Best Pai Gow Poker Sites

Are you a bit bored of Hold 'em? Is 7-Card Stud getting a bit dull? You are probably looking for something exciting, faster, and new? Well, look no further than Pai Gow Poker, a fast-paced poker variant that is growing in popularity across the realm of online casinos. If you would like to explore the exciting game of Pai Gow Poker, you have come to the right place.

Our team of gambling experts at Gambling.com has written this complete guide to Pai Gow Poker. It will help you discover the hottest Pai Gow Poker sites with the best match and no deposit bonuses, slickest designs, highest security, and most helpful support. We worked extremely hard on our Pai Gow Poker research, so you don't have to.

See below our selection of the best Pai Gow Poker casino sites in Canada and choose the one that is best for you.

What to Consider When Choosing a Pai Gow Poker Casino Site

You probably wonder how we choose the best online Pai Gow Poker casino sites before recommending them to you here on Gambling.com. Well, the important thing to know is we don't just list every casino site that offers Pai Gow Poker.

Instead, our team of experts combs through hundreds of online casino sites to find only the ones that match our high expectations. If you are based in Ontario be aware that there are a number of new casino operators available to you. So, be sure to check out our list of top online casinos Ontario if you are in that province. You can play in the knowledge the casino you've selected comes recommended following our strict criteria, including:

• Security and Safety: We believe gamblers deserve 100% security and trustworthiness when playing Pai Gow Poker or any other casino game online. Every casino we recommend is licenced by the respective regulatory body. This means the site has passed strict tests to get a licence. Our tech team also checks the software powering the casino to ensure the RNG (Random Number Generator) and other gameplay aspects are always fair to players.
• Bonuses: Every gambler knows that casino bonuses are the showstoppers of the online casino realm. Who doesn't love getting their hands on a lovely bonus? Promotions help to make Pai Gow Poker and other casino games even better. You don't have to go far to find a bonus because they are available at all casinos. Our job is to find the best promotions that offer value for money and recommend the host casino to you.
• Available Casino Games: Of course, you are reading our guide to find the best Pai Gow Poker sites. However, no online casino is complete without a wide selection of games. You may want to take a break from Pai Gow Poker and try blackjack, roulette, or online slot games. Thanks to our experienced casino players, we bring the best sites to you with the widest selection of casino games.
• Device Optimization: There is a good chance you want to use your mobile device to play Pai Gow Poker online. Top online casino sites should work just as well on smartphones or tablets as they do on a computer. We seek out casinos with excellent device optimization when reviewing online Pai Gow Poker sites.
• Payments: Money transfers are a fundamental part of the online casino experience, with gamblers valuing fast and efficient deposits and withdrawals. We only select casino sites with a wide selection of payment methods, including a wide range such as traditional banking options, e-wallets, pre-paid cards and more.

What is Pai Gow Poker?

Most casino games and their modern variants can be traced back to Europe and America, but Pai Gow is a game steeped in ancient Chinese history, making it unique amongst the poker variants. Pai Gow's roots stretch back to the Song Dynasty, which ruled China from 960 until 1279. If you are wondering what Pai Gow means, it roughly translates to "make nine," which is the aim of the game.

Pai Gow has become a popular casino game played in casinos worldwide in the modern era of gambling. There is a clear distinction between the traditional game of Pai Gow and the poker variant that is played online by countless gamblers each day:

• Traditional Pai Gow: Splits 32 dominos among eight players, each receiving four dominos from which they must make two hands of two titles each. Both of the player's hands, known as the front and back hands, must be higher than the dealer's to win the game. Winning one of the two hands returns the wager while losing both hands means you lose the round.
• Play Pai Gow Poker: The complexity of the domino version was primarily lost on western gamblers, with few casinos offering the game. However, with the rising popularity of poker in the mid-1980s came an adaptation of Pai Gow using cards. It became known as Pai Gow Poker, or double-hand poker, and was the perfect fusion of Eastern and Western gaming.

Yet while the two games share the same name, they are decidedly different. When you play Pai Gow Poker, you are dealt seven cards from which you must make two hands, one comprised of five cards, the second with the remaining two. The winning scenarios remain the same, but Pai Gow remains one of the few card games where players bet against both the dealer and other players.

Pai Gow Poker Casino Software

When looking for the best place to play online Pai Gow Poker, you are spoilt for choice. Many software providers have created Pai Gow games, and you will find all of them at our recommended online casinos. Below are some of the best developers of Pai Gow Poker games:

• Playtech: One of the most famous names in the world of casino software, Playtech is known for creating excellent virtual renditions of casino classics. Playtech's Pai Gow Poker games are no different, delivering consistent gameplay and slick design.
• Betsoft: With a rich catalogue of casino games and online slots, Betsoft has proved to be one of the most consistent developers. Its Pai Gow Poker variations deliver the company's usual blend of exciting gameplay and immersive visuals.

Pai Gow Poker Game Variations

Although Pai Gow Poker is a newer game to the online casino realm, developers have already generated quite a few variants. Here are some of the most common types of Pai Gow Poker games available at casino sites:

Pai Gow Fortune

Fortune is perhaps the most popular version of the game and adds a layer of excitement and wagering opportunities. When playing this variant, you also have the option of a side bet on the value of your seven cards. Another terrific addition is the Envy Bonus, which you get when other players hold four-of-a-kind or better.

