The random number generator in pai gow may not be so random after all

The machine can read the cards, and knows what hand is going where. I know it is possible for the house to cheat and give the dealer the best hand. Do they do this? I have no idea, but I do know that it absolutely is within their technological capability.

Most of the time it seems pretty fair. Also theres no way for the machine to know when a player is banking etc.

But in such a corrupt world it does seem a little naive to think this is something they would choose not to exploit.

This is true of any electronic game as well. If you don't trust the casino (under the eye of gaming regulators) to run an honest game, it would be wise to avoid playing. My standard answer to this question is that the casino is already providing a game which has an edge in their favor when played according to the rules. Why would they risk legal action and bad publicity by cheating? An easier path if they get greedy is to just reduce the payouts on the bonus bets. When they do there don't seem to be many player complaints.

I was playing UTH at the Mirage last week and it was hand-dealt. That is unusual for carnival games, at least in Vegas these days, but perhaps you can find a hand dealt PGP game if you don't trust the shuffler.

Quote: Nimadamus

The machine can read the cards, and knows what hand is going where. .

How does the machine know which hand is going where?

Quote: Dalex64

How does the machine know which hand is going where?

How does it know how many people are going to play the hand or not? What if someone pulls their bet back or someone new shows up?

Quote: AxelWolf

How does it know how many people are going to play the hand or not? What if someone pulls their bet back or someone new shows up?

This does not matter in pai gow poker. Every hand is dealt to a position on the table, regardless of the number of players that are actually playing. Once the deck is shuffled and the starting location has been determined, the cards which will be dealt to each location is set in stone.

Quote: Dalex64

How does the machine know which hand is going where?

Most PGP tables include a digital (pseudo) random number generator which determines which location on the table gets the first hand. This information is fed into the computer, along with the scanned cards, so that the table knows what cards are dealt to each location.

Quote: Nimadamus

The machine can read the cards, and knows what hand is going where. I know it is possible for the house to cheat and give the dealer the best hand. Do they do this?

It is my understanding that this is NOT possible using the current implementation. The scanner reads the cards as they are dealt from the deck to form a hand. This happens after the starting location on the table has been determined. So the machine does not have the ability to "find" the best hand and choose to deliver it to the dealer.

Quote: PapaChubby

This does not matter in pai gow poker. Every hand is dealt to a position on the table, regardless of the number of players that are actually playing. Once the deck is shuffled and the starting location has been determined, the cards which will be dealt to each location is set in stone.

I mixed this up with another nonsense thread. There's been a suspicious amount of nonsense lately.

including 3-CARD SHUFFLE MADNESS..

Quote: PapaChubby

Most PGP tables include a digital (pseudo) random number generator which determines which location on the table gets the first hand. This information is fed into the computer, along with the scanned cards, so that the table knows what cards are dealt to each location.

I guess I'm used to playing with dice.

Quote: Dalex64

I guess I'm used to playing with dice.

Apparently they are biased to. Apparently EVERY game in Vegas is rigged.

Quote: Nimadamus

Do they do this? I have no idea, but I do know that it absolutely is within their technological capability.

One could come up with a theory for casino cheating in any game. Somebody should come up with a paranoid Las Vegas version of Clue. I think Miss Tiffany did it at the craps table with loaded dice.