's time to shuffle and deal again. CA online casino Pai Gow Poker is a fun game where players can increase their chances of winning by carefully setting both of their hands. Before playing for real cash, take some time to learn Pai Gow in free play mode. This will certainly help you increase your chances of winning.

Pai Gow Poker Online Casino Games in Canada

Pai Gow Poker, which utilizes a standard deck of 52 cards plus a joker, is easy to learn and fun to play. Based on the original Chinese domino game of the same name, online casino Pai Gow Poker involves six players trying to beat the dealer.

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How to Play Pai Gow Poker

Playing online casino Pai Gow Poker is easy and fun. The game, which was invented in 1985 by Sam Torosian at the Bell Card Club in Southern California, is popular with those who like card games that are played one-on-one against the dealer. Along with a standard 52-card deck of playing cards, Pai Gow includes one joker, which serves as a wild card.

When you play online casino Pai Gow, the joker may be used in various ways. It may substitute for any ace or be utilized to complete a straight, flush, straight flush or royal flush.

The game includes up to six players and a dealer, who is also the banker. The banker receives a commission of 0.05% on all hands. After placing a bet, players and the dealer receive seven cards. When playing at a Pai Gow online casino, the player makes two hands from the seven cards they receive. One hand, which is known as the “in front,” “low,” “on top,” or “small” hand, consists of two cards, while the other, which is called the “behind,” “bottom,” “high,” or “big,” is comprised of the remaining five.

When compiling their two hands, online casino Pai Gow players must do so in a manner that ensures the behind (five-card) hand is of greater worth than the in front (two-card) hand. Once those playing the hand have arranged their cards, the player's hands are then compared to the dealer's. The two in front hands are compared and a winner is determined, and the two behind hands are also compared with a winner being identified.

Winning at Pai Gow Poker

A player wins at real money online casino Pai Gow Poker when their two hands beat the two hands held by the dealer. Payout odds are 0.95:1, with a commission of 0.05% going to the banker. If the player wins one and the dealer wins the other, then it's a push and bets are returned. In a Pai Gow online casino game, if the dealer wins both hands, then the player loses the bet. Ties are awarded to the dealer.

House Edge

Online casino Pai Gow carries a low to moderate house edge of 2.84%. How does that compare to other real money online casino games? Blackjack offers a low edge of 0.26%, the craps pass/come bet is a 1.41%, baccarat is 1.24%, and single zero roulette is 2.70%. If you're interested in playing a low to medium risk card game at a Canadian real money online casino, then Pai Gow online poker is a good bet.

With Pai Gow, as with baccarat, a player may have the opportunity to be the banker. If you can and do take on that role, the house edge for Pai Gow goes down to 1.42%. Remember that the banker wins all ties, plus they receive a 0.05% commission on all wins. To be the banker, you must be able to cover all bets. By the way, online casino Pai Gow Poker does not allow the player to take on the role of banker. This is only done at select land-based casinos.

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When you sign up to play online casino Pai Gow Poker at one of our real money CA gaming sites you'll be eligible for a great first deposit bonus. Real money online casino play becomes a lot more fun and interesting when you increase your bankroll by 100% or more with such a bonus. When you join an online Pai Gow casino through our site you'll have access to a top welcome bonus.

Playing Pai Gow at the Best Canada Online Casinos

CA online casino Pai Gow Poker is a fun game where players can increase their chances of winning by carefully setting both of their hands. Before playing for real cash, take some time to learn Pai Gow in free play mode. This will certainly help you increase your chances of winning.

Play more than just Pai Gow and view our complete selection of online casino games!

Pai Gow Poker Online in Canada: An Expert Guide

One variation of casino games that is seeing ever-growing popularity is Pai Gow poker. It has been around for years, but has only started to gain popularity recently as more people learn to play. It’s a social game, for those that enjoy interaction with their poker. It provides a natural “us against them” spirit, since every player’s success depends on how the banker’s hand turns out.

How to play Pai Gow Poker

How do you win?

Pai Gow Strategies

Where to Play Pai Gow Poker Online

Here are the online casinos our team of experts recommend Canadian players use for playing Pai Gow Poker:

How to play Pai Gow poker

Pai Gow is a version of poker that uses a 53-card deck: the standard 52 cards, plus a Joker. Online rumors suggest that this game evolved from American poker and pai gow, a domino game invented by Chinese laborers who immigrated to America during the 19th century.

Players bet against the banker in games of Pai Gow poker. Players and the banker alike are dealt seven cards, which they must separate into two hands: one of five cards, and one of two cards. Your intended goal is to beat the banker’s five-card and two-card hands with your own.

How do you win at Pai Gow poker?

