Pai Gow Poker Online: How and Where to Play

Best Pai Gow Poker Online Casinos

We’ve gone through hundreds of sites with our own B.E.S.T. rating system to find the top online casinos for pai gow poker. Below are the best four, along with what makes each one stand out:

Bovada – Best Overall Casino for Online Pai Gow Poker
Wild Casino – Best Online Pai Gow Poker Variety
Ignition Casino – Great Pai Gow Poker for Mobile
BetUS – Best Pai Gow Poker Casino for Beginners

Bovada Best Overall Casino for Online Pai Gow Poker

Bovada is the top pai gow poker online casino that suits just about everyone. Its user-friendly setup runs smoothly on desktop and mobile. Betting limits range from $1 up to $500, and new users can claim $1,250 in bonus funds across their first three deposits.

Bovada’s Pai Gow title is a modern classic, with well-placed controls, large text, and smooth animations that fit the setting. This is also one of the best online poker sites to play at in general, as it features a great online poker section featuring cash games, sit’n go’s, tournaments, and mystery knockouts. New players can also find strategy guides and step-by-step tutorials to help them get started.

81% 71%
Bonus: 125% up to $3,750
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Wild Casino Best Online Pai Gow Poker Variety

While even the best online gambling sites are usually lucky to include one Pai Gow title, Wild Casino shines by offering two. Both versions come from top software providers, Betsoft and Rival Gaming, and feature low volatility with a return-to-player (RTP) of 97.27%.

While both games use the classic green-felt poker table set, Betsoft’s version has more of a classic feel. The interface makes it look like you’re sitting at the table, with cards laid out to mimic a real-life setup.

Like Rival’s game, there’s a 5% commission on all winning bets. However, this version caps bets at $100 and lets you arrange cards in the “house way” for a better strategy.

80% 62%
Bonus: 250% up to $5,000
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Ignition Casino Great Pai Gow Poker for Mobile

Ignition is our top choice for mobile compatibility, looking superb on iOS or Android smartphones or tablets. While there’s no downloadable app, you don’t need one. Simply open the mobile-optimized website on your preferred browser and find everything as it looks on the desktop version.

The site’s pai gow options work splendidly on smaller screens. We prefer the landscape mode, as it spaces out the controls and gives you plenty of room to make your moves. If you ever feel like stepping it up, you can even play online poker against real players.

77% 73%
Bonus: 300% up to $3,000
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BetUS Best Pai Gow Poker Casino for Beginners 

If you’re still getting the hang of Pai Gow Poker, we recommend starting with BetUS. There, you can claim up to $2,000 on your first, second, and third deposits, and Pai Gow contributes 5% to the 30x wagering requirement.

There are three Pai Gow options from Nucleus Gaming, TLM, and Amigotechs, each available in a free demo mode within your account where you start with a $1,000 fun balance. Moreover, BetUS provides a detailed explanation for each game that really digs into how to play, the controls, and any frequently asked questions.

When you’re ready to play for real money, limits start at just $1, so any bankroll you have can make for a fun and lengthy session.

80% 72%
Bonus: 125% up to $2,625
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Key Features of the Best Online Casinos for Pai Gow Poker

If you’re ready to join a Pai Gow poker casino, here are four crucial features to consider:

Pai Gow Poker Variety

Pai Gow Poker online gambling sites like BetUS and Wild Casino team up with various providers to offer different game versions. This lets you enjoy diverse styles and layouts and always keeps you close to the newest innovations.

House Edge and Payouts

Pai gow poker has a low house edge, meaning you have a higher chance of winning compared to other games like craps or roulette. Look for casinos that are clear about their payout information and whose RTP rates align with what the providers claim.

Mobile Compatibility

With mobile gambling becoming increasingly popular, online casinos for pai gow poker need to work on all screen sizes. Interfaces must be clean and run smoothly to ensure intuitive gameplay right at your fingertips.

RNG Audits and Fairness

Most pai gow casino games use a random number generator (RNG) to ensure fairness. However, it’s still best to check for yourself whether these RNG systems are regularly audited by independent bodies. You can usually find proof of this at the bottom of the site—look for any certificates or documents on fairness.

Pai Gow Poker Bonuses and Promotions

Online casino bonuses frequently have restrictions that favor slots due to their higher house edge. Pai Gow Poker is a slower game that gives players a bit of a strategic edge. Because of that, gambling sites that count it toward bonus requirements usually cap it at about 20% at the most generous.

A smart move to make the most of what’s available is to look for cashback offers. These offers have minimal wagering requirements and can help you recoup losses without spending more money.

Casino	Type	Bonus	Pai Gow Poker Contribution	Rollover
Bovada	Welcome Bonus	Up to $1,250	20%	25x to 50x
Wild Casino	Welcome Bonus	Up to $5,000	10%	40x
Ignition Casino	Welcome Bonus	150% up to $1,500	20%	25x
BetUS	Welcome Bonus	Up to $6,000	5%	30x

How to Play Pai Gow Poker Online

Pai Gow Poker is a twist on the centuries-old Chinese game Pai Gow. Instead of dominoes, this version uses a standard 52-card deck and a Joker. The goal is to create two separate poker hands—a “high” hand (five cards) and a “low” hand (two cards)—out of the seven cards you are dealt.

