Current list of places that have Pai Gow

EDIT: Sorry, I just realize my title for this post sucks. My question concerns Pai Gow Tile games in Las Vegas

I might be taking a trip to Vegas in April or May. What's the current scoop on Pai Gow tile game availability? It seems to be a fickle game out there, as far as open tables go. Most likely I will be staying downtown, but maybe not if the strip has the best options... Also I'm a low roller, so I prefer minimums of $25 or less.

Thanks for any info...

Quote: TigerWu

EDIT: Sorry, I just realize my title for this post sucks. My question concerns Pai Gow Tile games in Las Vegas

I might be taking a trip to Vegas in April or May. What's the current scoop on Pai Gow tile game availability? It seems to be a fickle game out there, as far as open tables go. Most likely I will be staying downtown, but maybe not if the strip has the best options... Also I'm a low roller, so I prefer minimums of $25 or less.

Thanks for any info...

Harrahs has the lowest limit tile game on the strip ($15, goes up to $25 when it gets busy).

MGM Grand, Aria, Bellagio all have it for $25 minimum. Although I'm not sure if the table is open 24/7 anymore at all of them...

Last year PGTiles at Harrah's was open 24/7. And yeah, it was like $15 minimums off peak, $25 peak.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Last year PGTiles at Harrah's was open 24/7. And yeah, it was like $15 minimums off peak, $25 peak.

Rio has one 24/7 table at similar minimums.

Paris also has a table in their "Asian" row outside the high limit room that is usually $25, but I do not know the hours. I have seen it closed during the day at times.

Palace Station Casino had $10 minimums on Pai Gow Tiles a couple months ago, even on a Sunday night. It's about 4 miles from downtown, or a 15-minute drive.

I played several places when visiting in August 2016:

Venetian: various times from Wednesday night until Friday night - $25 or $50 min
Wynn: Thursday morning & Friday evening - $50 min
Harrahs: Thursday lunchtime - $25 min
Paris: Thursday lunchtime - $50 min
Bellagio: Thursday afternoon - $25 min
Caesars: Thursday early evening - $100 min (in the high limit pit)

I go every March. So, I will update this after I go in mid March this year. But from what I remember last year, the following casinos have it:

MGM Grand---The limit was $25 and they charge quarters on the commission. It is quite a walk to get to it though. The dealer I had was rude and unfriendly.

Mandalay Bay- They advertise it on their website. But, I specifically asked and they don't have it anymore in their Lotus Room. If you are a big shot and have a host, they might arrange a game for you.

Treasure Island--They are in the same boat as Mandalay and I talked to a pit boss last year. You have to be known to them.

Harrah's--They are the best deal on the strip. I saw $15 a dollar table there as long as it wasn't peak time. I had a fun game there since they had a sign for the different tile deliveries. The dealer showed me some cool ones when I banked. Harrah's is smoky. But, it is probably your best bet on the strip for cheap, fun tiles.

Palace Station---It is off strip but you can find a $10 limit there usually.

Paris---I played there on a Thursday night and it was $25. I had a friendly dealer and it was a fun game. Not always open though.

Venetian- They didn't have it when I was there last year. But, it was there two years ago. I'll investigate when I go this March. Venetian didn't charge quarters so I liked it there. Again, I'm real cheap so ANY advantage and I will take it.

Palazzo- They had a $25 game but it wasn't open late at night.

Wynn- I went on a Saturday morning. It was a $50 table. So, not real cheap.

Bellagio--They had two tables going when I was there. One was $25 and one was $50. The dealer was surprisingly friendly. They usually aren't at the Bellagio for low rollers like me.

Aria- I had fun $25 game there last year. The pit boss was very friendly. Being white, I've found that I almost always get asked where I learned to play the game. I told them on the internet. They were fascinated with the way I played. My pair splitting...setting the high hand more frequently.....setting 6/8 versus gongs and so forth that are on the wizardofodds site but differ from the traditional way.

Rio- I didn't make it there. But, I've been told they have it.

Caesars has it in their high limit room (Palace court). It is $100.

The Mirage got rid of their tiles table even though it is listed on the wizardofodds site. It is a shame since I really like their Asian pit.

Bottom line is that Palace Station and Harrah's are your cheapest tiles options. Most places charge $25 to play. I think Bellagio, Aria, and the Palazzo decline to charge the quarters for the $25 bet. So, it does lower the commission slightly for you. I believe the rest will charge quarters.

Thanks for the tips, fellas. Wulfgar, I look forward to your update in March!

I just got back from the weekend in Las Vegas and I did want to update the tiles a little bit.

I went to Harrah's Wednesday night and they had a $25 table going. It was the only time I looked so I'm not sure if they had it any cheaper during early day times but usually when I'm there you can find a table for $15.

MGM Grand had their usual $25 table and they charge quarters on the commission.

Bellagio had one $25 table going when I was there Friday afternoon. Aria had a $25 table also.

I did want to say that the Venetian appears to still have tiles. I was there Saturday and I saw the tiles table over by that salon. It was $25. I remember when I went last March they didn't have it going. I didn't go next door to the Palazzo so I'm not sure if they have it or not. It has been my experience that usually when one of the sister casinos has it than the other won't.

Wynn had a table for $50 on Friday morning when I went there. I checked next door at Encore and they don't appear to have tiles over there. I didn't ask a pit boss or anybody though.

I didn't check out Paris, Rio, or Palace Station. I did want to add that Caesars still has it. But, it is $100 in their high limit room.

Thanks for the update, Wulfgar! If I end up going in the next month or so I'll see if I can add some info.

I wrote a Trip Report about this but I said I would update here:

May 2017:

Harrah's -- $15 minimum in the mornings during the week, then up to $25 around noonish and on the weekends. Never saw the table closed, even at off times when empty. Awesome dealers. Chart of delivery styles and "how to play" pamphlet are both on the table. Charges quarters on commission.

Venetian -- $25 minimum, not sure when/if it goes higher. Not always open -- saw it closed Saturday morning. Mildly unfriendly dealers. No quarters on commission.

Palazzo -- Closed when I went by, but they do have a table. No idea on minimums.

Lucky Dragon -- $15 minimum on a Friday afternoon. No idea when/if it goes higher. Dealer was okay. Can't remember if they charged quarters.

Aria -- My friend said he played here briefly on a Saturday, and the minimum was $50.

The LINQ -- Didn't see a table anywhere. This casino looks like they're trying to cater to a younger crowd, so I'm not surprised.

Haven't been to Vegas lately, but in addition to the above, the list then included the Rio (usually $25 min), Gold Coast (next to Rio, lower than 25 but not sure what), Mirage (someone might have reported this table removed recently?) And Bellagio ($25 min the one table we played, not sure if they have others).

Re: your list. Harrah's has told me a couple times the Asian pit never closes. They "always" staff 1 PGP, one minibacc, and PGT, more of the 1st two open and close during the day. That's been true at least the last dozen times I stayed there, but obviously I don't do their scheduling.

Edit: checked the websites of the 4 properties I added. Bellagio is the only one that lists PGT as available. Hard to believe the Rio removed it, but certainly possible. The other two, yeah, I believe they don't offer it.

Mirage is gone

Just got off the phone with the Rio pit. They have Tiles still, one table, almost always $25 min, usually staffed.