A player win in Pai Gow poker requires that both your five-card hand and your two-card hand be of higher rank than the banker’s respective hands.

If your two-card is equal in rank to the banker’s, they are called copies, and the banker wins copies.

If the banker’s five-card hand beats or is equal to yours, and their two-card hand beats or is equal to yours, the player loses their bet.

You tie with the banker if your two-card hand beats theirs but their five-card hand beats yours. In this instance, no money is exchanged at all.

A tie also results when your five-card hand beats the dealer’s, but their two-card hand beats yours.

Pai Gow Strategy and Tips

Setting your high and low hands is crucial to winning in Pai Gow poker at an online casino. The following guidelines list some strategy for setting your hands.

As a general rule of thumb, you should try to set the highest two-card hand that you can legally set: the best two-card hand that still leaves a higher five-card hand behind.

More specifically, a player should expect an average hand to be something like a medium to high pair behind in the five-card hand and an ace-high in front.

Optimal strategy is available for setting hands in Pai Gow poker, but it requires memorizing large strategy charts. You can play close to optimal strategy by learning a few basic rules.

But remember, you can always ask to have your hand set the house way. The majority of house strategies can be close to playing optimal strategy.

Two-pair hands can be more difficult to play. It’s important to think it through carefully, because two-pair hands are common and one wrong move could ruin the outcome.

If your high card is an Ace, you’ll more than likely want to include the two pairs in your five-card hand. You can consider using the lower pair as your low hand if none of your singletons are that high in rank.

Pai Gow Poker

Created by an American casino owner (Sam Torosian) in the mid-1980s (without patenting it, unfortunately), Pai Gow has taken hold as a casino staple and is still going strong 30 years later.

In simple terms your goal is to make two poker hands – one 5-card hand and one 2-card hand. If your two poker hands beat the dealer’s two poker hands, you win.

If only one of your hand wins, it’s a push. And if both of your hands lose, you lose your bet.

As you might guess the game itself is simple and quick to learn for anyone who plays poker and is perfect for a nice, fun, slow-paced game to play live at the casino.

How to Play Pai Gow Poker

As you can likely figure out based on the simple rules above, Pai Gow Poker is a game of pushes. A lot of pushes.

Which is cool. Sit down at a Pai Gow table (live or online) and you can play for quite a while on the same stake – while at the same time getting to move quite a bit of money around.

The odds are definitely in favor of winning one hand per deal which makes it a relatively low-risk casino game and a relaxed way to interact with fellow gamblers at a casino.

For even more camaraderie, at a Pai Gow table each player plays against the banker which means players usually win or lose together.

Another cool thing about Pai Gow?

If you’re not sure how to set your hand you can just turn it face up and ask the dealer. He or she will tell you how the House would set it and there you go!

How to Bet in Pai Gow Poker

Just like most casino table games Pai Gow poker begins with the player placing a bet before receiving any cards.

This is the only bet you will make for the duration of the hand and it must be within the minimum and maximum betting limits of the table.

At some Pai Gow tables you can also make a Bonus bet on whether you’ll make a “premium” hand. In most casinos that’s 3-of-a-kind or better.

The better your premium hand the more the casino will pay out on your bet. The bonus wager doesn’t depend on whether you win your main bet or not.

Expert Tip: Never bet the bonus! The house edge on the bonus bet is comparatively huge. You’re guaranteed to lose money over the long haul making the bonus bet.

Pai Gow Poker – The Deal

After all of the best have been placed each player then (typically there will be 6 players and one dealer) receives 7 cards face down from the 53-card deck (52 cards plus one joker).

Even if not all of the seats at the table are full the dealer will deal out all 7 cards to each of the places. The four remaining cards are left face down as a muck pile.

Once the dealer picks up any unused hands each player can then set their two Pai Gow hands.

How to Arrange a Pai Gow Poker Hand

It’s your job to arrange your cards into two poker hands.

The back hand (or big hand/high hand) is a standard 5-card poker hand. The front hand (or the small hand/low hand) is made up of just two cards

Your low hand can only be two high cards or a pair.

What’s a Joker Worth in Pai Gow?

If you’re dealt the joker (yes, the joker is included in the deck for Pai Gow Poker play) it can be used to substitute for a card in 3 ways:

Can be any card to to complete a straight

Can be any suit to complete a flush

If it can’t be used for either of those, the joker will always be an ace

In the two-card hand a joker is always an ace.

