Pai Gow poker at NYNY in Las Vegas

I love to play Pai Gow, it's totally random, every hand is dealt and the dice determine who gets the first hand. It's very close to 50-50 and $100 can last a long time unless you have really bad luck.

At NYNY, every card is scanned, the system picks the number instead of dice, and the dealer is required to press a button showing the dealer's two-card hand. Is it possible that the system can calculate the bank's optimum hand and pick the appropriate number? This is not good.

It's probably possible to write code for the computer to analyze the hands in favor of the house, yes.

But consider the time and expense involved in programming such a thing into a system designed for relatively simple tasks (picking a random number, reading cards), and then how many people who have knowledge of such a cheat that would have to be kept quiet somehow. Would it really be worth all that trouble to rig a game that already has a built-in house edge?

Quote: moelipp

I love to play Pai Gow, it's totally random, every hand is dealt and the dice determine who gets the first hand. It's very close to 50-50 and $100 can last a long time unless you have really bad luck.

At NYNY, every card is scanned, the system picks the number instead of dice, and the dealer is required to press a button showing the dealer's two-card hand. Is it possible that the system can calculate the bank's optimum hand and pick the appropriate number? This is not good.

For the SHFL equipment, I'm told the cards are read as they come out of the machine, by a scanner on the lip. The number is determined first, before the cards are scanned. There is a setting, which can only be accessed with a key turn on the side, which will sort the cards into suit/rank order. In play mode (a different key position), the cards are random and can't be pre-set, and are not read internally either in that setting.

The optical reader helps the dealer set the house way correctly on either the dealer's hand or on any player's hand as requested/required (like for a second hand for a player that must be set house way). It's also used to verify the hand should be paid a bonus (that the hand has all the cards it was dealt, not a switched or substituted card or cards).

The machines are tested and audited to ensure they operate honestly, both before installation and during the life of their use. A gaffed shuffler would draw big gaming fines for the operator and/or the casino, whether it's SHFL machinery or not.

This is all to the best of my knowledge and understanding, and a summary of similar/identical inquiries made on this forum. Those answering the questions originally include the manufacturers, game designers, and other experts on this particular area. You might search for the at least 3 threads I can think of which discuss this in more detail in the last year or so.

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