Face Up Pai Gow Poker

GEGR-002138

RULES & HOW TO PLAY

TYPE OF GAME

The game of Face Up Pai Gow Poker utilizes a player-dealer position and is a California game. The player-dealer shall collect all losing wagers, pay all winning wagers, and may not win or lose more than the original amount wagered. Once the player-dealer’s wager has been exhausted, the wagers not covered by the player-dealer shall be returned to the respective players. A player shall only remain in the player-dealer position for two consecutive rounds of play before it is offered in a clockwise fashion around the gaming table. The gambling enterprise does not participate in the actual play of the game and has no interest in the outcome of the play.

OBJECT OF THE GAME

The object of the game of Face Up Pai Gow Poker is to make a five-card hand and a two-card hand that ranks higher than the player-dealer’s five-card hand and two-card hand. Face Up Pai Gow Poker is a Pai Gow Poker variant and plays like conventional Pai Gow Poker, except the player-dealer’s hand is shown first. In addition, when the player-dealer’s hand is shown and the ranking is a seven-card ace-high hand, then all player hands will automatically push (tie) and the players’ base game wagers will be returned to the players.

DESCRIPTION OF DECK & NUMBER OF DECKS USED

Face Up Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck including a joker for a total of 53 cards. Cards may be dealt using either a manual hand shuffle or an automated shuffling machine.

CARD VALUES & HAND RANKINGS

The rank of each card used in Face Up Pai Gow Poker, in order of highest to lowest rank, will be: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2. The ace would be considered low any time the ace begins a Straight or a Straight Flush. The joker can be used as an ace or to complete any Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush. All suits will be considered equal in rank.

The hand rankings for the game of Face Up Pai Gow Poker, in order of highest to lowest, are as follows:

HAND DEALT HAND REQUIREMENTS
Five Aces A hand that consists of four aces and a joker.
Royal Flush A hand that consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit.
Straight Flush A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking. A king, queen, jack, 10 and 9 is the highest ranked Straight Flush and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and ace is the lowest ranked Straight Flush.
Four of a Kind A hand that consists of four cards of the same rank. Four aces is the highest ranked Four of a Kind and four 2s is the lowest ranked Four of a Kind.
Full House A hand that consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair. Three aces and two kings is the highest ranked Full House and three 2s and two 3s is the lowest ranked Full House.
Flush A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit but are not in consecutive ranking. An ace, king, queen, jack and 9 is the highest ranked Flush and a 7, 5, 4, 3 and 2 is the lowest ranked Flush.
Straight A hand that consists of five cards in consecutive ranking, but are not the same suit. An ace, king, queen, jack and 10 is the highest ranked Straight and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and ace is the lowest ranked Straight.
Three of a Kind A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. Three aces is the highest ranked Three of a Kind and three 2s is the lowest ranked Three of a Kind.
Two Pair A hand that consists of two Pair. Two aces and two kings is the highest ranked Two Pair and two 3s and two 2s is the lowest ranked Two Pair.
One Pair A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two aces is the highest ranked Pair and two 2s is the lowest ranked Pair.
High Card A hand that consists of five cards that do not make any of the hands listed above. An ace, king, queen, jack and 9 is the highest ranked High Card hand and 7, 5, 4, 3, and 2 is the lowest ranked High Card hand.

DESCRIPTION OF TABLE USED & TOTAL NUMBER OF SEATED POSITIONS

Face Up Pai Gow Poker is played on a standard Pai Gow Poker table, which seats a maximum of six players and a player-dealer, for a total of seven seated positions. Within each betting area for each seated player, there shall be three separate betting areas representing each players’ base game wager, the Fortune Bonus Bet and the Ace-High Bonus Bet. Each betting space at the table has a fixed amount for wagering limits defining the minimum and maximum amounts that may be wagered. Players must bet at least the table minimum.

DEALING PROCEDURES & ROUND OF PLAY

All wagers in Face Up Pai Gow Poker will be made by placing casino chips on the appropriate betting areas of the table layout keeping in mind the table minimum and maximum wagering limits.

