Pai Gow Poker w/ nice low house edge.

1.265%. Thats the house edge I can figure with my new favorite place to play pai gow poker.

Best Bet Jacksonville. Florida poker rooms were recently allowed to put in some specific card games, playing against a "designated player" (I think this is what California does).

Now I know this is old news, but I also know this board dont get much Florida poker room stuff on it... thats probably my fault for going underground for a long time (used to post regularly).

But yea, no side bets (not that you want them anyways except for fun)- and NO 5% commission. All other regular rules apply (also, noone can be banker except dealer),. The house takes a few bucks from the "designated player" based on how many dollars are being bet. They said that was the 'commission' for the game.

Because its not trying (yet) to be a full casino there is obviously no comp stuff, so you loose that little tiny amount back vs going to a regular casino but, from what I understand the regular pai gow house edge is 2.7%.

From best I can tell their house way seems to be pretty much the same as Bally's (AC).

I love playing pai gow poker, and the fact they do a full pay out with no exceptions (like the Q high pai gow rule) makes me enjoy it more.

What I dont know, is if this is common in other places.. do the "California" rooms also not take 5%?

There was one room in CA that I know of that had no commission and no collection, I haven't played in a few years so not sure if it is still the case there but it was for a long time.

I decided to try Pai Gow for the first time in AC a few weeks ago. They only had $25 minimums. I took $100 to the table and lost 4 hands in a row.......

And apparently I broke about every table rule, I kept getting reprimanded by the dealer.

Quote: Malaru

The house takes a few bucks from the "designated player" based on how many dollars are being bet. They said that was the 'commission' for the game.

This sounds like a good place to play pai gow poker. Could you elaborate on the statement above about how the house collects money? Casinos in Calif have a time collection system of x$/hr for Pai Gow Poker but this sounds different.

- Do they collect money from a designated player on every deal?
- Does the "designated player" designation rotate around the table? What if their were only one player at the table -would he have to pay every hand? How does that work?
- Is the amount collected literally "a couple of dollars" as in $2? Is that for players betting at the table minimum or close to it? And what is the table minimum?

Quote: gordonm888

This sounds like a good place to play pai gow poker. Could you elaborate on the statement above about how the house collects money? Casinos in Calif have a time collection system of x$/hr for Pai Gow Poker but this sounds different.

- Do they collect money from a designated player on every deal?
- Does the "designated player" designation rotate around the table? What if their were only one player at the table -would he have to pay every hand? How does that work?
- Is the amount collected literally "a couple of dollars" as in $2? Is that for players betting at the table minimum or close to it? And what is the table minimum?

Yes, they collect the "rake" on every deal.

The designated player is a house employee who sits at one spot at the table for the specific purpose of financing the game. He doesn't play, but has a bajillion chips in front of him to pay winners (and collect from losers). The rack in front of the dealer is only used for buying in and making change.

The rake is determined via a table, but it is approximately 1-2% of the total bet by all other players at the table. I think this is about the advantage that the banker gets by winning ties, and the house is essentially confiscating this advantage from the banker.

Quote: PapaChubby

Yes, they collect the "rake" on every deal.

The designated player is a house employee who sits at one spot at the table for the specific purpose of financing the game. He doesn't play, but has a bajillion chips in front of him to pay winners (and collect from losers). The rack in front of the dealer is only used for buying in and making change.

The rake is determined via a table, but it is approximately 1-2% of the total bet by all other players at the table. I think this is about the advantage that the banker gets by winning ties, and the house is essentially confiscating this advantage from the banker.

We have this same game at Derby Lane in St Pete FL
Its the best gambling table game in the country with the very slight house edge
I play it a lot just to pass time at a low roller 5 dollar minimum.

This bothered me the last time I played
only 5 spots. two of us are playing.
A guy sits down and plays 3 hands
He is betting about 20 to 30 on one hand he sets and 5 min on the other 2 hands.
Its a popular game and they only operate one table
I thought it was inconsiderate since I could see people wanting to play but couldn't
The game also takes longer because the dealer has to take the time to set 2 more hands the house way.

BJ should be able to play multiple hands, lots of empty BJ seats due to lots of tables in a traditional casino
Pai Gow tables are few and usually full. Should be 1 hand per player since limited space.
Was at the Hard Rock Tampa to eat, had 20 min to kill, only pai gow table full, one person playing 2 hands. uggh