Your 5-Card Hand MUST Be Higher

The only rule for separating your two Pai Gow hands is simple: The five-card hand MUST outrank the two-card hand. For example:

You’re dealt: A ♥ Q ♣ J ♠ 8 ♦ 8 ♣ 4 ♠ 2 ♥

Big: 8 ♦ 8 ♣ J ♠ 4 ♠ 2 ♥

Small: A ♥ Q ♣

As you can see the big hand has a pair while the small hand has only ace high. Doing it the other way around (putting the two 8s in the small hand) would not be allowed since the small hand would outrank the big hand.

Important Note: If you do mess up and make your small hand outrank your big hand, it’s called “fouling your hand” and you lose your bet. So don’t do it!

Your 5-card hand is ranked according to the standard Poker Hand Rankings with one notable exception in some casinos:

The A-2-3-4-5 straight (also known as a “wheel”) is considered the 2nd-highest straight

It’s a weird rule and a lot of casinos have dropped it now but many still hold true with it. Check with your local house rules to be sure.

How to Set a Pai Gow Hand – Basic Pai Gow Poker Strategy

It’s common strategy to split your hand in a way which gives you the strongest possible two-card hand

Because you can’t lose your money if just one of your hands is better than the dealer, it’s common strategy to split your hand in a way which gives you the strongest possible two-card hand (without outranking your five-card hand).

The exception to this strategy is if you’re able to make a very strong five-card hand such as a straight or better. In that scenario your five-card hand is almost sure to be a winner allowing you to freeroll on any two card hand you play.

When playing hands with no pairs (ie a totally unconnected set of 7 cards) the commonly accepted method is to:

Leave the highest-ranked card in the back (big) hand

Put the second two highest-ranking cards in the front (small) hand

That makes your front hand as strong as possible without outranking the back hand.

If you have one pair in your dealt hand:

Play the pair in your big (high) hand)

Play your two other highest cards in your low hand

If you’re dealt two pairs you should always split them if you have:

A pair of Aces

Two high pairs (JJ-AA)

One high pair (JJ-AA) and one medium (77-TT)

Unless you have an Ace in your hand you should also split:

Two medium (77-TT) pairs

One high (JJ-AA) and one low (22-66) pair

Unless you have an Ace or a King you should always split:

One medium (77-TT) pair and one low (22-66) pair

Two low (22-66) pairs

Play 3-of-a-Kind in your High hand unless you have 3 Aces. If you have 3 aces, play a pair in your high hand and Ace-high in your low hand

Play straights and flushes in your high hand unless you also have two pair. Then split them according to above rules for two-pair hands

Split quads (4-of-a-kind) into two pairs if they are JJ or above

Keep 4-of-a-kind 6s or lower together

Keep 4-of-a-kind (77-TT) together only if you also have an Ace.

When you have a Full House:

Always play the pair in your 2-card hand and 3-of-a-kind in your high hand unless you also have a second pair

If so, play the higher of the two-pair in your low hand

If you have five Aces including Joker:

Always split them unless you also have a pair of Kings (In which case play all five Aces in your high hand)

Pai Gow Poker Dealer Rules or “House Way”

In every casino Pai Gow game the dealer is required to set his or her Pai Gow hand in specific ways. This is called the “House Way.”

This varies from casino to casino but is listed in every casino’s gaming guide. Check with each local casino to see what their House Way is.

How to Determine a Winning Pai Gow Hand

Once all hands are set you must compare your two hands to the corresponding two hands of the dealer.

If both of your hands are better than both of the dealer hands, you make 1:1 on your bet

If only one of your hands is better than the dealer’s, it’s a push

If both your hands are worse than the dealers, you lose your bet

Important note: In Pai Gow ties go to the dealer so if you have the exact same hand (eg a pair of 88s in your low hand) the dealer wins that hand.

Pai Gow Poker – House Edge

The house edge in Pau Gow is pretty low to begin with and can be reduced even more (about 2.8%) if you learn how to set your hands optimally.

When you win a hand the casino takes a 5% commission but some casinos choose not to do that. With no House commission the banker has a 1.3% advantage.

Play Free Pai Gow Poker Online

Now that you know the rules and simple strategy to reduce the house edge, your next step is to take a shot at a few free Pai Gow games online.

Check our toplist above for casinos that offer Pai Gow Poker. If you want to try it out before dropping down any real money they all have free or play-money versions you can likely try to get used to the rules and play. Enjoy!

More on Casino Poker Games:

More on How to Play Poker:

How To Play Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is a table game that mixes elements of Pai Gow, an ancient Chinese game, with seven-card poker. The game is played using a 53-card deck that includes one Joker.

The Object of the Game

During a round of Pai Gow Poker, each player and the dealer is dealt seven cards that must be arranged into two poker hands: a five-card hand and two-card hand. The object of the game is to bet on whether the player’s hands beat those of the dealer.