  • At the start of a game a player is offered the player-dealer position. Once the player-dealer position is accepted, the house dealer shall wait for each player to make their wager in accordance with the table limits.
    • Each player then has the following option(s) when placing their wager(s):
      • The base game which pays 1 to 1;
      • The Fortune Bonus Bet which pays according to the paytable, as shown below;
        • If a player wagers at least $5 on the Fortune Bonus Bet, the player qualifies for the Envy Bonus and the house dealer must place an “envy” button next to the player’s Fortune Bonus Bet wager.
      • The Ace-High Bonus Bet which pays according to the paytable, as shown below.
  • Third-Party Providers of Proposition Player Services (TPPPS), as defined in Section 19984 of the California Business and Professions Code, are permitted to play.
  • Backline betting is only permitted on the base game wager.
  • Once all wagers have been placed, the cards will be shuffled and dealt to players in the following way.
    • If the cards are hand shuffled, then the house dealer will shuffle, cut, and complete the deal of seven piles of seven cards face-down in front of them. When dealing the seven piles of seven cards, the house dealer shall deal one card at a time in front of the house dealer position until there are seven cards, starting from left to right. Once there are seven cards laid out, the house dealer shall deal each pile another card, from right to left, giving each pile a total of two cards. This process of dealing cards left to right, then right to left, shall be completed until each pile has seven cards. The remaining four cards shall be placed in the discard pile.
      • The player-dealer then selects one of the seven piles. The action button, which determines the first player to receive first action from the player-dealer, is placed on the selected pile and will be the first hand distributed once the placement of the action button has been determined.
      • To determine who receives the action button, the house dealer will use a random number generator or a dice cup. If using the random number generator, the numerical number displayed determines the position of the action button. If using a dice cup, the player-dealer shakes a dice cup, which contains three dice, and the numerical total of the three dice determines the position of the action button. When using the random number generator or dice cup method, the player-dealer’s position is always one, eight, and fifteen. Other seats in clockwise rotation, respectively represent the other numbers. If the random number or total dice value is one, eight, or fifteen, the player-dealer shall receive the first set of cards and the player to the left of the player-dealer shall receive the “Action” button.
      • Once the first position is determined, the house dealer then distributes the seven piles of cards, starting with the action button and continuing clockwise.
      • The player-dealer receives their cards in turn according to the action.
      • All seven piles of cards will be distributed to all seats at the table, regardless of whether a player is seated at each position or a wager has been placed. The house dealer will then spread the remaining cards to verify there are four cards remaining and placed in the discard pile.
  • If a machine shuffler is used, the house dealer will use the shuffle machine to randomly intermix and deliver seven cards to each seat.
    • The action button, which determines the first player to receive first action from the player-dealer, is placed on the selected pile and will be the first hand distributed once the placement of the action button has been determined.
    • To determine who receives the action button, the house dealer will use a random number generator or a dice cup method. If using the random number generator, the numerical number displayed determines the position of the action button. If using a dice cup method, the player-dealer shakes a dice cup, which contains three dice, and the numerical total of the three dice determines the position of the action button. When using the random number generator or dice cup method, the player-dealer’s position is always one, eight, and fifteen. Other seats in clockwise rotation, respectively represent the other numbers. If the random number or total dice value is one, eight, or fifteen, the player-dealer shall receive the first set of cards and the player to the left of the player-dealer shall receive the “Action” button.
    • Once action is determined, the house dealer will deliver the first seven cards to the action seat and continue clockwise around the table.
    • Each seven-card hand will be distributed by the shuffle machine and placed on the table by the house dealer, one at a time, from the house dealer’s left to right, until all seven hands are dealt. The house dealer will then spread the remaining cards to verify there are four cards remaining and placed in the discard pile.
  • The player-dealer’s hand will then be exposed and set before the players set their hands.
    • If the player-dealer has an ace-high seven-card hand, all player’s wagers shall automatically push and any Ace-High Bonus Bets will win.
    • If the player-dealer’s hand does not contain a seven-card ace-high hand, each player shall then set their hand by arranging the seven cards in to a two-card hand, which is placed in front of the five-card hand, and a five-card hand, which is placed behind the two-card hand.
      • The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand, according to the hand rankings, as shown above.
      • The player-dealer has the option to ask the house dealer to set their hand according to the House Way chart.
    • Once the player-dealer’s hand is set, each player sets their hands by arranging the seven cards into a two-card hand in front, and a five-card hand in back.
      • The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand, according to the hand rankings, as shown above.
      • Players have the option to ask the house dealer to set their hand according to the House Way chart below. Players do not have to set their hand the “House Way”, they are free to set the hand in any fashion they choose as long as it is not a foul hand. If a player arranges the two-card hand so it out-ranks the five-card hand, this will be considered a foul and the player will automatically lose their wager.
    • Once the player's hands are set, each player's hand is exposed, in turn, and compared to the player-dealer’s hands to determine the winners, losers, or push hands.
    • Each player's five-card hand will be compared to the player-dealer's five-card hand, and each player’s two-card hand will be compared to the player-dealer’s two-card hand, in turn.
    • Wagers will be settled in a clockwise manner around the table, starting with the player with the Action button.
    • All wagers will be settled from seat to seat (including backline betters) in the following order: the base game wager, then the Ace-High Bonus Bet, then the Fortune Bonus Bet, and then the Envy Bonus. However, if the money covers, the house dealer may begin the resolution of wagers in any order. Once the player-dealer’s wager has been exhausted, the wagers not covered by the player-dealer will be returned to the respective players.

