Two Pai Gow Poker Side Bet Questions

1) At the local casino, they have a fortune progressive, with a payout as listed in the Wizard's web page. I normally will not play this bet, but I noticed that it was at over $244K and for such a large amount, I went ahead and played the dollar. Now I see that according to the Wizard, the house edge becomes 0% at ~$243K. So, I'm right in figuring that this becomes a bet to make at this large amount?

2) The casino also added a Pai Gow'd side bet. While the pay table is similar to that listed in the Wizard's web page, this side bet was only paid on the dealer having a pai gow hand, not the player. In my mind, this wouldn't seem to change the house edge, as the dealer's likelihood of receiving a pai gow hand should be the same as a player's, but is that true?

Interestingly, at least to me, the payout table for this version of the Pai Gow'd side bet indicates a payout "based on the dealer's 5-card hand". I realize that the dealer's 5-card hand (ace-high, king-high, etc.) is the same as the dealer's pai gow hand (ace-high, king-high, etc.), it just seemed weird to me to state it that way.

Quote: konceptum

1) At the local casino, they have a fortune progressive, with a payout as listed in the Wizard's web page. I normally will not play this bet, but I noticed that it was at over $244K and for such a large amount, I went ahead and played the dollar. Now I see that according to the Wizard, the house edge becomes 0% at ~$243K. So, I'm right in figuring that this becomes a bet to make at this large amount?

2) The casino also added a Pai Gow'd side bet. While the pay table is similar to that listed in the Wizard's web page, this side bet was only paid on the dealer having a pai gow hand, not the player. In my mind, this wouldn't seem to change the house edge, as the dealer's likelihood of receiving a pai gow hand should be the same as a player's, but is that true?

Interestingly, at least to me, the payout table for this version of the Pai Gow'd side bet indicates a payout "based on the dealer's 5-card hand". I realize that the dealer's 5-card hand (ace-high, king-high, etc.) is the same as the dealer's pai gow hand (ace-high, king-high, etc.), it just seemed weird to me to state it that way.

1. Correct, from a purely EV perspective.
2. Correct
3. It should not be weird. The dealer has two hands, a 5 card hand and a 2 card hand. The bet is paid according to the strength of the 5 card hand only.