Is the dice shaker in pai gow equally likely for all spots?

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found this information online for the results of 3 dice:

Probability of a sum of 3: 1/216 = 0.5%
Probability of a sum of 4: 3/216 = 1.4%
Probability of a sum of 5: 6/216 = 2.8%
Probability of a sum of 6: 10/216 = 4.6%
Probability of a sum of 7: 15/216 = 7.0%
Probability of a sum of 8: 21/216 = 9.7%
Probability of a sum of 9: 25/216 = 11.6%
Probability of a sum of 10: 27/216 = 12.5%
Probability of a sum of 11: 27/216 = 12.5%
Probability of a sum of 12: 25/216 = 11.6%
Probability of a sum of 13: 21/216 = 9.7%
Probability of a sum of 14: 15/216 = 7.0%
Probability of a sum of 15: 10/216 = 4.6%
Probability of a sum of 16: 6/216 = 2.8%
Probability of a sum of 17: 3/216 = 1.4%
Probability of a sum of 18: 1/216 = 0.5%

bw did a very nice job.
However, you also need to add up:
3 + 10 + 17 for the 3rd position's probability;
4 + 11 + 18 for the 4th position's probability;
5 + 12....
6 + 13....
7 + 14...
1 + 8 + 15...
etc.

Overall, the dice do ramdomize the game's dealing start position well enough, assuming a thorough shuffling through Shufflemaster's standard I-deal machine. I trust it, and I design commercial Pai Gow Poker games.

Now, I DO have an eight-card Pai Gow game that has only positions numbered 1..6 (dealer as #1), where a single die will give a balanced distribution with a single die - but the result from either dice OR a random number generator, - as well as the shuffling - randomize the game in a completely satisfactory fashion.

ALSO realize that the way players sort out their hands, as well as the way dealers pick up deal hands (two-by-two, one at a time, left to right, or right to left) also further and completely randomize subsequent deals.

Given the option I feel most players on Pai Gow prefer to use dice. Makes it seem more random. They just dont trust the random number generator, they someone feel it picks the best hand for the dealer.

Quote: sodawater

Or are some spots more likely to get the first hand based on the dice outcomes?

Each spot is 31/216 except spot 1 (7 and 14 total) is 30/216.

The dealer spot in pai gow tiles is different than in pai gow poker.
In pai gow tiles the dealer is position (1)/9/17
First player position is (2)/10/18
Second player position is 3/11
Third player position is 4/12
Fourth player position is 5/13
Fifth player position is 6/14
Sixth player position is 7/15
The dead hand is 8/16.

This means that the probability by positions ...
Dealer 28/216
Position 1 28/216
Position 2 28/216
Position 3 28/216
Position 4 27/216
Position 5 25/216
Position 6 25/216
dead hand 27/216
So the early positions have a slightly higher probability of getting the first hand.

Side note: most casinos avoid designating a position as number 4,
Number 4 (肆; pinyin sì) is considered an unlucky number in Chinese
because it is nearly homophonous to the word "death" (死 pinyin sǐ).
so you will often see positions numbered 1,2,3,5,6,7.
No player would ever refer to himself as being at the fourth position.

Quote: bw

Given the option I feel most players on Pai Gow prefer to use dice. Makes it seem more random. They just dont trust the random number generator, they someone feel it picks the best hand for the dealer.

This is complete paranoia talking here, but I don't mind the RNG's that have the old LCD light up that appears to be separate from the machine (with the red numbers). For some reason, those I don't have a problem with...

The ones I have a HUGE problem with are the ones that are creeping up in Vegas and other places, where the screen can tell every player how to set their low hand. I know in my heart that they couldn't legally set it to give the best hands to the dealer, but I can't tell you how many times the dealer gets a hand that will push or win against a seemingly great hand that's a lock to win 90% of the time (i.e. Two pair with Aces up). The dealer pulls a three of a kind with garbage to push. Reverse the hands, the player gets the three of a kind, they usually win a bonus, so it's the best possible outcome for the house.

Again, I know it's complete paranoia, but I will no longer play PGP at a place that uses such a mechanism.

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<DELETED> NM OP answered my question above mine...

In the game I play in Melbourne there are only 6 spots (1 dealer 5 player) and 6 cuts that are used. 2 dice in the shaker - 1 for who gets 1st tiles & 1 for the cut.

Quote: paigowdan

Now, I DO have an eight-card Pai Gow game that has only positions numbered 1..6 (dealer as #1), where a single die will give a balanced distribution with a single die - but the result from either dice OR a random number generator, - as well as the shuffling - randomize the game in a completely satisfactory fashion.

What.... no 5-card version? That seems rather umm expected by now.