After I relocated to Las Vegas, craps used to be my go-to casino game. However, my preferences have shifted multiple times throughout the years. For approximately five years now, Pai Gow Poker has taken the top spot as my favored game in the casino, and I foresee no alteration in that choice.
Pai Gow Poker offers excellent value for my gambling budget as it boasts a lower house edge compared to numerous casino games available today.
According to Wizard of Odds, it is stated that 40% of the games result in a push and 29% of the games result in a player win.
The combination of frequent pushes and a smaller house edge in traditional Pai Gow Poker results in a slower-paced game, which ultimately helps to preserve one’s bankroll for a longer period compared to other games. In total, this grants me greater value for my gambling budget, particularly when playing on the renowned Vegas Strip.
Ever since the pandemic disrupted our lives, I have observed a significant shift: the emergence of the Face Up Pai Gow Poker variation in Las Vegas and various casinos across the country.
The rise of Face Up Pai Gow Poker
For the past few years, Face Up Pai Gow Poker has gained significant popularity in Las Vegas casinos. It has become the go-to choice for enthusiasts of Pai Gow Poker who wish to indulge in the game while in Las Vegas.
Although Face Up Pai Gow Poker has been around since 2018 when it was initially introduced in Las Vegas casinos, it gained significant popularity in 2020 amidst the ongoing spread of COVID-19. This shift occurred primarily due to two main factors.
COVID-19 changed Pai Gow Poker
In 2020, as COVID-19 transmissions reached an alarming peak, casinos nationwide temporarily shut down. However, in June, Las Vegas casinos initiated their reopening with the implementation of comprehensive health and safety measures. These protocols encompassed various aspects such as regulating capacity and introducing rigorous cleaning routines.
Due to increased worries of COVID-19 transmission, several casinos began implementing Face Up dealing to minimize physical contact with the cards. In fact, some casinos went to great lengths by diligently hand-cleaning cards and chips multiple times during the day.
Any effort, regardless of how small, put towards cleaning or implementing strategies to potentially reduce the spread of COVID-19, contributed to players feeling more at ease when visiting casinos.
Casinos switched to Face Up Pai Gow Poker because it eliminates the need for a 5% commission fee on winning bets.
The absence of commission eliminates the necessity for dealers to provide winners with exact change. For instance, if a player wagered $15 with a commission, they would only receive $14.25 in return.
Face Up is still present in casinos due to the absence of commission handling.
More Face Up Pai Gow Poker differences
In addition to the absence of commission, there is another significant aspect that players will observe. In the basic Face Up game, if the dealer has an Ace high Pai Gow, it will result in an automatic push. This alteration holds great significance, as an Ace high Pai Gow in Face Up implies that the dealer’s best possible five-card hand can only reach an ace high level.
In the event of this occurrence, the game results in a tie. The player is neither able to secure victory nor suffer defeat in the main hand.
If a player’s hand contains an Ace high Pai Gow, they will receive payment for their side bets. Additionally, players who win a Fortune Bonus will also receive payment.
Additionally, this game offers an Ace High side bet where players have the option to place a wager. If the dealer has an Ace High Pai Gow, the following payouts are made.
- In a 40 to 1 scenario, both the player and the dealer hold ace-high pai gow hands.
- In the game of pai gow, the dealer holds a hand with an ace as the highest card and a joker.
- In a ratio of 5 to 1, the dealer possesses a pai gow hand with an ace as the highest card, and there is no joker in play.
In conclusion, Face Up does not offer the opportunity for players to bank bets, unlike traditional Pai Gow Poker where players can take on the role of the banker.
Playing a game of Pai Gow without a house edge is what happens when a player banks. This kind of betting opportunity is highly favored by experienced Pai Gow players due to its player-friendly nature, prompting them to seize it whenever possible within the casino.
Lower house edge
Face Up Pai Gow Poker appears to be an exception among casinos, as it boasts a lower house edge compared to the traditional commission-based game.
According to the Wizard Of Odds, the main hand in Face Up has a house edge of 1.81%. On the other hand, the traditional game with a 5% commission grants the casino a 2.7% house edge.
The main game boasts a lower house edge, but the newly introduced Ace High side bet carries a 9.29% house edge. Among all the betting options available at a Pai Gow Poker table, this optional side bet holds the highest house edge.
Don’t get overly excited as casinos are not in the business of providing an advantage. The odds still predominantly favor the house.
Face Up Pai Gow games are faster as players have the advantage of seeing the dealer’s cards before making their moves. Consequently, players are more likely to skip the process of setting their cards and discarding the hand.
With the elimination of commissions for dealers, payouts are expedited, leading to time savings and a faster-paced game.
Playing a traditional game of Pai Gow Poker typically involves approximately 30-35 hands per hour. However, in Face Up, the number of hands dealt increases, which can further enhance the casino’s profitability.
Given that casinos aim to maximize profits, it is easy to understand why Face Up may not be a more lucrative game compared to the traditional commission-based game.
According to the latest revenue report from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, casinos are seeing significantly higher earnings from Pai Gow Poker compared to the previous year.
More advantages of playing Face Up Pai Gow Poker
With a few exceptions, Face Up is primarily played similar to a traditional game of Pai Gow Poker.
In order to play, players are required to form both a five-card poker hand and a two-card hand. The game can be significantly altered by the presence of the Face Up.
In the traditional game, the dealer will distribute cards to all positions at the table. However, in this variant of Pai Gow Poker, there is one notable difference – the dealer will reveal their cards before players proceed to set their hands.
In the conventional game, players would arrange their hands without any knowledge of the dealer’s cards, making educated guesses on how to do so.
After viewing the cards, players are now aware of the optimal strategy to arrange their hand in order to increase their chances of winning. This newfound knowledge grants players an advantage that was previously inaccessible.
Over the past year, I have managed to win numerous hands by simply observing the dealer’s cards before making my moves. It is truly astonishing to witness the significant impact it has on a player’s strategy when arranging their hand.
There hasn’t been a single session where I haven’t played hands differently. With the ability to see the dealer’s hand first, there’s an opportunity to strategically arrange the cards in a manner that wouldn’t be logical if playing blindly.
Given the increased number of hands being played, the impact on the house edge is likely insignificant. Nonetheless, it is comforting to perceive oneself as having an edge while playing a casino game.
One aspect that I thoroughly enjoyed in Pai Gow Poker was its leisurely pace. Although Face Up offers a slightly faster gameplay, it is not significantly quicker compared to the traditional commission-based game.
The number of hands that result in a push remains unchanged. The game’s pace remains relatively consistent. Although some players choose to discard their losing hands, I prefer to keep mine to maintain a similar pace to the previous game and enhance my hand-setting skills.
It is not common to come across a valuable game in a casino, but Face Up remains an enjoyable and calming activity where players can unwind, engage in card games, and enjoy a few beverages.
