1. Definitions
2. Table Layout and Equipment
3. The Tiles
4. The Table of Play - House Way
5. Computer
6. The Bank
7. The Shuffle and Cut
8. The Dice
9. Wagers

1. Definitions

1.1 In these rules, unless the contrary intention appears:

• "Act" means the Casino Control Act 1992;

• "bank" means the hand against which all other players wager;

• "casino promotional token or voucher" means a token or voucher issued by the casino operator to enable the player to have one free wager at a gaming table in the amount identified on the token or voucher. Promotional tokens and vouchers wagered at a table are forfeited after a round of play whether the wager wins or loses. If the wager wins, the player is to be paid the winnings in chips;

• "casino supervisor" means a person employed in a casino in a managerial capacity relating to the conduct of gaming and includes a games supervisor;

• "chung" means a marker used to indicate who has the bank in a round of play;

• "co-banking" means a player banking in equal partnership with the House;

• "commission" means the amount collected or deducted by the dealer from any winnings returned to a player/banker in accordance with rule 14.2;

• "dealer" means a person responsible for the operation of the game;

• "dice cup" means a device used to contain and shake the dice;

• "game supervisor" means a person responsible for the immediate supervision of the operation of the game;

• "House" means the casino operator;

• "House way" means the way a dealer shall set his/her hand or that of a player or player/banker upon request;

• "inspector" means a person appointed under section 106 of the Act;

• "laja" means an additional mix of the tiles that may be performed by the dealer, a player or player/banker;

• "match" means comparing the player's high hand with the House or player/banker's high hand and the player's low hand with the House or player/banker's low hand respectively;

• "player/banker" means a player taking the bank;

• "ranking" means the classification of the order of the tiles;

• "round of play" means a period of play commencing with the cut of the tiles and concluding when the dealer matches the hands and, if applicable, collects losing wagers and pays out winnings;

• "shuffle" means a random mix of the tiles, conducted face downwards upon the table;

• "stand off" means where a wager shall neither win nor lose;

• "tile(s)" means a domino or set of dominoes;

• "traditional cuts" means one of the approved ways of cutting the tiles at the request of either a player/banker or a game supervisor;

• "void" means invalid with no result.

2. Table Layout and Equipment

• 2.1 The game of Pai Gow shall be played at a table having on one side places for the players and on the opposite side a place for the dealer.

• 2.2 The layout cloth covering the table shall display the name and/or logo of the casino, shall have areas designated for the placement of wagers and shall be marked in a manner substantially similar to that shown in diagram "A".

• 2.3 A set of three dice shall be used to determine the first playing area to receive tiles. The sides of each die shall be numbered by the use of dots from one to six, so arranged that the sum of the numbers of any pair of opposite sides on each die is seven.

• 2.4 The following equipment shall also be used:

  • 2.4.1 a dice cup, being a cup like device with a non-transparent cover used to contain and shake the three dice;

  • 2.4.2 plus or minus buttons, with values from +4 to -4, which may be used to change the point of delivery of the tiles;

  • 2.4.3 an "OFF" button to signify a playing area removed from play;

  • 2.4.4 a marker known as a chung to indicate the bank.

• 2.5 The table shall have a drop box attached to it.

3. The Tiles

• 3.1 The game of Pai Gow shall be played with a set of thirty-two tiles.

• 3.2 In the ranking:

  • 3.2.1 when a hand is lower than Day High Nine (ranking 22) the value of the hand shall be a single figure (zero to nine inclusive) and shall be determined by totalling the count values of the tiles in the hand and, as required, subtracting ten;

  • 3.2.2 Gee Jun, ranked No 1 pair, are as individual tiles the lowest ranked tiles and may be used as either a three or a six.

• 3.3 The tiles shall be checked, tile by tile, prior to the commencement of gaming, the conclusion of gaming or whenever tiles are replaced. The tiles shall then:

  • 3.3.1 remain so displayed at the commencement of gaming until a player takes a place at the table;

  • 3.3.2 be displayed on the table in order of rank and checked by the game supervisor.