Breaking Down Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is a sociable game with a relaxed pace of play.
Here are some of the basics:

The table

A Pai Gow Poker table has positions for six players and a dealer’s area. Each position features room for arranging poker hands and placing chips.

A birds-eye view of a dealer and a betting table.

The cards

The game uses a standard deck of cards with one Joker. The Joker is considered “semi-wild” and can be used to substitute an Ace or to complete hands. For example, a straight could be made using a Joker, i.e., 3-4-5-6-Joker.

A Joker card leaning on a deck of cards.

The hands

Since Pai Gow Poker is scored using traditional poker hands, a basic understanding of how the hands rank is key.

Five cards make up a Royal Flush, a 10, a Jack, a Queen, a King and an Ace.

How to play Pai Gow Poker in 5 easy steps

Dollar signs signifying expense levels next to the middle option $

Set a budget. Getting swept up in the heat of the moment is easy in Pai Gow Poker. A predetermined game plan is a great way to keep things cool.

A hand places down three chips next to a banknote.

Buy chips. Simply place cash on the table and the dealer will exchange it for chips.

Place bets. Bets should be placed inside the marked chip circle on the table.

Seven cards are separated into two and five. Two cards on the front and five on the rear.

Arrange the cards. The dealer will distribute seven cards to each player. These must be arranged into two poker hands—one with five cards, and one with two.

Compare hands to see who wins, the player or dealer.

1. Set a budget

Savvy gamblers know there’s no way to guarantee a win. That’s why they set aside a play budget like one might set aside for a dinner out or concert tickets.

2. Buy chips

Money and chips are never exchanged directly between a dealer and player. To make a purchase, simply place cash on the table and the dealer will replace it with chips.

3. Place bets

The dealer will call for bets before any cards have been dealt. Decide how much to bet and place the required amount of chips inside the marked chip circle. The dealer will then shake a dice cup to see which player receives their cards first.

4. Arrange your cards

Once players have received their cards, it’s time to split them into a five-card hand and a two-card hand. The five-card hand is called the “rear” hand, and the two-card hand is called the “front” hand. The rear hand must have a higher poker score than the front hand.

Five-card hands follow conventional poker rules

The two-card hand will either be a pair or no pair

If the two-card hand has no pair, the score is based on the value of each card with Aces high

5. Compare your hands

A dealer has five and two cards facing a player’s two-card hand.

Once the player and dealer cards have been arranged into front and rear hands, it’s time to compare them.

The player wins their bet if their front and rear hands beat both of the dealer’s hands

The player’s bet pushes if only one of their hands beats only one of the dealer’s hands

The player loses their bet if both of their hands tie or lose to the dealer

Play more Pai Gow

Feeling inspired by the challenge of Pai Gow Poker?
Check out the game’s original form, Pai Gow Tiles.

How To Play Pai Gow Poker

Although there are a lot of other poker variants that originated outside of the US, there is only one that comes from China. It is called Pai Gow and is a fast-paced and fun alternative to traditional poker style card games. Pai Gow Poker is an American version of a Chinese domino game of the same name.

Pai Gow Poker Game

The American version is also called double hand poker and replaces the Chinese number with Standard English numbers. The game uses a 52 card deck, although at some casinos, the Jokers are included, which is rare among many casino games. In Pai Gow Poker, the player is playing against the banker, which could be played by the dealer or by another player. Each player is dealt a total of 7 cards, but must use those seven cards to create two separate hands.

Pai Gow Poker Rules

The two hands created are a 5 card hand and a 2 card hand and the player will play both of them against the dealer/banker. The 2 card hand is typically referred to as “in front,” while the 5 card hand is called “behind.” The five-card hand must be stronger than the two-card hand.

As you might guess, the only possible hands with the in front hand are pairs and highs. However, traditional hands apply with the five card hands. This can be a very tricky game to play because you have to decide which way to split the cards to give your two hands the most value. The player is responsible for making sure the 5 card hand is higher than the two card hand. The house charges a 5% commission on overall wins. There are 4 possible out comes in Pai Gow:

You win both hands - Pays 1:1

The dealer wins one hand and you win the other - A push and no money changes hands

The dealer wins both hands - You lose your bet

The 4th outcome is a tie. Dealer wins all ties, so

If both the 2 card hand and the 5 card hand tie - Dealer wins

If the dealer wins one hand and ties the other - Dealer wins

If you win one hand and dealer ties the other - Push and no money changes hands

The joker, also called the bug, is played in Pai Gow Poker at some casinos and assumes the position of an ace in a 2 card hand and also in the 5 card hand unless completing a flush. In some Californian casinos, the joker is actually wild, but this will be a rarity otherwise.