Pai Gow No Push

This variant of the game changes how you play against the dealer. Specifically, the online dealer will place down two extra cards, one for them and one for the player (you). If a round ends in a draw, the cards are turned over to decide who wins. The highest card is better. This Pai Gow variant means there is always a winner, while it also removes the 5% commission you pay on winnings.

Progressive Pai Gow

Perhaps the most potentially lucrative version of Pai Gow Poker, this variant comes with a nice twist: a progressive jackpot side bet. Players can choose to pay into this side-bet pot and potentially win some or all of the pot alongside any main game winnings.

Pai Gow Mania

This is perhaps the Pai Gow Poker variant that is most similar to the standard game. The main difference in the Mania game is two side bet options alongside the main game. One of the side bets is based on the value of the first three cards drawn, while the other side bet is valued on all seven cards.

Pai Gow Poker Casino Security

Security is the most critical aspect of an online casino. After all, you will be sharing your personal and financial information with the site. When we review the best Pai Gow Poker sites, we put your safety at the top of our list and only recommend the most trusted and secure casinos. We will never recommend an online casino that is not licenced by a regulatory body.

A licence shows a casino operator has fulfilled the strict requirements of regulators to meet international standards for security and fair play. However, we believe casinos should go above and beyond simply having a licence. That is why we also look at the casino's Random Number Generator (RNG) engine and other fairness mechanisms on each site we review.

In a world of frequent cybersecurity threats, privacy and security are essential. Online casinos we recommend must protect your data by including security measures such as site encryption and data protection policies.

New Pai Gow Poker Casino Sites in Canada

Our list of recommended Pai Gow Poker sites features the best casinos to play Pai Gow Poker. However, the list is not set in stone. Each day our Gambling.com experts check new online casinos to see if they match our high standards. If we find a new casino where we think you will enjoy playing Pai Gow Poker, we put it straight on our list. So bookmark our page and check it regularly to stay up to date.

Pai Gow Poker Mobile Casinos

People are increasingly turning to their smartphones and tablets to play casino games online. Pai Gow Poker lends itself well to mobile gaming because it has short rounds and is easy to understand. Desktop gaming is a great experience, but the immediate access and ability to play Pai Gow Poker anywhere is a great advantage.

Most of the top casino sites cater to mobile users either through a dedicated app or through an optimized website that works on a mobile browser. However, not all casinos are created equal, and the Pai Gow Poker experience may differ depending on the site you choose. By checking out our list of the best mobile casinos that work on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, you can enjoy playing Pai Gow Poker on the move!

Pai Gow Poker Casino Bonuses for Canadian Players

What is an online casino without a selection of sweet bonuses? Promotions are a way for casino sites to attract new players and keep existing gamblers happy. The world of online casino bonuses is extensive, with many different types of excellent promos available. Some of the best online Pai Gow poker bonus deals to look for include:

• Welcome Bonus: A promotion to welcome new players to a casino, usually a deposit match paying out a percentage against your first deposit (for example, 100% match).
• No deposit bonus: Pai Gow Poker no deposit bonus promotions provide you with free money to bet without needing to deposit funds.
• Bonus Spins: Provides Free Spins to use on an online slot, usually limited to a single slot game.

You will also find other bonuses such as cashback, prize draws, and deposit reload bonuses. Almost all online casino bonuses come with a wagering requirement, which is the number of times you must wager the bonus value before you can cash it out. We recommend reading the fine print at the terms and conditions of any casino site bonus to ensure Pai Gow Poker is included in the list of eligible games you can play towards the wagering requirements.

Pai Gow Poker Casino Deposits and Withdrawals

We believe that online casino players should have as many safe and convenient ways as possible to deposit and withdraw funds. Luckily, the top casinos agree, which is why we recommend them to you. When visiting the best Pai Gow Poker sites, you can expect to see a diverse selection of payment methods, including:

• Traditional Banking Options: bank transfer and debit cards.
• E-wallets: PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, etc.
• Pre-paid and Hybrid: PaySafeCard, EcoCard, etc.
• Pay by Phone: Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.
• Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin and other currencies.

To avoid disappointment and inconvenience, always check the Pai Gow Poker casino's terms and conditions for bonus availability with different payment methods as well as withdrawal and exchange fees and other transaction charges.

Pai Gow Poker House Edge and RTP

While all games at a reputable casino site have a statistically random outcome, games actually have a built-in mechanism that gives the casino an advantage over the player. This is known as the House Edge and is the casino's simple way of making a profit. The House Edge is the percentage of total wagers that the casino will keep as player losses. The lower the House Edge, the better the player odds for a win.

Each casino game has a different House Edge, and when you play Pai Gow Poker, it is no different. The House Edge varies depending on the type of Pai Gow Poker you are playing. While there is no fixed House Edge across all Pai Gow Poker variants, it typically ranges between 2.00% and 2.50% for the main bet (no side bets).

So, what about RTP? How does it affect online casino games? The Return to Player (RTP) is a percentage of total wagers paid back to players in winnings over time. Remember that as every game outcome is random, the RTP does not guarantee a return to any one player. But rather, it is a statistical return to all players over the long run. So one player can win a jackpot, while another can face a losing streak, while both are playing the same game with the same RTP. But as a rule of thumb, games with higher RTPs pay out more wins to players.

Tying both terms together: the RTP represents the total wagers placed (100%), less the House Edge. So in the case of Pai Gow Poker, game RTP tends to vary between 92.5% and 97.5%. It will depend on many factors such as the game variation, software developer, side bets and more.