Pai Gow Poker is a fast-paced poker variant that is growing in popularity across the realm of online casinos. If you would like to explore the exciting game of Pai Gow Poker, you have come to the right place.
Our team of experts at Gambling.com has written this complete guide to Pai Gow Poker. It will help you discover the hottest Pai Gow Poker sites with the best match and no deposit bonuses, slickest designs, highest security, and most helpful support. We worked extremely hard on our Pai Gow Poker research, so you don't have to.
See below our selection of Pai Gow Poker sites in Canada and choose the one that is best for you.
You probably wonder how we choose online Pai Gow Poker sites before recommending them to you here on Gambling.com. Well, the important thing to know is we don't just list every casino site that offers Pai Gow Poker.
Instead, our team of experts combs through hundreds of online casino sites to find only the ones that match our high expectations. If you are based in Ontario be aware that there are a number of new casino operators available to you. So, be sure to check out our list of online casinos Ontario if you are in that province. You can play in the knowledge the casino you've selected comes recommended following our strict criteria, including:
Most casino games and their modern variants can be traced back to Europe and America, but Pai Gow is a game steeped in ancient Chinese history, making it unique amongst the poker variants. Pai Gow's roots stretch back to the Song Dynasty, which ruled China from 960 until 1279. If you are wondering what Pai Gow means, it roughly translates to "make nine," which is the aim of the game.
Pai Gow has become a popular casino game played in casinos worldwide in the modern era of gambling. There is a clear distinction between the traditional game of Pai Gow and the poker variant that is played online by countless gamblers each day:
Yet while the two games share the same name, they are decidedly different. When you play Pai Gow Poker, you are dealt seven cards from which you must make two hands, one comprised of five cards, the second with the remaining two. The winning scenarios remain the same, but Pai Gow remains one of the few card games where players bet against both the dealer and other players.
When looking for the best place to play online Pai Gow Poker, you are spoilt for choice. Many software providers have created Pai Gow games, and you will find all of them at our recommended online casinos. Below are some of the best developers of Pai Gow Poker games:
Although Pai Gow Poker is a newer game to the online casino realm, developers have already generated quite a few variants. Here are some of the most common types of Pai Gow Poker games available at casino sites:
Fortune is perhaps the most popular version of the game and adds a layer of excitement and wagering opportunities. When playing this variant, you also have the option of a side bet on the value of your seven cards. Another terrific addition is the Envy Bonus, which you get when other players hold four-of-a-kind or better.
This variant of the game changes how you play against the dealer. Specifically, the online dealer will place down two extra cards, one for them and one for the player (you). If a round ends in a draw, the cards are turned over to decide who wins. The highest card is better. This Pai Gow variant means there is always a winner, while it also removes the 5% commission you pay on winnings.
Perhaps the most potentially lucrative version of Pai Gow Poker, this variant comes with a nice twist: a progressive jackpot side bet. Players can choose to pay into this side-bet pot and potentially win some or all of the pot alongside any main game winnings.
This is perhaps the Pai Gow Poker variant that is most similar to the standard game. The main difference in the Mania game is two side bet options alongside the main game. One of the side bets is based on the value of the first three cards drawn, while the other side bet is valued on all seven cards.
Security is the most critical aspect of an online casino. After all, you will be sharing your personal and financial information with the site. When we review Pai Gow Poker sites, we put your safety at the top of our list and only recommend the most trusted and secure casinos. We will never recommend an online casino that is not licenced by a regulatory body.
A licence shows a casino operator has fulfilled the strict requirements of regulators to meet international standards for security and fair play. However, we believe casinos should go above and beyond simply having a licence. That is why we also look at the casino's Random Number Generator (RNG) engine and other fairness mechanisms on each site we review.
In a world of frequent cybersecurity threats, privacy and security are essential. Online casinos we recommend must protect your data by including security measures such as site encryption and data protection policies.
Each day our Gambling.com experts check new online casinos to see if they match our high standards. If we find a new casino where we think you will enjoy playing Pai Gow Poker, we put it straight on our list.