Basic Pai Gow strategy involves trying to set the highest two card hand possible so that you always have a way to at least push against the dealer, thereby limiting your odds to lose. However, if you have only one pair, you are better off placing the pair in your high card hand and placing the two highest remaining cards in the two card hand.

Player wins both hands - 28.61%

Tie - 41.48%

Banker wins both hands - 29.91%

Pai Gow poker can be played for hours and not show a large net gain or lose. The game is a little bit faster paced than other poker variants, such as Let It Ride, which means you have to be quick with your decisions.

Pai Gow poker

Updated: 01.04.2021

Online Pai Gow Poker is not the same at Pai Gow. While the former is a Chinese game of dominos available at Asian casinos, the latter is an online casino poker variant played in the West. Some people also call it Double-handed Poker. Although related, the two games stand in a class of their own.

This page is an online Pai Gow Poker guide for beginners. Read on to learn about the main features and rules of the game, how to play it, odds of winning, best Pai Gow Poker strategies, different types of Pai Gow Poker, and so on.

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Online Pai Gow Poker Rules Explained

Pai Gow Poker requires a standard deck of 52 playing cards plus a joker. Six players can play the game at a time along with a dealer. You have to create two hands out of seven cards. You aim to beat the banker, who can be one of the players at the table, the dealer, or a team comprising a player and the dealer.

The following is a guide that shows you how to play Pai Gow Poker online:

At the start of the game, you will receive seven cards.

You have to create two poker hands with your seven cards – a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand.

Place bets on the hands you have just created

Your high hand should be stronger than your low hand.

Once you have created your hands, the dealer reveals the banker's hands.

The game can have one of three outcomes—you win both hands, the dealer wins both hands, you win one hand and the dealer wins one hand.

In case of a tie, the dealer wins the bet.

Card values and combinations in Pai Gow Poker

A joker can replace any card in the deck or act as an ace. If a player has a chance to complete one of hands, such as straight, flush, royal flush, or straight flush, they can use the joker to substitute any card. If that’s not the case, joker will act as an ace. All standard poker rules apply, save the Ace-2-3-4-5 sequence which is the second highest straight. Application of this rule varies from casino to casino.

The hands are grouped into High and Low cards. The High Hand is a standard poker hand of 5 cards, whereas the Low Hand has 2 cards. The 2-card hand cannot be higher in rank than the 5-card, as this results in a foul. Because there are seven cards in total, it is up to the player to organize cards and split anyway he likes.

Here is a table that describes the card values and combinations in online Pai Gow Poker:

Online pai gow poker hand combinations

Hand	Description	Payout
Royal Flush	Ace, Queen, King, Joker, Ten of the same suit	2000:1
Straight Flush	Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine of the same suit in sequence	50:1
4 of a Kind	Four cards having the same value	25:1
Full House	Three cards of the same rank plus two cards of the same rank	5:1
Flush	Five cards of the same suit but not in sequence	4:1
Straight	Five consecutive cards from different suits	2:1

Bonus payouts

If you want to have more options to win more money, you need to place a bonus bet. Bonus hand payouts are as follows:

Online pai gow poker - bonus payouts

Hand	Description	Payout
7-card Straight Flush	e.g. 5-6-7-8-9-10-J all hearts	8000:1
Royal Flush and 2-2	e.g. 10-J-Q-K-A hearts plus a pair of twos	2000:1
7-card Straight Flush including Joker	e.g. 5-6-7-8-9-10-J plus Joker	1000:1
Five aces	four aces plus the Joker	400:1

Understanding Pai Gow Poker Main Features

Are you finding online casino games such as Casino Hold'em dull? In that case, you have to play Pai Gow Poker, which you will find at almost every top-rated online casino in the industry.

Playing Pai Gow Poker at online casinos involves the following moves:

How to Play Pai Gow Poker and Win Online Money

How to Win Money Playing Pai Gow Poker Online

1. Pai Gow Poker Basis & Objective

Pai Gow Poker is a multi-player card game, just like blackjack. At a traditional table, there is one dealer and space for up to six players. The game is played with one deck of 53 cards, including a single joker. The joker can take the place of a missing card in straights or flushes. Otherwise, it becomes an Ace.

Being a house-banked poker game, each player is competing only against the dealer (aka banker), not the other players. Note that, in an online game, there are no other players. The game is entirely digitized and computer generated. This makes no difference in terms of the rules, odds, or outcome of a game.

After placing a bet, you will be dealt exactly seven cards. You must split these up into two hands. One will be a standard 5-card poker hand, and the other a 2-card poker hand. Both are valued by standard poker hand ranks (defined below).