• 3.4 Should any tiles be damaged or marked during play, a casino supervisor shall replace them, either individually or with a new set of tiles.

• 3.5 The tiles may be changed at the discretion of a casino supervisor.

4. The Table of Play - House Way

• 4.1 The House way is outlined in Appendix 2.

5. Computer

• A computer may be used by the House to check the correct setting of the House way.

6. The Bank

• 6.1 The bank shall be offered counter clockwise around the table commencing from playing area one.

• 6.2 Acceptance of the bank by a player/banker is indicated by a chung.

• 6.3 Only players controlling a playing area have the option of accepting the bank as a player/banker.

• 6.4 Other than at the commencement of the game, a player must have played the previous round of play to be able to accept the bank.

• 6.5 Each bank consists of a first and second round of play. At its discretion the House may allow up to three banks per playing area.

• 6.6 At its discretion the House may allow two or more players to share the bank at one seated position.

• 6.7 A casino supervisor may approve a player’s request for the House to cobank for 50% of the declared wagers against his/her hand.

• 6.8 Where no player elects to take the bank, the House will bank.

• 6.9 When the House banks, a chung denoting "House bank" shall be placed on playing area one to indicate the House tiles. No wagers shall be accepted on playing area one when the House banks.

7. The Shuffle and Cut

• 7.1 Before each round of play, the dealer shall shuffle the tiles face downwards on the table.

• 7.2 The dealer shall stack the tiles into eight groups of four and place the tiles in the designated area.

• 7.3 A casino supervisor may approve a player’s request for a laja by the dealer or to personally perform a laja, providing that after a player laja:

  • 7.3.1 the bank cannot request another shuffle; and

  • 7.3.2 the tiles will be presented to the bank who may perform their own laja, before determining the cut.

• 7.4 The tiles shall be cut in accordance with the cuts listed in Appendix 3.

• 7.5 At the discretion of a casino supervisor, other cuts may be accepted subject to their prior approval by the Casino Control Authority.

• 7.6 When the House banks the style of cut shall be at the discretion of the game supervisor.

• 7.7 When a player accepts the bank or co-banks with the House, that player has the option of the cut. If that player declines to choose the cut, the dealer shall cut the tiles at the discretion of the game supervisor.

• 7.8 After the cut has been decided, the player/banker may decide to adjust the delivery of the tiles by nominating a plus or minus value (between +4 and -4) before the dice are disclosed. Any plus or minus value is added to or subtracted from the face up total of the dice.

• 7.9 The nominated value shall be shown on a marker button placed in a central position on the table. This is known as "stealing the cut".

8. The Dice

• 8.1 After the cut, the player/banker or the dealer shall shake the dice cup during which time the dice must tumble. The dice cup is then placed on the table and the cover removed by the dealer, before moving the dice cup to the center of the table.

• 8.2 All three dice must come to rest with one surface flat to the base of the dice cup otherwise the dice cup shall be shaken again.

• 8.3 After the total of the dice is called by the dealer, the dealer shall:

  • 8.3.1 count counter clockwise commencing with the playing area designated by the chung, which shall be counted as 1, 9 or 17;

  • 8.3.2 then announce "first tiles to playing area...."

  • 8.3.3 shake the dice cup again and return it to the designated area after delivery of the tiles is completed.

9. Wagers

• 9.1 The wagers defined in this rule shall be the permissible wagers at the game of Pai Gow:

  • 9.1.1 a wager by a player against the bank which shall

    • 9.1.1.1 win if -

      • 9.1.1.1.1 the player's high hand is higher than the high hand of the bank and the player's low hand is higher than the low hand of the bank;

      • 9.1.1.1.2 the bank and the player have the same value hand and the player's high tile is of a higher ranking;

    • 9.1.1.2 lose if -

      • 9.1.1.2.1 the bank's high hand is higher than the high hand of the player and the bank's low hand is higher than the low hand of the player;

      • 9.1.1.2.2 either the high or low hand from both the bank and player is zero regardless of ranking;

      • 9.1.1.2.3 the bank and the player have identical hands;

      • 9.1.1.2.4 the bank and the player have the same value hand and the bank's high tile is of equal ranking to the player's high tile;

    • 9.1.1.3 neither win nor lose when only one of the player's hands is higher than the matching bank's hands.