    FACE UP PAI GOW POKER HOUSE HAND SET

    HAND DEALT HOUSE WAY EXAMPLE
    High Card Put 2nd and 3rd highest cards in front. Example of High Card
    One Pair Put Pair in back, highest two cards in front. Example of One Pair
    Two Pair: High Pair is As, Ks, or Qs Put small Pair in front. Example of Two Pair: High Pair is As, Ks, or Qs
    Two Pair: High Pair is Js, 10s, or 9s Put both Pairs in back if an ace can be played in the front, otherwise put small Pair in front. Example of Two Pair: High Pair is Js, 10s, or 9s
    Two Pair: High Pair is 8s, 7s, or 6s Put both Pairs in back if a king or higher can be played in the front; otherwise put small Pair in front. Example of Two Pair: High Pair is 8s, 7s, or 6s
    Two Pair: High Pair is 5s, 4s, or 3s Put both Pairs in back if a queen or higher can be played in the front, otherwise put small Pair in front. Example of Two Pair: High Pair is 5s, 4s, or 3s
    Three Pair: With or without a Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush Put highest Pair in front. Example of Three Pair: With or without a Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush
    Three of a Kind: Aces Put an ace and highest single card in front. Example of Three of a Kind: Aces
    Three of a Kind: Kings and below Put two highest single cards in front. Example of Three of a Kind: Kings and below
    Two Three of a Kinds Put highest Pair possible in front. Example of Two Three of a Kinds
    Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush with no Pair Put the highest possible two cards in front that will leave a complete hand in back. Example of Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush with no Pair
    Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush with one Pair Put the highest possible two cards (Pair or no Pair) in front that will leave a complete hand in back. Example of Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush with one Pair
    Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush with two Pair Put a Pair in front with a complete hand in back otherwise play Two Pair strategy. Example of Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush with two Pair
    Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush with Three of a Kind Put Pair or ace in front with complete hand behind. Example of Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush with Three of a Kind
    Full House with or without a Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush. (Three of a Kind and a Pair) Put the highest Pair in front while keeping at least Three of a Kind behind. Example of Full House with or without a Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush. (Three of a Kind and a Pair)
    Four of a Kind As, Ks, or Qs Split to Pair-Pair. Example of Four of a Kind As, Ks, or Qs
    Four of a Kind: Js, 10s, or 9s Play Four of a Kind in back if at least a king can be played up front, otherwise split. Example of Four of a Kind: Js, 10s, or 9s
    Four of a Kind: 8s, 7s, or 6s Play Four of a Kind in back if at least a queen can be played up front, otherwise split. Example of Four of a Kind: 8s, 7s, or 6s
    Four of a Kind: 5s or below Always play Four of Kind behind. Example of Four of a Kind: 5s or below
    Four of a Kind with a Pair Play the Pair in front and play Four of a Kind in back. Example of Four of a Kind with a Pair
    Five Aces Play a Pair of aces in front. Example of Five Aces

    HOW WINNERS ARE DETERMINED AND PAID

    Once each player has set their hands and the house dealer has set the player-dealer's hand, each player's hand shall be compared against the player-dealer's hand. The following shall apply for each possible outcome when determining which hand wins, loses, or if there is a push.