The object of the game is for your two hands to beat the dealer’s two hands. To win, your 5-card hand must beat the dealer’s 5-card hand, and your 2-card hand must beat the dealer’s 2-card hand.

There are three possible outcomes to a game.

2. Rules of Hand Development

We know that, of the seven cards available, a player must divide them into a 5-card and 2-card hand. That’s the simple part. On top of this, there is just one prevailing rule that all players (and the dealer) must abide by when setting their Pai Gow Poker hands.

The 5-card hand must beat the 2-card hand.

Think of it as “bigger hand, bigger value”, if it helps.

Why does it matter?

The rate of tie hands would be much higher, making for a very monotonous (and unpopular) game. As it is, the probability of tying the dealer is 40.5%. That’s nearly half of all games ending in a draw – no win, no loss.

The odds of being dealt a single pair out of seven cards is 43.3%; far more common than no pairs (17.4%), or all combined hands better than a pair (39.3%). If allowed, most would put the pair in their 2-card hand, leaving the 5-card hand to fend for itself with nothing better than high-card; the goal being to tie rather than lose (as strategy would call for). But again, the rate of ties would jump at least another 20% if this were an option. Thus the rule must stand… The 5-card hand must beat the 2-card hand.

3. How to Win Pai Gow Poker More Often

The strategy for Pai Gow Poker isn’t very complicated. When setting your 2- and 5-card poker hands, ideally, you want both of them to be strong enough to net you the win. If that’s not likely, you may be forced to sacrifice the 2-card hand, setting the 5-card hand as strong as possible to reduce the odds of losing the both hands, and the bet.

That’s the basic strategy for the game. When properly adapted, it will result in an optimal RTP of 97.31% (house edge 2.69%). This figure is based on perfect application of the strategy outlined below, and the resulting expectation of wins, loses and ties.

Win 29.25% of all hands.

Lose 30.30% of all hands.

Push 40.45% of all hands.

The more detailed, rule-based strategy requires these guidelines to be followed, based on the 7 cards dealt. This first section applies only if there are No Straights or Flushes. Refer to the next section if a 5-card Straight or Flush is available.

This next chart applies to all 7-card combinations that can result in any Straight, Flush, Straight-Flush, or Royal Flush.

4. Advantage of Online Pai Gow Poker Games

There are a number of benefits of playing Pai Gow Poker at an online casino, versus a bricks-and-mortar casino. Most of them relate to the fact that it’s better for your bankroll. There are no travel expenses – that money stays in your bankroll. There is no need to tip the dealer – that money stays in your bankroll. You will not be tempted to purchase food, beverages or other often over-priced items while playing, which again translates to more money for your bankroll.

Every internet casino promotes welcome bonuses that add credits to your balance when making an initial deposit. Such bonuses also extend your bankroll; this time, with money you didn’t have to begin with.

Online casinos also provide instant access to the games, no matter where you are, or how much time you have to play. All you need is a computer or mobile device with an internet connection, and a viable payment method to fund the account.

I’ve saved the most important advantage for last. Online casinos offer 99% of their games for practice or real money play. This means you can play Pai Gow Poker online for free, getting a feel for the rules and practicing the above strategies for as long as you like. Once you feel comfortable, you can then make use of all of your new-found knowledge of how to play Pai Gow Poker and win money.

That being said, it’s critical that you only do business with safe, secure and highly reputable online casinos that are licensed and regulated in responsible jurisdictions, where player protections are the top priority. You can learn more about choosing the right iGaming operator here:

#1 Canadian-Friendly Casino for 2021

Royal Vegas is our editorial pick for safe Canadian gaming. Currently offering a good range of Canadian deposit options, everything from prepaid gift cards, to eCheck, instadebit and visa/mastercard. That, and a world-class gaming experience, with countless table games, strong variety, and even live dealers. The brand has been in the business for a decade long.

Best Real Money Pai Gow Sites (2021)

Pai Gow is a poker variant played against the dealer. The aim is to make a five-card and a two-card poker hand out of the seven cards you are dealt, with the aim of both your hands beating both the dealer’s hands.

How We Rate Our Poker Sites

We have high standards when it comes to the sites we recommend. Some of the features we expect from a great poker site include:

Compatibility

To find a place on our shortlist, an online poker site has to offer its games and features to desktop, laptop, mobile, and tablet players. We expect easy-to-use interfaces and smooth gameplay to be provided for all compatible devices.

Game Selection

We only recommend sites that offer a wide and varied selection of games, including other variants of poker such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha poker.

Payment Options

To be amongst our chosen few that make the shortlist, an online poker site must offer a wide range of options for deposits and withdrawals. All sites need to offer fast, secure, and seamless payouts.