These hands follow the same values as classic poker hands. Here they are, in case you need a brief reminder:

Hand	Description
5 Aces	Four Aces + Joker
Royal Flush	A, K, Q, J, 10, all the same suit
Straight Flush	Five cards in sequence, all in the same suit
Four-of-a-Kind	Four cards of the same rank
Full House	Three-of-a-kind with a pair
Flush	Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence
Straight	Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit
Three-of-a-Kind	Three cards of the same rank
Two Pair	Two different pairs
Pair	Two cards of the same rank
High Card	Highest card; if tied, the next highest card wins

Note: The Joker is not a universal wild card in pai gow poker, but it’s still a good sign. It acts as an Ace in a low hand, which you can use to form a stronger pair. Alternatively, you can use the Joker in your high hand to complete a straight or a flush.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to play:

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Place Bets

Before any cards are dealt, you must put your bet on the table.

Dealing the Cards

The dealer deals both you and themselves seven cards face down.

Arranging Your Hands

Now comes the strategy. You must split your seven cards into two separate hands: the high hand (5 cards) and the low hand (2 cards). The value of the high hand must outrank the low hand.

Here are some examples:

✔️ High Hand: Full House (Three 8’s and Two 4’s). Low Hand: One Pair (Two Aces).

✔️ High Hand: Straight (10, 9, 8, 7, 6 of mixed suits). Low Hand: High Cards (Ace and King of different suits)

❌ High Hand: One Pair (Two 2’s). Low Hand: Two Pairs (Queens and Jacks)

❌ High Hand: Three-of-a-Kind (Three 4’s). Low Hand: Straight (5 and 4 of the same suit)

Revealing Hands

After arranging your hands, you and the dealer reveal your cards.

Comparing Hands

If both your high and low hands beat the dealer’s, you win the round. If one hand wins and the other loses, it’s a push, and your bet is returned. If both your hands lose, you lose the bet.

Payouts

If you win, you typically receive even money on your bet minus a small commission (usually around 5%).

Pai Gow Poker Strategies and Tips

Like with all other online casino games, luck definitely plays a part here. But there’s a lot you can do to tilt the odds in your favor. Here are five expert Pai Gow Poker tips to get you started:

Do Not Chase a Full House

Avoid locking in a full house on your high hand if it weakens your low hand too much. For instance, if you’ve got a three-of-a-kind pair, consider splitting it into a pair and a three-of-a-kind to spread your strength.

Consider the House Way

The “house way” refers to the method of setting the dealer’s hands according to a specific set of rules. For instance, if you’re holding a high card, the highest one goes in the back, and the next two in the front. A three-of-a-kind is usually placed in the back unless there are two sets, then one set goes in the front. For a full house, it’s three-of-a-kind in the back and the pair in the front. Use this as your starting point. From there, you can add your own thinking to make the final decision.

Avoid the Martingale

Pai gow paying even money can make betting systems like the Martingale look tempting. But remember: the casino usually takes a 5% commission on winnings, which can cut into your profits, especially if you double your bets. Plus, many offshore casino sites cap bets at $100 or $500, which means you can easily hit the ceiling after a string of losses.

Test Things Out in Demo First

Online casinos like Bovada and BetUS have free demos where you can practice games without using real money. This feature is perfect for newcomers to the game. Get comfortable with the rules, try different ways to split your hands, and learn how to use the Joker effectively—all without losing any cash.

Claim Bonuses

Don’t be put off by a 20% contribution rate when claiming a casino bonus. Keep in mind that about 41% of Pai Gow hands end in a push, so you get your bet back nearly half the time. Plus, every hand you play, even the ones that push, still counts toward meeting your wagering requirements, even if it’s at a lower percentage.

Similar Games You Might Enjoy

If you like Pai Gow Poker but want to try something new, there are plenty of other games played on the green felt that might catch your interest. Here are a few suggestions:

Three-Card Poker: A faster yet simpler version of traditional poker where you play against the dealer with just three cards, aiming for the best poker hand possible.
Baccarat: This classic involves betting on which of two hands—the “Player” or the “Banker”—will end up closer to nine.
Casino Hold ’em: Similar to Texas Hold ’em, but with playing against the dealer instead of other players.
Video Poker: This computerized version of poker is like playing a slot machine but with the added challenge of holding or drawing cards to make the best hand.
Omaha: Another popular poker variant where you start with four hole cards and must use exactly two of them, along with three from the community cards, to make the best five-card poker hand.

Pai Gow Poker Casinos to Avoid

Site	Why They’re Blacklisted
Slots Jungle Casino	Fraud, denied payouts.
Lucky 18 Casino	Sketchy platform + unpaid winnings
BetDNA	Suspected pirated software

Start Playing Pai Gow Poker Online

Playing pai gow poker at online casinos is a lot of fun without the intensity of bluffing against real players. You’ve got more time on your side, but you still need to bring your A-game for the best shot at winning. Finding the right gambling site for you can also significantly impact your experience.

After testing hundreds of sites, we found that Bovada checked most of the boxes. The platform is super easy to use, plus 20% of pai gow poker bets count towards the wagering requirements. Wild Casino and BetUS stand out for their variety, while Ignition had a slight edge in mobile play.

Charlon

Muscat

Content Specialist

Articles

All the way from the renowned iGaming hub of Malta, Charlon has been contributing to the gambling industry since 2019. He began his career at Paddy Power™, but the onset of the pandemic led him to swap his nine-to-five for a life of full-time travel.

Throughout his journey, Charlon developed a successful freelance career, leveraging his prior industry knowledge and focusing on analyzing online casinos, sportsbooks, slots, payment methods, and current trends and strategies through the lens of an actual player.

See All Charlon’s Articles

Top Pai Gow Poker Online Casinos