Pai Gow Poker Taking Over Las Vegas
Craps used to be a favorite casino game in Las Vegas, but over time, that has changed. About 5 years ago, Pai Gow Poker has become a popular game to play in the casino.
Pai Gow Poker offers the most bang for a players buck when it comes to gaming. Compared to many other games in casinos nowadays, this one has a lower house edge.
Wizard of Odds also claims that 29% of games conclude with a player win and 40% of games end with a push.
Between the pushes and lower house edge, traditional Pai Gow Poker moves more slowly than other casino games, extending the life of a bankroll. Overall, this gives players maximum value for their gambling dollar, especially on The Strip.
Why the Rise in Face Up Pai Gow Poker
For the past few years Face Up Pai Gow Poker has become extremely popular in the Las Vegas casinos. Fans look for this version of Pai Gow Poker to play whilst on the Las Vegas Strip.
Whilst Face Up Pai Gow Poker game isn’t new – in 2018 it was noticed for the first time in Las Vegas. More casinos on The Strip started switching to Face Up Pai Gow Poker in 2020.
Why the Casinos New Focus?
There are 2 reasons for this change:
- Covid 19
When COVID-19 transmissions reached a very high level in 2020, casinos around the nation temporarily shut down. Numerous health and safety regulations covering everything from capacity and new cleaning practices were in place when Las Vegas casinos began to reopen in June.Because there was less manual handling of the cards, casinos began dealing Face Up. Since there was such worry about spreading COVID-19, some casinos spent the entire day hand-cleaning their playing cards and chips.
- No 5% Commissions
The absence of the 5% commission fee for winning bettors in Face Up Pai Gow Poker is another factor that led casinos to make the transition.Since there is no commission, the dealers are not required to give winners change. For instance, a fee of 15% meant that a player would receive $14.25 for a $15 wager.
Other Differences in Face Up Pai Gow
There is one significant factor that gamers will notice in addition to the lack of commission. If the dealer has an Ace high Pai Gow, the standard Face Up game is a push. This is a significant shift. The only five-card hand the dealer can make in an Ace High Pai Gow game is an ace high.
The game is a push if this occurs. The main hand cannot be won by the player. The player cannot lose the primary hand at the same moment.
When there is an Ace high Pai Gow, side bets are paid. A player will receive payment if they win a Fortune Bonus.
There’s also an Ace High side bet in this game. If the dealer holds Ace High Pai Gow, this alternative wager pays the following:
- 40 to 1: Both player and dealer have ace-high pai gow
- 15 to 1: Dealer has ace-high pai gow with a joker.
- 5 to 1: Dealer has ace-high pai gow without joker
Last but not least, bank betting is not permitted in Face Up. A player may take the role of the banker in traditional Pai Gow Poker with this option.
In a Pai Gow game, a player who banks is essentially playing against the house. Since it’s one of the most player-friendly betting opportunities in the casino, seasoned Pai Gow players will take advantage of it as often as possible.
Lower house edge
On the surface, this game appears to have a lower house edge than most others that casinos frequently provide. The house edge in Face Up Pai Gow Poker is lower than it is in the classic game with a fee.
According to Wizard Of Odds, the house advantage for the main hand in Face Up is 1.81%. The casino gains a 2.7% house edge from the classic game with a 5% charge.
The new Ace High side bet has a 9.29% house edge, but the house edge for the main game is lower. At a Pai Gow Poker table, this optional side bet offers the highest house advantage of all the betting options.
Don’t get too excited; casinos aren’t in the business of offering an advantage. The player’s chances still don’t have a 100% advantage.
Games of Face Up Pai Gow are more rapid. Players are more likely to forego laying their cards and mucking the hand since they first see the dealer’s cards.
Payouts are quicker because dealers are no longer required to account for commissions. This expedites the game and saves time.
A traditional game of Pai Gow Poker has roughly 30-35 hands every hour. Face Up can result in more hands being dealt, which can generate revenue for the casino.
It’s not hard to assume that Face Up isn’t a more profitable game than the more traditional commission-based game because casinos aren’t in the business of making the odds smaller.
According to the most recent revenue report from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, casinos are making a lot more money from Pai Gow Poker than they were a year ago.
Face Up Pai Gow Poker Advantages
Except for a few minor differences, Face Up is played much like a typical game of Pai Gow Poker.
Players must still assemble a two-card hand and a five-card poker hand. The Face Up has the power to alter every aspect of a player’s experience.
Like the standard game, the dealer will deal cards to each position at the table. The dealer will reveal their cards before players place their bets, which is the first way this variation differs from traditional Pai Gow Poker.
Players would place their bets in the conventional game without seeing the dealer’s cards. Players had to hazard a guess as to which way to deal their cards.
The players now know how to set their hands in the greatest possible way to guarantee a win after seeing the cards. Players now have a benefit that wasn’t before possible.
The difference to the house edge is probably insignificant because there are so many more hands being played. Having said that, it’s enjoyable to believe that you have an advantage when playing a casino game.
The leisurely tempo of Pai Gow Poker is a favorite to plyaers. Face Up is quicker than the standard commission-based game, but not by much.
The number of hands that finish in pushes is still the same. The game’s speed isn’t all that different. Players can unwind, play cards, and enjoy a few drinks while playing Face Up.
