Nevada regulatory body endorses five-card pai gow poker for official approval

The Nevada Gaming Commission has given the green light for a new variant of Pai Gow Poker to hit the casino floors of Nevada. The new game, known as 5-Card Pai Gow Poker, is a simplified version of the traditional seven-card game and is expected to bring a fresh twist to the popular card game.

Currently, the 5-Card Pai Gow Poker variant is available but is less common compared to Face Up Pai Gow Poker, which dominates over 90% of Pai Gow games on the Las Vegas Strip. However, the unique nature of the 5-Card Pai Gow game, which does not include a joker and requires players and dealers to set a three-card high hand and a two-card low hand, sets it apart from other Pai Gow types.

While there are no clear plans for Caesars properties to widely adopt 5-Card Pai Gow Poker, the general market in Las Vegas favors Face Up Pai Gow Poker for its faster pace and lower house edge. However, the addition of a progressive jackpot to Pai Gow Poker games, including potentially 5-Card Pai Gow or related variants, is generating significant player interest. A recent payout of $442,269 at South Point casino in Las Vegas is a testament to this engagement.

The new 5-Card Pai Gow poker game is designed to speed up and simplify the traditional game, minimizing dealer and player error. Dealers find the new game simpler compared to the traditional version, and it starts from left to right like poker. Players can see the dealer's cards before their own in the new game, and the objective remains the same: for the player to win both hands against the dealer to win the wager. If one hand is won and the other is lost, it results in a push.

The new game, brought to the market by Casino Gaming Development, a Colorado company owned by crap dealer Angel Espino, is currently available for free play online at the Linq Hotel. Angel Espino, the owner of Casino Gaming Development, is excited about expanding the gaming library to all Caesars properties.

Dustin Brown, a vice president of gaming for Caesars Entertainment, has expressed interest in adding a progressive jackpot to the game. This addition is expected to attract more players to the new 5-Card Pai Gow poker game. Angel Espino hopes that his innovation will lead to more games being approved in the future.

Lucas Botsis, casino manager at Harrah's Las Vegas, oversaw the field trial of the new game and reported that it went well. The new game, being a variant of an established game, helped to pique interest among players. During the trial, the house hold percentage was 33%, which Espino attributes to the newness of the game for players.

In summary, while 5-Card Pai Gow Poker may not be as prevalent as Face Up Pai Gow Poker on the Las Vegas Strip, its unique gameplay and potential addition of a progressive jackpot make it an exciting new addition to the casino scene. For the latest detailed updates on Caesars’ specific deployments of 5-Card Pai Gow Poker and their jackpot plans, direct inquiry with Caesars or a recent detailed casino gaming industry report would be recommended.

In Las Vegas, the gambling scene is enriched with the introduction of 5-Card Pai Gow Poker, a casino game available at the Linq Hotel, offering a simpler and faster variant of the traditional Pai Gow. Moreover, the potential incorporation of a progressive jackpot in this game at Caesars properties could attract more poker enthusiasts to the game.