Platform Interface

The only sites that reach our shortlist are those offering the very best in gaming software. We only recommend sites using the top names in the business such as Microgaming and NetEnt.

Security

We need our recommended sites to ensure your safety through state-of-the-art encryption technology and firewalls, to guarantee your safety and security whether using a public or private connection for your Pai Gow play.

Support

It is important when playing Pai Gow or any other online casino game, that you know there is help 24/7 if something goes awry. We only recommend sites offering excellent, around the clock support with fast response times, quick complaint resolution, and various communication methods.

How to play Pai Gow

There are many different versions of video poker, however almost every video poker game has the same basic principle. You’ll simply need to get a qualifying poker hand (usually a pair of jacks or higher) and you’ll win a prize. The better your hand, the larger the prize will be. It really is that simple, so it shouldn’t take long for anyone to get started with this game.

Each player makes a single bet, this is the only bet made in Pai Gow (unless bonus bets are made)

The dealer deals seven cards to each player and themselves from a 53-card deck (52 cards and the joker)

Each player makes a five-card poker hand and a two-card poker hand from the seven cards they are dealt

The five-card hand must be higher in value than the two-card hand

The best five-card hands follow usual poker rules

Two-card hands are either pairs or high card hands

The joker is wild, giving the possibility for a five-of-a-kind hand, which is the highest value hand, beating a straight flush

If both hands beat the dealer’s two hands, the player wins. If the reverse occurs, the dealer wins

If the dealer and the player win a hand each from the two hands, this results in a push and the player’s bet is returned

Different Types of Pai Gow

Pai Gow with dominoes (Pai Gow tiles)

This traditional form of Pai Gow was originated in China, and is played with 32 Chinese domino tiles. Player and dealer are given four tiles each, and must form a high and low hand of two tiles each. If both of the player’s hands beat the dealers, the player wins, if this is reversed, the dealer wins, one winning hand each way results in a push.

Mobile Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow suits mobile gaming well, with its fast-paced action and short hands. While desktop play is entertaining, mobile play allows for more immediate access to Pai Gow games.

Android Devices

Android players can find a good number of Pai Gow options accessible through their device’s web browser and in the Google Play store. Pai Gow is less common than some other poker forms like Texas Hold’em, but there are still a variety of high-quality options.

Best Poker Site for Android:

Best Games Provider for Android:

Best Mobile Poker for Android:

iPhone Devices

iPhone users can enjoy a range of Pai Gow games from top-quality developers, both through online poker sites on their device’s web browser, and via a myriad of Pai Gow options available in the App Store. Pai Gow games available on iPhone provide easy-to-use interfaces, sleek and seamless gameplay, and excellent graphics and animations, bringing the real-life casino experience to life, even on smaller phone screens.

Best Poker Site for iPhone:

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Best Mobile Poker for iPhone:

Play Real Money Casino Games

Find the best online casinos offering your favorite games by clicking below. Each page also offers a simple guide on how to play.

What is Pai Gow?

Pai Gow is a poker game based on the original Pai Gow game and is played with cards instead of tiles. Pai Gow is a fairly complex game to learn, but it is fun to play and fairly low risk. You play against the dealer, and the aim is to make the best five-card and two-card poker hands from the seven cards you are dealt.

Where did Pai Gow originate?

Pai Gow originated in China as a game using a set of 32 Chinese domino tiles. The modern Pai Gow poker was developed in the mid-1980s by an American casino operator, using a deck of 53 cards (52 normal cards and the joker). Sam Torosian, the casino owner who invented Pai Gow poker, did not patent the concept when he invented it.

How do you play Pai Gow?

Pai Gow poker is a simple game once you learn it. You are dealt seven cards (after making a single bet) and must make one poker hand with five of the cards, and a poker hand with the other two. The five-card hand must be higher in value than the second card hand. The aim is for both of your cards to beat the dealer’s two hands. The most common result is winning one of the two hands, which results in a push.

Where can I find the best online Pai Gow casino?

Pai Gow is a different form of poker compared to most, and you may assume it is rarer at online casinos as a result. While there are certainly less online casinos offering Pai Gow, there is no shortage, as the game has maintained a good level of popularity since its inception over 30 years ago. For the best online casinos offering Pai Gow, check out our list here.

What is the difference between Pai Gow poker and Pai Gow tiles?

Apart from the obvious (Pai Gow poker is played with cards, Pai Gow tiles is played with tiles) there are a few other differences between the games. Pai Gow poker is played with a 53 card deck (52 cards and a joker) while Pai Gow tiles is played with 32 Chinese domino tiles. Pai Gow tiles sees player and dealer dealt four tiles, whereas the poker variant is seven cards. In both games, the aim is to make two hands, one high and one low, and beat the dealer with both hands.