    • The base game wager wins if the two-card hand and the five-card hand, held by the player, ranks higher than the player-dealer’s two-card hand and five-card hand.
    • The base game wager loses if the two-card hand and the five-card hand held by the player, ranks lower than the player-dealer’s two-card hand and five-card hand.
    • The base game wager “pushes” if one of the hands held by the player ranks higher than the player-dealer’s corresponding hand, and the player’s other hand ranks lower than the player-dealer’s corresponding hand. In this case, neither the player nor the player-dealer wins or loses; the wager is a push and is returned to the player.
      • The base game wager also “pushes” if the ranking of the player-dealer’s shown hand is a seven-card ace-high hand. Neither the player nor the player-dealer wins or loses; the wager is a push and is returned to the player.
    • If either the two-card hand or the five-card hand is identical in rank to the player-dealer’s two-card hand or five-card hand, it is a “copy hand.” The player-dealer wins all copy hands.
    • The player-dealer will collect losing Fortune Bonus Bets and pays winning Fortune Bonus Bets to the extent of the player-dealer’s wager.
    • A player qualifies for an Envy Bonus payout when a player places a Fortune Bonus Bet of at least $5. The player-dealer shall pay all winning Envy Bonus’ when a player at the table receives a Four of a Kind or higher, excluding the player-dealer hand or their own hand.
    • The player-dealer shall pay all winning Ace-High Bonus Bets made by players when the player-dealer’s or the player-dealer and player’s hand is an ace-high seven-card hand.
    • The player-dealer shall collect all losing Ace-High Bonus Bets made by players when the player-dealer’s hand is not an ace-high seven-card hand.
    • The cards are collected, shuffled, and a new round begins.

    FORTUNE BONUS BET

    The Fortune Bonus Bet is an optional bonus bet that complements the game of Face Up Pai Gow Poker, as listed above. It is a wager that allows a player to bet that they will be dealt a predetermined and designated qualifying hand, as described below. There will be a distinctively marked circle on the table in which a player may place the optional bonus bet.
    • A player has to place a base bet in order to place a Fortune Bonus Bet. Furthermore, the wager must be placed prior to the initial deal.
    • Any seated player may place a Fortune Bonus Bet.
    • The Fortune Bonus Bet may be less than, equal to, or greater than the base game wager. However, it may not exceed the table limit.
    • The bonus bet takes into account the first seven cards dealt as a player’s hand. In the event that the first seven cards dealt to a player that placed a bonus bet is a predetermined and designated qualifying hand, as described below, the bonus bet will win. The player will then receive a monetary payout based on the bonus hand that the player has received and the paytable, as shown below. Any other combination of the first seven cards dealt, other than the hands described below, will lose.
    • The bonus bet may win regardless of the outcome of the base game wager.
    • The player-dealer will pay all winning Fortune Bonus Bets and will collect all losing Fortune Bonus Bets. Once the player-dealer's wager has been exhausted, the wagers not covered by the player-dealer will be returned to the players.
    • Winning Fortune Bonus Bets will be paid according to the table, as shown below.

    FORTUNE BONUS BET PAYTABLE

    HAND DEALT HAND REQUIREMENTS FORTUNE PAYS ENVY PAYS
    Natural Seven Card Straight Flush (No Joker) A hand that consists of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking that does not utilize a joker. 2500 to 1 $1000
    Royal Flush + Royal Match A hand that consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit and a king and queen of the same suit. 1000 to 1 $750
    Wild Seven Card Straight Flush (With Joker) A hand that consists of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking that utilizes a joker. 750 to 1 $250
    Five Aces A hand that consists of four aces and a joker. 250 to 1 $100
    Royal Flush A hand that consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit. 125 to 1 $50
    Straight Flush A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking. 50 to 1 $20
    Four of a Kind A hand that consists of four cards of the same rank. 25 to 1 $5
    Full House A hand that consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair. 5 to 1
    Flush A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit but are not in consecutive ranking. 4 to 1
    Three of a Kind A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. 3 to 1
    Straight A hand that consists of five cards in consecutive ranking, but are not the same suit. 2 to 1

    ENVY BONUS

    A player who places a wager of at least $5 on the Fortune Bonus Bet will receive an Envy button and may qualify for the Envy Bonus payout if another player who placed a Fortune Bonus Bet receives a predetermined and designated qualifying hand, as shown below. Players will receive one Envy button for each Fortune Bonus Bet in an amount equal to or greater than $5.