People are increasingly turning to their smartphones and tablets to play casino games online. Pai Gow Poker lends itself well to mobile gaming because it has short rounds and is easy to understand. Desktop gaming is a great experience, but the immediate access and ability to play Pai Gow Poker anywhere is a great advantage.
Most of the top casino sites cater to mobile users either through a dedicated app or through an optimized website that works on a mobile browser. However, not all casinos are created equal, and the Pai Gow Poker experience may differ depending on the site you choose. By checking out our list of mobile casinos that work on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, you can enjoy playing Pai Gow Poker on the move!
What is an online casino without a selection of sweet bonuses? Promotions are a way for casino sites to attract new players and keep existing gamblers happy. The world of online casino bonuses is extensive, with many different types of excellent promos available. Some of the online Pai Gow poker bonus deals to look for include:
You will also find other bonuses such as cashback, prize draws, and deposit reload bonuses. Almost all online casino bonuses come with a wagering requirement, which is the number of times you must wager the bonus value before you can cash it out. We recommend reading the fine print at the terms and conditions of any casino site bonus to ensure Pai Gow Poker is included in the list of eligible games you can play towards the wagering requirements.
We believe that online casino players should have as many safe and convenient ways as possible to deposit and withdraw funds. Luckily, the top casinos agree, which is why we recommend them to you. When visiting Pai Gow Poker sites, you can expect to see a diverse selection of payment methods, including:
To avoid disappointment and inconvenience, always check the Pai Gow Poker casino's terms and conditions for bonus availability with different payment methods as well as withdrawal and exchange fees and other transaction charges.
While all games at a reputable casino site have a statistically random outcome, games actually have a built-in mechanism that gives the casino an advantage over the player. This is known as the House Edge and is the casino's simple way of making a profit. The House Edge is the percentage of total wagers that the casino will keep as player losses. The lower the House Edge, the better the player odds for a win.
Each casino game has a different House Edge, and when you play Pai Gow Poker, it is no different. The House Edge varies depending on the type of Pai Gow Poker you are playing. While there is no fixed House Edge across all Pai Gow Poker variants, it typically ranges between 2.00% and 2.50% for the main bet (no side bets).
So, what about RTP? How does it affect online casino games? The Return to Player (RTP) is a percentage of total wagers paid back to players in winnings over time. Remember that as every game outcome is random, the RTP does not guarantee a return to any one player. But rather, it is a statistical return to all players over the long run. So one player can win a jackpot, while another can face a losing streak, while both are playing the same game with the same RTP. But as a rule of thumb, games with higher RTPs pay out more wins to players.
Tying both terms together: the RTP represents the total wagers placed (100%), less the House Edge. So in the case of Pai Gow Poker, game RTP tends to vary between 92.5% and 97.5%. It will depend on many factors such as the game variation, software developer, side bets and more.
Unfortunately, not really. So far, we have not found casinos that offer Pai Gow Poker live dealer games. We suspect this may change in the near future. But for now, you can enjoy other casino classics (poker, roulette, blackjack) with a live dealer. Check out our list of the top live dealer sites currently available. We will update this guide when live dealer Pai Gow Poker is added in the future.
Finding online Pai Gow Poker games is easy! All you need to do is head to our list of featured Pai Gow Poker sites and choose the one that is right for you. While at it, don't forget to claim a generous bonus.
Not all online casinos offer Pai Gow Poker. But as its popularity increases, more casino sites are now offering this exciting game. If you want to play Pai Gow Poker, check our list of the top sites featured on this guide.
Pai Gow Poker is one of the most unique and exciting forms of online poker. If you're tired of more traditional games like Texas Hold 'em and simply want to try something new, Pai Gow Poker is easy to learn and fast to master. This game is also faster paced than other types of poker, so it is ideal if you are looking for quick and snappy at the card table.
Yes, it is. Many of the Pai Gow Poker sites that we recommend feature games optimized for mobile and available to play on iOS, Android and Windows Phone mobile devices. You can play Pai Gow Poker on your mobile browser or on a native mobile app where available.
No, they are not. All online casino websites we feature on gambling.com have their RNG (Random Number Generator) engine certified and tested regularly to ensure that every game outcome is 100% random. So the Pai Gow Poker games on our recommended casinos are never rigged.