If you want to learn more about playing online pai gow poker, read our game guide below. Not only do we direct you to the best casinos offering the game, but we also teach you how to play, among other things.
Top 5 Online Casinos with Pai Gow Poker
1. BoVegas Casino
BoVegas Casino boasts a well-rounded selection of games, including pai gow poker. The graphics and gameplay at BoVegas Casino are visually stunning and immersive. The virtual Pai Gow Poker tables exude an air of sophistication, creating an authentic casino ambiance. BoVegas Casino also offers a range of bonuses and promotions, including welcome offers, reload bonuses and loyalty rewards.
2. WildCoins Casino
WildCoins Casino is an innovative crypto casino inviting players to experience casino games in a cryptocurrency-driven environment. The casino offers a range of promotions and bonuses tailored to crypto enthusiasts. WildCoins Casino rewards players who embrace the cryptocurrency experience from generous welcome bonuses to unique crypto-specific promotions.
3. Cherry Gold Casino
With its enticing blend of classic charm and modern features, Cherry Gold Casino provides a satisfying experience for players seeking the thrill of casino games. Cherry Gold Casino offers various games, including pai gow poker, to cater to different tastes and skill levels. Cherry Gold Casino offers a range of bonuses to reward new and existing players. While these promotions add value to the gaming experience, a more extensive variety of Pai Gow Poker-specific bonuses and tournaments could elevate the excitement for fans.
4. Ignition Casino
Ignition Casino delivers on the visual front, providing stunning graphics that immerse players in the world of online casino games. The tables are elegantly designed, and the gameplay mechanics are smooth and responsive. Ignition Casino also rewards players with an enticing range of promotions and bonuses.
5. Bovada Casino
Bovada Casino is a reputable and exciting destination for casino enthusiasts. Navigating Bovada Casino’s website is a breeze, thanks to its intuitive layout and well-organized sections. Players can easily find their way to the pai gow poker tables and other enticing casino games. The responsive design ensures seamless navigation across desktop and mobile devices, enhancing the user experience.
Why Play Pai Gow Poker Online
There are several reasons you should look at playing pai gow poker online, including:
- Lower Pai Gow Poker House Edge
Pai gow poker online real money games have a lower house edge than brick-and-mortar casino games. This means you are more likely to have a profitable gaming session.
- You Can Play for Free
If you are unsure how the game works or want to test new strategies, you can do so with free online pai gow poker games.
- Fewer Brick and Morter Casinos Offer the Game
Not all brick-and-mortar casinos offer pai gow poker, so playing this famous game variation online may be your only option.
Pai Gow Poker Rules
The first thing to remember before you can learn to play pai gow poker online is that house rules differ from casino to casino. However, here are some general rules:
- The game uses a standard 53-card deck, including the Joker. The Joker acts as a wild that can be used as an Ace or completes a straight or a flush.
- You are dealt seven cards you need to build two hands with. One hand is made up of five cards, and the other is made up of two cards. You aim to build two strong hands. Your two-card hand is not allowed to outrank your five-card hand.
- General poker rules apply to the five-card poker hand, whereas the best hand players can build with their small hand is a pair of Aces.
- If the draw results in a tie, the banker wins the round. While some players may see this as an unfavorable stipulation, online pai gow poker is one of the easiest games to win.
How to Play Pai Gow Poker Online
Online pai gow poker is another variation of poker. So, if you know how to play poker, you’ll know how to play pai gow poker. If you’re still frazzled, follow the steps below:
- You start each round by placing a bet before any cards are drawn. This is called the ante bet.
- Once you have placed your bet, you will be dealt seven cards. You need to build two hands (one consisting of five cards and the other two cards.) You need to make your 5-card hand (also known as the “big hand” or “high hand”) the stronger hand.
- Regular poker hand rankings apply to the big hand, whereas a pair is the highest combination with the small hand (the 2-card hand or “low hand”).