  • 9.1.2 a wager by a player/banker, or player/banker and the House cobanking, which shall

  • 9.1.2.1 win if -

  • 9.1.2.1.1 the bank's high hand is higher than the high hand of the player and the bank's low hand is higher than the low hand of the player;

  • 9.1.2.1.2 either the high or low hand from both the bank and player is zero regardless of ranking;

  • 9.1.2.1.3 the bank and the player have identical hands;

  • 9.1.2.1.4 the bank and the player have the same value hand and the bank's high tile is of equal ranking to the player's high tile;

  • 9.1.2.2 lose if -

  • 9.1.2.2.1 the player's high hand is higher than the high hand of the bank and the player's low hand is higher than the low hand of the bank;

  • 9.1.2.2.2 the bank and the player have the same value hand and the player's high tile is of a higher ranking;

  • 9.1.2.3 neither win nor lose when only one of the bank's hands is higher than the matching player's hands.

• 9.2 All wagers shall be placed by means of chips and/or casino promotional tokens or vouchers.

• 9.3 A wager by a player shall be placed on the appropriate playing areas of the Pai Gow layout after the shuffle and prior to the cut.

• 9.4 No wager may be handled, placed, increased or withdrawn after the cut, when the House banks or co-banks.

• 9.5 When a player banks no wager may be handled, placed, increased or withdrawn after the cut without the player/banker's consent.

• 9.6 Up to three players may wager on any one playing area, but a casino supervisor may restrict the numbers of players to less than three.

• 9.7 Where more than one player wagers on a playing area the decisions with regard to the tiles dealt to that area shall be called by:

  • 9.7.1 the player who is seated at the playing area;

  • 9.7.2 at the discretion of the seated player, the player with the highest wager on that playing area;

  • 9.7.3 where there is no seated player, the player with the highest wager on that playing area;

  • 9.7.4 where there is no seated player and all wagers are of equal value, the player whose wager is nearest the dealer.

• 9.8 The dealer shall, prior to the commencement of a round of play, ascertain the player who shall call the decisions with respect to any playing area in accordance with rule 9.7.

• 9.9 The dealer shall ensure that the player calling the decisions places his/her wager in the portion of the playing area nearest to the dealer's side of the table.

• 9.10 A player may wager on more than one playing area but shall only control the tiles on one playing area.

• 9.11 A player is not permitted to place an additional wager on another playing area when no other player is in control of that playing area.

• 9.12 Upon accepting the bank, the player/banker shall make a wager dependent on the method of play. The dealer shall ascertain that the player/banker has sufficient funds to cover the minimum requirements for that method.

• 9.13 When a player has the bank, the player/banker’s wager is the only wager allowed on the player/banker's playing area.

10. Minimum and Maximum Wagers

• 10.1 The minimum and maximum wagers permitted per playing area when the House is banking or co-banking shall be displayed on a sign at the table.

• 10.2 When a player/banker is banking, there is no maximum wager restriction for either the player/banker or players, but the stated table minimum will apply.

• 10.3 In situations where the House is banking, any wager less then the stated minimum or greater than the stated maximum and not rejected prior to the cut shall be treated as a valid wager.

• 10.4 A casino supervisor may alter the limits on a gaming table at any time except that a minimum wager can only be changed to a higher minimum if a sign indicating the new minimum and proposed time of change has been displayed at the table at least 20 minutes before the change.

• 10.5 A casino supervisor may allow a player to wager in excess of the stated maximum provided that a sign denoting the new minimum and maximum wagers for that player is placed on an appropriate area of the table.

11. Methods of Play

• 11.1 The game may be played with:

  • 11.1.1 the House holding the bank for each round of play; or

  • 11.1.2 a player/banker covering all wagers and the House taking no part; or

  • 11.1.3 a player/banker co-banking with the House for 50% of the total wagers placed up to the displayed maximum.

