Las Vegas is getting a brand new casino game, thanks to a successful field trial at Harrah’s and approval by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB).
Five-card pai gow poker is a variation on the traditional seven-card version of the game. Angel Espino, the owner of Casino Gaming Development (CGD) who created the game, said it “speeds up and simplifies” pai gow poker, resulting in “more hands per hour” and minimal “dealer and player error.”
You split the two hands and you have to win both hands to win the wager.”
In contrast to traditional pai gow poker, where five cards create the high hand and two the low, Espino’s variation includes three cards for the high hand and two for the low. “The guest plays against the dealer,” he explained. “You split the two hands and you have to win both hands to win the wager.”
The NGCB was a big fan of Espino’s creation. In fact, the regulatory body said it appreciated the innovation behind the idea and looked forward to seeing more games from CGD in the future.
Harrah’s noted some benefits to the game, including the fact that it is simpler for dealers. A lot of players asked questions during the field trial, according to Harrah’s las Vegas Casino Manager Lucas Botsis, but there were no disputes.
Dustin Brown, Vice President of Gaming for Harrah’s owner Caesars Entertainment, said he would like to see a progressive added to the game. “The next step is to get that progressive on there and see if we can get another lift in our hold percentage, drop, and win,” he said. The hold percentage during the trial was 33%.