- After crafting both your hands, it’s time for the showdown. Everyone shows their hands, and a winner is declared.
Types of Pai Gow Poker Online Games
When venturing into the realm of online pai gow poker, you’ll encounter a variety of game variations to select from. In this guide section, we provide a concise overview of your choices. For comprehensive insights into these pai gow poker formats, including associated payouts, refer to our linked complete game guide in the additional resources section.
It’s worth noting that this section offers a brief introduction to each pai gow poker variant. Before engaging in real-money play, ensure you grasp the game’s rules by studying them and honing your skills through free practice rounds online.
Pai Gow Poker Payouts
Pai Gow Poker payouts can vary slightly depending on the specific casino or online platform you’re playing on, but here is a general overview of the typical payouts for the basic hands in pai gow poker:
- Winning High Hand: Even money (1:1) minus a 5% commission the house takes.
- Winning Low Hand: Even money (1:1) minus a 5% commission.
- Push (Tie): Your bet is returned.
- Bonus Bet (Optional):
- Seven-Card Straight Flush: 8,000:1
- Royal Flush: 2,000:1
- Straight Flush: 200:1
- Four of a Kind: 50:1
- Full House: 25:1
- Flush: 20:1
- Three of a Kind: 7:1
- Straight: 5:1
- Two Pair: 2:1
- Pair: 1:1
Online Pai Gow Poker Strategy
While we don’t have the perfect online pai gow poker betting strategy, we do have some tips to help you think about the game strategically, including:
- Aim for two strong hands – remember you aim to make two hands that will beat the dealer’s two hands. If you have a pair and a high card, distribute them between your hands to improve your chance of taking out the dealer.
- Your small hand should not outrank your big hand – make sure your big hand remains strong at all times. If your best hand is a high card, it must go in the big hand. Usually, online poker games won’t let you make this mistake.
- Practice by playing free online pai gow poker games – before playing online for real money, we recommend playing free games. You will get a feel for online pai gow poker games before risking your bankroll.
Pai Gow Poker Free Online
If you wish to play pai gow poker online for free, you must sign up for a casino offering free games. Luckily, all the best pai gow poker online casinos listed on Gambling360.com offer free games.
There are loads of reasons you should consider playing pai gow poker online free games, including:
- Free games act as an online pai gow poker simulator. You can test new strategies and determine whether the strategy will work without risking your bankroll.
- You can play games for fun after you have busted your bankroll.
Play Live Pai Gow Poker
Some casino sites offer you the chance to play online pai gow poker with a real-life dealer. If you want the full game experience – social interaction and all – you need to sign up at a gambling site with a live casino.
Some of our recommended casinos feature live dealer options. We recommend trying live online pai gow poker games. However, make sure you understand how the game works before playing. There is no room for error in live games.
History of Pai Gow Poker
Pai gow poker is a relatively new casino game. It was invented in 1985 by California card room owner Sam Torosian. Torosian was inspired to create the card game after a Filipino customer told him about Pusoy – a Chinese card game based on poker hands that requires you to create three hands from 13 cards.
Torosian thought waiting for players to build three hands slowed down the game, thus shortening it to two. Furthermore, instead of players being dealt 13 cards, they would only be dealt seven, which is how pai gow poker came into being.
Soon after its creation, the game became exceedingly popular and spread to the Las Vegas Strip, proving to be a hit.
Today, the game is played worldwide and is even available as online pai gow poker. We recommend you give it a try if you are a poker fan. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll love it too!
Check out our other casino game guides:
Online Pai Gow Poker – FAQs
Here are the payout odds for each of the hands available in online pai gow poker:
- 7-Card Straight Flush – 5000000 to 1
- Royal Flush and a Pair – 2000000 to 1
- Five Aces – 140000 to 1
- Royal Flush – 6000 to 1
- Straight Flush – 750 to 1
- Four of a Kind – 500 to 1
- Full House – 36 to 1