12. General Conditions of Play

• 12.1 After determining where to start, in accordance with rule 8, the dealer shall deal four tiles to each playing area. The tiles are dealt face down in groups of four to the playing areas, irrespective of whether anyone is seated at that position.

• 12.2 Where a group of tiles (eight or more) are to be delivered consecutively to empty playing areas, they may be placed collectively in relation to those playing areas and those areas shall be indicated by the dealer.

• 12.3 When all tiles have been dealt, the dealer shall retrieve the tiles dealt to playing areas without wagers and place them undisclosed in the designated area.

• 12.4 The players shall arrange their own tiles into two hands - the high hand and the low hand.

• 12.5 After players return their tiles to the playing area, the hand is considered set and shall not be handled again by players.

• 12.6 At the request of a player/banker, the dealer shall set that player/banker's hand according to the House way. In such a case, the hands so set will be confirmed by the player/banker.

• 12.7 Only the player controlling a playing area is permitted to handle and set the tiles.

• 12.8 Where the provisions of rule 6.6 apply, the player/bankers may jointly decide the setting of tiles.

• 12.9 The tiles must remain within the table area and in view of the dealer and players may not exchange tiles, or exchange or communicate or cause to exchange or communicate, information regarding their hand or hands.

• 12.10 Players are not permitted to communicate in any form until after the chung has been removed from the bank's tiles.

• 12.11 Upon opening and matching each hand the dealer shall declare whether the player has won (Jung), lost (Che) or stand off (Jowl) in accordance with rule 9.

• 12.12 Stand offs are indicated by the dealer tapping the table twice next to the player's tiles after which the player's tiles are placed in the designated area on the table.

• 12.13 The players can view any unused tiles only after all payouts are completed. These tiles cannot be handled by the players.

• 12.14 Where a player is the only person wagering on a playing area he/she may concede his/her wager by indicating with a sweeping motion with his/her hand toward the dealer. The tiles are then picked up by the dealer and placed in the designated area without being exposed and the player's wager is lost and removed. After a player's hand has been conceded it cannot be returned to play.

• 12.15 The game supervisor may view the tiles of a conceded hand at his/her discretion.

• 12.16 Where there is only one player playing when the House banks, he/she may expose their tiles face up upon the table.

13. Procedures of Methods of Play

• 13.1 When the House is banking:

  • 13.1.1 a chung denoting House bank will be placed on playing area one and the House tiles dealt to that area. After collecting all tiles not in play the dealer shall move the tiles from playing area one to the front of the float;

  • 13.1.2 the dealer shall arrange and set the House hands after all player's hands have been set;

  • 13.1.3 the dealer shall expose the House hands in front of the float before exposing the players hands;

  • 13.1.4 the House hands shall be set with the low hand in a vertical position to the dealer and the high hand in a horizontal position to the dealer;

  • 13.1.5 the game supervisor will confirm that the House hand has been set the House way;

  • 13.1.6 the dealer shall expose each player's hands in turn, counter clockwise, from playing area one and match each hand;

  • 13.1.7 losing wagers are picked up and placed into the float and the related tiles placed in the designated area;

  • 13.1.8 the dealer shall pay, in accordance with rule 14.1, all winning wagers counter clockwise from playing area one, picking up the tiles as payment is made and placing them in the designated area;

  • 13.1.9 if a hand is a stand-off, the tiles shall be removed and placed in the designated area and the wager shall remain.

• 13.2 When the player/banker is banking and the House does not play:

  • 13.2.1 a chung will be placed on the player/banker's playing area and the player/banker's tiles shall be dealt to that playing area;

  • 13.2.2 the player/banker shall place a wager. If the banker fails to cover the total of declared wagers the game shall be conducted as per rule 13.3;

  • 13.2.3 the player/banker shall set his/her hands after all other hands have been set and may expose the hands so set;

  • 13.2.4 the dealer shall bring the player/banker's hands to the front of the float and ensure they are exposed to the players;

  • 13.2.5 the dealer shall then expose each players' hands in turn, counter clockwise from the chung, and match each hand;

  • 13.2.6 all losing wagers are picked up immediately and placed in the losing wager area. The losing tiles are picked up at the same time and placed in the designated area;

  • 13.2.7 the dealer shall pay, in accordance with rule 14.1, all winning wagers from the losing wager area, counter clockwise from the chung, picking up the tiles as payment is made. The remaining total from the losing wager area is handed to the player/banker, less commission, in accordance with rule 14.2;

  • 13.2.8 if there are insufficient funds in the losing wager area to pay winning wagers, the shortfall shall be taken from the player/banker's wager;

  • 13.2.9 if a hand is a stand-off, the tiles shall be removed and placed in the designated area and the wager shall remain.

