N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69F-11.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 13:69F-11.3 - Pai gow poker rankings; cards; poker hands

(a) The rank of the cards used in pai gow poker, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, and two. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an ace may be used to complete a "straight flush" or a "straight" formed with a two, three, four, and five. Except as otherwise provided in (c) below, the joker shall be used and ranked as an ace.

(b) The permissible poker hands at the game of pai gow poker, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be:

1. "Five aces" is a high hand consisting of four aces and a joker;

2. "Royal flush" is a high hand consisting of an ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 of the same suit; however, for purposes of the progressive payout wager, a "natural royal flush" is a royal flush which does not use a joker;

3. "Straight flush" is a high hand consisting of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking, with ace, two, three, four, and five being the highest ranking straight flush; king, queen, jack, 10, and nine being the second highest ranking straight flush, and six, five, four, three, and two being the lowest ranking straight flush;

4. "Four-of-a-kind" is a high hand consisting of four cards of the same rank regardless of suit, with four aces being the highest ranking four-of-a-kind and four twos being the lowest ranking four-of-a-kind;

5. "Full house" is a high hand consisting of a "three-of-a-kind" and a "pair," with three aces and two kings being the highest ranking full house and three twos and two threes being the lowest ranking full house;

6. "Flush" is a high hand consisting of five cards of the same suit. When comparing two flushes, the provisions of (e) below shall be applied;

7. "Straight" is a high hand consisting of five cards of consecutive rank, regardless of suit, with an ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 being the highest ranking straight; an ace, two, three, four, and five being the second highest ranking straight; and a six, five, four, three, and two being the lowest ranking straight;

8. "Three-of-a-kind" is a high hand containing three cards of the same rank regardless of suit, with three aces being the highest ranking three-of-a-kind and three twos being the lowest ranking three-of-a-kind;

9. "Two pairs" is a high hand containing two "pairs," with two aces and two kings being the highest ranking two pair hand and two threes and two twos being the lowest ranking two pair hand; and

10. "Pair" is either a high hand or a low hand consisting of two cards of the same rank, regardless of suit, with two aces being the highest ranking pair and two twos being the lowest ranking pair.

(c) For purposes of setting the hands, a joker may be used as any card to complete a "straight," a "flush," a "straight flush," or a "royal flush."

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of (b) above, a casino licensee may, in its discretion, determine that a straight flush formed with an ace, two, three, four, and five of the same suit shall be the lowest ranking straight flush and that a straight formed with an ace, two, three, four, and five, regardless of suit, shall be the lowest ranking straight. If a casino licensee chooses to exercise this option, it shall so indicate in its Rules of the Games Submission.

(e) When comparing two high hands or two low hands which are of identical poker hand rank pursuant to the provisions of this section, or which contain none of the poker hands authorized herein, the hand which contains the highest ranking card as provided in (a) above which is not contained in the other hand shall be considered the higher ranking hand. If the two hands are of identical rank after the application of this subsection, the hands shall be considered a copy hand.

(f) If a casino licensee offers the optional bonus wager authorized by N.J.A.C. 13:69F-11.15, the following seven-card hands, each of which shall have a rank higher than a five-card poker hand of five aces, shall be used to determine the amount of the bonus wager payout or envy bonus payment to which a winning patron is entitled pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:69F-11.16:

1. "Seven-card straight flush with no joker" is a seven-card hand consisting of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking, with no joker being used to complete the straight flush;

2. "Royal flush plus royal match" is a seven-card hand consisting of an ace, a king, a queen, a jack, and a 10 of the same suit, with or without a joker, with one of the following pre-selected by the casino licensee:

i. An additional king and queen of a same suit; or

ii. An additional ace and king of the same suit, without a joker (natural); and

3. "Seven-card straight flush with joker" is a seven-card hand consisting of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking with a joker being used to complete the straight flush.

(g) For purposes of pay table "B" for the seven-card bonus wager at N.J.A.C. 13:69F-11.18(c), a "straight flush with joker" is a hand consisting of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking, one of which is the joker, and a "straight flush without joker" is a hand consisting of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking, none of which is the joker.

(h) If a casino licensee offers the insurance wager authorized by N.J.A.C. 13:69F-11.15, a joker is ranked as an ace for purposes of determining this wager.

(i) If a casino licensee offers the EZ pai gow variation authorized by N.J.A.C. 13:69F-11.20, the following seven-card hands, each of which has a rank higher than a five-card poker hand of five aces, shall be used to determine the amount of the dynasty bonus wager and envy bonus payouts pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:69F-11.21:

1. "Ace to 5 natural straight flush with suited ace and queen" is a seven card hand formed with an ace, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the same suit (none of which is the joker) with an additional ace and queen of the same suit (neither of which is the joker);

2. "Seven-card natural straight flush" is a seven card hand consisting of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking, with no joker being used to complete the hand;

3. "Royal flush with suited ace and queen" is a seven card hand consisting of an ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 of the same suit (with or without a joker), with an additional ace and queen of the same suit (neither of which is the joker); and

4. "Seven-card wild straight flush" is a seven card hand consisting of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking with a joker being used to complete the hand.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69F-11.3

Amended by R.2014 d.009, effective 1/6/2014.
See: 45 N.J.R. 1225(a), 46 N.J.R. 97(a).
Added (i).