    • The Envy Bonus takes into account the first seven cards dealt as a player’s hand.
    • Only seated players are eligible to receive an “Envy” button.
    • In the event that the first seven cards dealt to a player that has placed a Fortune Bonus Bet is a predetermined and designated qualifying hand, as shown below, all players with an Envy button will win.
    • Players are not eligible to win an Envy Bonus for their own hand.
    • If multiple players have made a seven-card qualifying Fortune Bonus Bet and Envy Bonus hand, then all players with an Envy button will win, other than for their own hand.
    • If multiple Envy Bonus hands are achieved, all players with Envy buttons will be paid for the multiple Envy payouts. However, players are not eligible to win an Envy Bonus for their own hand.
    • Players will receive a fixed monetary payout based on the qualifying hand that another player has received and the pay table, as shown below.
    • The Envy Bonus may win regardless of the outcome of the Face Up Pai Gow Poker base game wager.
    • The player-dealer will pay qualifying Envy Bonuses and will collect Envy buttons that did not qualify to the extent of the player-dealer’s wager.
    • Qualifying Envy Bonus buttons will be paid according to the table, as shown above.

    ACE HIGH BONUS BET

    The Ace-High Bonus Bet is an optional bonus bet that allows a player to bet that they and the player-dealer will be dealt a predetermined and designated qualifying hand, as described below. There will be a distinctively marked circle on the table in which a player may place the optional bonus bet.

    • A player has to place a base game wager in order to place the Ace-High Bonus Bet. Furthermore, the wager must be placed prior to the initial deal.
    • The Ace-High Bonus Bet may be less than, equal to, or greater than the base game wager. However, it may not exceed the table limit.
    • The Ace-High Bonus Bet takes into account the first seven cards dealt as a player’s hand and the player-dealer’s hand. In the event that the first seven cards dealt to a player that placed a bonus bet and the player-dealer’s hand is a predetermined and designated qualifying hand, as described below, the bonus bet will win. The player will then receive a monetary payout based on the bonus hand that the player has received and the paytable, as shown below. Any other combination of the first seven cards dealt, other than the hands described below, will lose.
    • The player-dealer will pay all winning Ace-High Bonus Bets and will collect all losing Ace-High Bonus Bets. Once the player-dealer’s wager has been exhausted, the wagers not covered by the player-dealer will be returned to the players.
    • Winning Ace-High Bonus Bets will be according to the table, as shown below.


    QUALIFYING HANDS PAYOUT
    Player and Player-Dealer Ace High Card Hand 40:1
    Player-Dealer Ace High Card Hand (with Joker) 15:1
    Player-Dealer Ace High Card Hand (No Joker) 5:1

    TABLE LAYOUT

    COLLECTION PROCEDURES

    • California games utilize a player-dealer position. The position shall be offered systematically and continuously in a clockwise manner around the table after every two hands.
    • All base game wagers, including bonus bets, are collected or paid, to the extent that the player-dealer’s wager covers.
    • Once the player-dealer’s wager has been exhausted, the wagers not covered by the player-dealer shall be returned to the respective players.
    • The gambling establishment does not participate in the actual play of the game and has no interest in the outcome of the play.
    • Only one collection schedule option, which utilizes one table limit and the specified collection fees for that table limit, as listed above, shall be used at a gaming table at any one time.
    • Collection rates and fees shall be determined prior to the start of play of any hand or round. Rates shall not be calculated as a fraction or percentage of wagers made or winnings earned.
    • Flat fees on wagers may be assessed at different collection rates; however, no more than five collection rates may be established per table.
    • The Casino shall provide ample notice to patrons regarding the collection rates and fees, as well as the procedure for collecting them.
    • Collection fees shall be conspicuously posted on or within view of every gaming table.
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