• 13.3 When the player/banker and the House co-bank:

  • 13.3.1 on being offered the bank, the player/banker shall indicate whether the House is to co-bank. If co-banking is requested the dealer shall ensure the player/banker has sufficient funds to match 50% of the total amount wagered by players on that hand;

  • 13.3.2 the dealer shall take the player/banker's wager, together with an equivalent amount from the float and place it in the area designated for the co-banking wager;

  • 13.3.3 the dealer shall place the player/banker's tiles in front of the float;

  • 13.3.4 the dealer shall set the co-banking hands the House way after all other hands have been set;

  • 13.3.5 the dealer shall open each player's hands in turn, counter clockwise from the chung and match each hand;

  • 13.3.6 all losing wagers are picked up immediately and placed in the losing wager area. The losing tiles are picked up at the same time and placed in the designated area;

  • 13.3.7 the dealer shall pay, in accordance with rule 14.1, all winning wagers from the losing wager area, counter clockwise from the chung, picking up the tiles as payment is made;

  • 13.3.8 if a hand is a stand-off, the tiles shall be removed and placed in the designated area and the wager shall remain;

  • 13.3.9 chip values remaining in the losing wager area after settlement of all player wagers shall be divided equally between the cobankers;

  • 13.3.10 the House portion of such excess and the House's original wager are returned to the float and the player/banker's original wager is returned to the player banker. The remaining portion from the losing wager area is handed to the player/banker, less commission, in accordance with rule 14.2;

  • 13.3.11 if there are insufficient funds in the losing wager area to pay winning hands then the funds shall be taken from the co-bank wager. Any funds left after settlement of all winning and losing wagers shall be halved and the House portion placed in the float and the player/banker's portion handed back.

14. Settlement

• 14.1 Winning wagers against the bank shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1, less a commission of 5%.

• 14.2 A 5% commission shall be collected by the dealer from any winnings by a player/banker following:

  • 14.2.1 the payment of any winning wagers to players;

  • 14.2.2 the return of moneys to the House when co-banking; and

  • 14.2.3 the return of the player/banker's original wager.

• 14.3 Where it is not possible to collect a commission exactly in chips, the nearest lower amount collectable in chips shall be taken.

15. Irregularities

• 15.1 If any tile is exposed during stacking, the dealer shall perform a Laja.

• 15.2 If more than two tiles are exposed during a Laja a re-shuffle will occur.

• 15.3 Where the dealer exposes two or more tiles:

  • 15.3.1 on a players hand, the player has the option of calling his/her hand void, before viewing his/her remaining tiles;

  • 15.3.2 on the player/banker's hand, the player/banker has the option of calling his/her hand void, before viewing his/her remaining tiles. If the player/banker chooses to void his/her hand pursuant to this rule, the tiles shall be reshuffled.

• 15.4 The game supervisor has the option to direct the dealer to re-shuffle in response to exposed tiles or suspected tile tracking.

• 15.5 If tiles are exposed in the House's hands, the hands must be played.

• 15.6 If the player/banker exposes his/her own tiles, play shall continue.

• 15.7 Should the House hands be set incorrectly and the first player's hand has been exposed, the House hands stand.

• 15.8 When all playing areas are in play, the House is banking and players are believed to be communicating the value of the tiles they hold, the House may, at its discretion, remove a playing area from play.

• 15.9 Where the situation described in 15.8 is suspected, a casino supervisor shall decide whether to remove a playing area from subsequent rounds of play and an inspector shall be notified.

