Pai Gow Poker Rules

  • The deck will consist of 53 cards, which includes a joker. The joker is wild when used in straights, flushes, and straight flushes. If used alone the joker becomes an ace.
  • Minimum and maximum betting limits and payout odds will be posted at the table.
  • The object of the game is to beat the banker. Each player and banker will receive 7 cards that will be used to construct two separate hands of 2 cards and 5 cards.
  • Normal poker rankings will be used. The 5-card hand must always outrank the 2-card hand.
  • In order for the player to win, both his 2-card hand and 5-card hand must be higher in value than the opposing bankers.
  • If only one hand is higher (either hand), the player pushes (will not win or lose).
  • If neither hand is higher, the player will lose.
  • The Clearwater Casino reserves the right to charge a 5% commission. The commission, if being charged, will be posted at the table.
  • Dice are used only to determine which player will receive the first set of 7 cards. The game is dealt and played counter clockwise.
  • The Clearwater Casino reserves the right to allow a Player Banker. During the time a Player Banker is being offered, it will be posted at the table.
  • Pai Gow Poker Hand Ranking:
    • Five Aces (4 Aces plus the Joker)
    • Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of any one suit)
    • Straight Flush (5 consecutive cards of any one suit)
    • Four-of-a-kind
    • Full House
    • Flush
    • Straight (highest Straight is A-K-Q-J-10, second highest Straight is A-2-3-4-5)
    • Three-of-a-kind
    • Two Pair
    • One Pair
    • High Card
  • Side betting between and amongst players, with or against the house is prohibited.
  • Players may not look at each other's hands or discuss them until all hands have been set. Any violation may result in a dead hand and forfeiture of all bets.

7.0 Pai Gow Poker Rules - rev 03-14-2013 - WSGC Approved 06-17-2013 - TGC Approved 06-27-2013

Fortune Pai Gow Poker Rules

  • Fortune Pai Gow is played using traditional Pai Gow Poker rules in addition players may bet the optional Fortune Pai Gow Bonus Wager.
  • The Bonus Wager considers the best hand possible among the player's seven cards and is reconciled against the paytable posted at the table.
  • The player is betting that of the seven cards received, They will create a qualifying 5-card poker hand rank or a Seven Card Straight Flush (no joker),Royal Flush plus Royal Match* or a seven card Straight Flush (joker).
  • The wager wins an odds payoff based on the 5 card or seven card hand regardless of how the player sets their cards
  • Additionally, if any player at the table makes a seven card hand of Four-of-a-Kind or better the other players who have made the optional bonus wager of at least $5 qualify to receive the Envy Bonus payout from the Bonus Paytable regardless of whether their own hand was of a qualifying nature.
  • The minimum and maximum betting limits and payout odds will be posted at the table.
  • 20,000 Maximum Aggregate limit, exclusive of any Envy Bonus Bet payouts.
  • * Royal Flush (with or without Joker) with the additional two cards of a suited King and Queen
  • Side betting between and amongst players, with or against the house is prohibited.

Fortune Pai Gow Poker Rules - rev 03-12-2013 - WSGC Approved 06-17-2013 - TGC Approved 06-27-2013

Face Up Pai Gow Poker Rules

  1. Face Up Pai Gow Poker is a Pai Gow Poker variant played with a 53-card deck, consisting of a standard 52 card deck and one joker. The joker may either complete a straight, flush, straight flush or act as an ace.
  2. Minimum and maximum betting limits and paytables will be posted at the table.
  3. All regular Pai Gow Poker rules will be followed with the addition of the options listed here.
  4. Face Up Pai Gow Poker plays like conventional Pai Gow Poker, except in which all the dealer cards are exposed first.
    1. If the dealer has exactly an ace-high hand Pai Gow, then the hand will automatically result in a push (tie).
    2. Player's do not pay commission on winning hands
  5. To begin each round, players must make their standard Pai Gow wagers. They may also make the Fortune Bonus, Ace High bonus and/or Progressive wager.
  6. The Fortune Bonus - The Fortune Bonus bet considers the best hand possible among the player's seven cards and is reconciled against the approved posted paytable.
  7. Envy Bonus - When a Player wagers $5.00 or more on the Fortune Bonus they may qualify for the Envy Bonus.
    1. All qualifying Envy Bonus wagers receive the Envy Bonus prize excluding the player who had the hand containing the winning triggering event. Players win the Envy Bonus when a player at the table receives a four of a kind or higher, excluding the dealer and his/own hand.
    2. Before the cards are dealt, the dealer will place the "Envy" lammer in front of all betting circles with qualifying bets for the Envy Bonus ($5 or more).
  8. The Ace-High Bonus - The Player wins the Ace-High Bonus wager if the dealer's seven cards are an Ace-High Pai Gow. Paytables will be posted at the gaming table.
  9. The Progressive Wager - This is an optional $1 wager. Progressive Wagers will be paid according to the paytable posted at the table.
  10. After all packets of cards are dealt, the dealer exposes their seven cards and sets it in accordance to the house way.
  11. After the dealer's hand is set and it's determined their hand doesn't contain an Ace-High Pai Gow, the players set their seven-card hand and standard Pai Gow play continues.
    1. Players making wagers must remain at the table until the hand has been completely reconciled.
  12. If the dealer's hand is an Ace-High Pai Gow, all player main wagers are pushed.
  13. While reconciling the standard Pai Gow poker wagers, the dealer also reconciles the Fortune Bonus, Ace-High bonus and Progressive wagers.
    1. If the player's hand qualifies for payouts, the dealer pays the player according to the posted pay table.
  14. Aggregate Payoffs
    1. A maximum aggregate amount that is payable per table limit or player limit will be established and a sign will be posted at the table explaining the details of the aggregate win limit.
  15. Players will be notified of any changes to pay tables or wagering options through a revised posting at the table.
  16. Side betting between or amongst players, with or against the house, is prohibited.
Face Up Pai Gow Rules - Drafted 02/18/2023 - WSGC 06-09-2023 - STGC 06-13-2023