Building on a decade of content creation, Petar has spent over eight years deep in the iGaming world reporting on industry news, regulatory updates, and slot mechanics. His focus lies in helping players through top-tier casino content, with an emphasis on operator reviews and high-impact landing pages.
Pai Gow by Rival — Overview
Not sure how to set your cards in Pai Gow poker? When you play Pai Gow online from Rival, you can opt for the “House Way” option and let the game do it for you.
Begin by clicking your chip denominations to set a bet and then pressing “deal”. To remove those chips, just click the stack on the table.
You’ll be dealt 7 cards and must then make a high 5-card hand and a lower 2-card hand. Clicking “House Way” automatically sets your cards based on the house rules—the same formula used by the dealer to set their cards.
Each hand is compared to the dealer’s two hands for the final showdown.
The game uses large cards and clean, legible buttons for simple, straightforward gameplay on all platforms. It works on most iOS and Android devices, and if you flip to landscape mode, you’ll get a bigger table and a closer view of the action.
Check the game rules to learn how to play Pai Gow poker, or try the Pai Gow demo. It’s a very straightforward game, especially for anyone familiar with poker hand values, but there are some notable differences compared to other poker variants. For example, it uses a 53-card deck. There’s an additional joker that acts as an ace when forming pairs and can also complete straights and flushes. Also, while a Broadway straight (10 to Ace) is the highest straight, Ace to five is the second highest.
RTP and Limits
The Pai Gow game returns even money payouts for both winning hands, but also takes a 5% commission. If you win one hand and lose the other, it’s a push.
It has an RTP of 97.27% (2.73% house edge), with no stated volatility. There’s a betting range that usually swings from €1 to €250, but it’s operator-dependent, so you may see different ranges across online casinos.
Unlike many other popular casino table games, there are no side bets, bonus rounds, or jackpots—it’s a straightforward Pai Gow poker game that ties everything to those initial two hands.
Pros and Cons of Pai Gow by Rival
Pros
- Simple, fast gameplay
- House Way option
- Good RTP
Cons
- No additional bonuses or side bets
- 5% commission on winning bets
Where to Play Pai Gow by Rival Online
Play online for real money at the best Pai Gow sites. Get started with this Rival casinos page, where you’ll find a growing list of casinos that partner with the developer.