• 15.10 If a decision is made to remove a playing area from play, that playing area shall be determined by the dealer shaking the dice and, having determined the sum of the dice, shall count counter clockwise from playing area one. A marker button denoting "Off" is placed on that playing area.

• 15.11 If the dice total indicates the House, as determined by rule 15.10, a further total shall be determined until the result indicates an alternative playing area.

• 15.12 A casino supervisor shall decide when a playing area taken out of play in accordance with rule 15.9 may be reintroduced into play.

• 15.13 Should the dealer distribute the tiles incorrectly and it is noted prior to the players handling the tiles, the deal will be reconstructed.

• 15.14 If reconstruction is not possible, the round of play shall be declared void and all thirty two tiles shall be re-shuffled.

• 15.15 If an incorrect distribution occurs and it is not noted until after tiles have been handled, the round of play will be played to a conclusion.

• 15.16 Where a player or players are suspected of viewing another players tiles or collecting information from other active or non active players, a casino supervisor may:

  • 15.16.1 direct the player or players concerned to set their hands prior to other players handling theirs;

  • 15.16.2 restrict players suspected of collusion from playing at the same table;

  • 15.16.3 direct the players on a table to speak English only at all times.

• 15.17 In the event that the dealer opens a player’s hand and accidentally knocks down or mixes the tiles of that player or another player, the dealer shall set the disturbed tiles the House way.

• 15.18 Where a player is not present to set his/her tiles, the dealer shall set the tiles according to the House way and the player must accept responsibility for any subsequent result.

16. General Provisions

• 16.1 A person shall not, either alone or in concert with any other person, use or control at or near a gaming table or location related to the playing of a game a calculator, computer, or other electronic, electrical or mechanical apparatus or device that is capable, with respect to a game or a part thereof, of recording, projecting, analyzing or transmitting an outcome or the changing probabilities or the playing strategies to be used.

• 16.2 Rule 16.1 shall not apply to use or control by an agent or employee of the casino operator or an inspector where such person is acting in the course of their duty.

• 16.3 Where a casino supervisor is satisfied that a person has contravened any provision of rule 16.1, he/she may:

  • 16.3.1 declare that any wager made by the person is void;

  • 16.3.2 direct that the person shall be excluded from further participation in the game;

  • 16.3.3 exclude the person from the casino in line with the provisions of section 79 of the Act;

  • 16.3.4 cause the person(s) in possession of a prohibited device to be detained until such time as an inspector or a police officer has attended and assumed responsibility for the situation.

• 16.4 A casino supervisor may invalidate the outcome of a game if:

  • 16.4.1 the game is disrupted by civil commotion, fire, riot, brawl, robbery, an act of God; or

  • 16.4.2 any fraudulent act is perpetrated by any person that, in the opinion of the casino supervisor, affects the outcome of the game.

• 16.5 Where the outcome of a game is invalidated under rule 16.4, all wagers made by the players for that particular result may be refunded provided that a casino supervisor may direct that the wager of any player referred to in rule 16.4.2 be forfeited.

• 16.6 A player shall not be advised by an employee of the casino on how to play, except to ensure compliance with these rules.

• 16.7 No spectator or any player wagering at any table may, unless requested by a player, attempt to influence, influence or offer advice to that player regarding that player's decisions of play.

• 16.8 A casino supervisor may close a gaming table at which players are present provided a sign showing the proposed time of closure has been displayed at the table for at least 20 minutes before the closure.

• 16.9 A player who abstains from placing any wagers for three consecutive rounds of play, while all other seats or positions at the table are in use, may be required to vacate his/her seat or position.

• 16.10 Players and spectators are not permitted to have side bets with or against each other.

• 16.11 Any dispute or complaint concerning a casino game shall be referred for decision in the first instance to a game supervisor, subject to a review (if requested) by a casino supervisor. The decision of the casino supervisor shall be final, subject to rule 16.12.

• 16.12 Complainants in all unresolved disputes shall be advised of the presence of, and their right to consult, an inspector. Where a complainant requests review of the decision by an inspector, the inspector shall investigate the complaint in accordance with section 110 of the Act.

• 16.13 A copy of these rules shall be made available for inspection upon request.