How do you play Pai Gow tiles?

Pai Gow tiles, with the exception of the number of tiles dealt, is similar in its basics to Pai Gow poker. You make two hands (of two tiles each) and must beat the dealer with both hands to win. The best hands in Pai Gow tiles are either a pair, or the total number of pips on the tiles adding up to nine. If you beat the dealer with both hands, you win, if the dealer wins both, you lose, if the hands are split, the result is a push.

Are there strategies I can use to increase my odds of winning?

Pai Gow is a reasonably low risk casino game as long as you play the regular game and avoid bonus bets (which have a much higher house edge). There is strategy to play here thanks to the five-card hand needing to be higher in value than the two-card hand. The best way to play as a beginner is to use ‘house-way’, basically betting as the house would. You can actually turn your cards over and ask the dealer, who will tell you how the house would play your hand.

Top poker sites

Unfortunately, the nature of online poker means some poker sites are less trustworthy than others due to licensing issues or questionable histories. Our blacklist provides details on these sites.

Oddspoker is not a site we can recommend, due to a storied history of accusations of embezzling player funds. While this site still operates through its Antigua license, we believe it’s best avoided due to its less than clean history.

Since informing affiliates the program had shut down back in 2015, Carbon Poker has had a consistently worrying reputation. With concerning reports with regards erratic payouts to players, this is a site worth approaching with caution, if not avoiding completely.

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Pai Gow Poker for Canadians

Jennifer Newell | August 19th, 2017 | Updated On: March 2nd, 2021

Pai gow poker is a variant of traditional poker and can be found at many online casinos. Unlike card games like blackjack and other variations of poker, pai gow poker has a slow pace, making it easier to learn. The game is played with 53 cards, the 53rd card being a joker, and in some cases a set of dice. Played at land-based and online casinos, pai gow poker makes room for 2 to 7 players. But, unlike other variants of poker, pai gow has you playing against the dealer, not other players.

Pai Gow Poker Casinos in Canada

How Do You Play Pai Gow Poker?

When playing this type of poker, 7 cards are dealt to each player, including the banker/dealer. In the case of online casinos, the banker and dealer are the same. In games where 7 poker hands are dealt, the remaining 4 cards are placed in a discard pile.

Before any of this happens though, you must place an ante bet, to buy in to the game. Now it’s time to make some decisions. You must split your cards into two poker hands, a five-card hand and a two-card hand. Just like traditional poker, the hands and card values in pai gow poker are the same. The King, Queen, Jack and Ace rank highest, while two through 10 hold face values.

aka in front, on top, hair, small, minor or low

Five-Card Hand

aka behind, bottom, high or big

When making your big hand and small hand, your big hand must be better than your small hand. So, you can’t have a pair of aces in your small hand and only a pair of fives in your big hand.

Why would you would consider making your small hand superior to your big hand? Well, because your performance when you play pai gow poker is based on both hands, meaning each of them must beat the dealer. It’s often tempting to use a great pair for your two-card to increase your chances of beating the house’s small hand.

If you break the rules and make your two-card better than your five-card, the game is nullified or lost altogether depending on the casino. Often times online casino versions of the game will prevent this from happening altogether.

Rules of Pai Gow Poker

As you may have already noticed, pai gow is a bit different from Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud or 3 card poker. Here’s a little breakdown of the basic rules for pai gow poker:

Strategizing in Pai Gow Poker

This variant of poker makes it very difficult for you to strategize. Because all the opposing cards are unseen, it’s difficult to know which ones to choose. The house edge in this casino game favours the house a bit more aggressively than other types of poker. Tha, suggest that you choose to be the banker, that is if you aren’t playing at an online casino. By being the banker you get some advantages. For example, in the case of a tie with another player, you are the winner.

The Joker is a semi-wild card. This means that it can be used in place of an Ace to complete a straight, flush, straight flush or royal flush. Overall, the Joker is a very important element in this poker game, as it increases your chances of winning. So, when you do receive a joker, you’ll likely want to use it for your five-card poker hand.

Pai Gow Poker in a Nutshell

If you love online poker, pai gow poker is a great way to enjoy traditional poker with a twist. Providing Canadian online casino players with endless entertainment and winning opportunities. This table game captures the heart of many Canadian gamblers, both old and new. That is why we, at Maple Casino, would recommend trying this poker game out; you won’t regret it!

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So, let's define, what was the most valuable conclusion of this review: Pai Gow Poker Sites 2021 - Find out which Canadian online casinos are the best bet for finding real money Pai Gow games and the biggest welcome bonuses. at How to Play Pai Gow Poker in Canada