S.D. Admin. R. 20:18:16:15.16

Current through Register Vol. 51, page 67, December 16, 2024

Section 20:18:16:15.16 - The play - Pai Gow poker

Pai Gow poker must be played according to the following rules:

(1) Pai Gow poker may be played only on tables designated by the licensee for the play of Pai Gow poker. A single deck of 52 cards and one joker must be used. The joker may be used as a wild card to complete a straight, any flush, or as an ace. The rank of hands in Pai Gow poker, from highest to lowest is five aces (four aces and the Joker), royal flush, ace to five straight flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight (ace to ten), straight (ace to five), straight without an ace, three of a kind, two pair, pair, and high card;

(2) Before each hand, the dealer deck must shuffle the deck of cards. The dealer shall distribute the cards into seven stacks, each containing seven cards. The four unused cards are placed into the discard rack;

(3) Player banking is not permitted for this game. Before the first card is dealt for a round of play, a player may make a wager of not more than the posted table limit against the dealer. All wagers must be made by placing gaming chips or tokens on the appropriate areas of the Pai Gow poker table;

(4) The dealer distributes the seven stacks of cards to each position at the table pursuant to the outcome from a roll of two dice. The position to the far left of the dealer must be position one and counted clockwise around the table with the dealer being position seven. The first position after counting past the dealer will be position eight and so on to position 12. The stacks of cards ( a "hand") are then distributed to the players beginning with the position at the table that corresponds with the dice roll. The cards shall be distributed in a clockwise direction. The cards shall be distributed into seven stacks regardless of the number of players present at the Pai Gow poker table. After all seven positions have been dealt a hand, any cards placed at positions without a player are removed from the table and placed by the dealer into the discard rack;

(5) After the cards are dealt by the dealer, the player shall set the player's own hand, without the assistance of the dealer, by arranging the seven cards into two hands: a high hand containing five cards and a second highest hand containing two cards. Each player at the table is responsible for setting the player's own hands. Each player shall keep the seven cards in full view of the dealer at all times. Once the player has set the player's own hands, the high and low hand shall be placed face down in the appropriate area of the table. Once a player places the cards in these areas, the player may not touch the cards again. If a player fails to set the player's hand with the highest ranking hand in the five card hand, it is considered a foul hand and must be reset by the dealer according to the house rules;

(6) After all players have set the players' hands and placed the hands on the table, the dealer shall turn over the seven cards dealt to the dealer's position, setting the dealer's hands, and arrange the cards into two hands, a high hand and a low hand according to the house rules. The dealer shall then place the dealer's hands on the appropriate area of the table. The dealer shall expose both hands of each player, starting from the far right and proceeding counterclockwise around the table. The dealer shall compare the high hand and low hand of each player to the high hand and low hand of the dealer and then announce if a player's wager wins or loses. The dealer shall immediately collect all losing wagers along with the cards of that player. The dealer shall also indicate which wagers are tie or push wagers and collect the cards;

(7) For a player to win, both of a player's hands must be superior to both of the dealer's hands. If either of the dealer's hand results in a tie or loss to a player, the player receives a push. If both of the dealer's hands are superior to both of the player's hands, the player loses the original wager;

(8) All cards collected by the dealer when completing the round of play shall immediately be placed in the discard rack in the manner collected to allow reconstruction of the hand if a dispute or question arises;

(9) A player may surrender the player's wager, whereby half of the original bet is placed into the rack, the other half returned to the player. To effectuate surrender, a player shall fold by placing the seven cards face down in front of the player's wager. The dealer shall make change for the player and spread the cards, counting to make sure all seven cards are returned. If all seven cards are present, the dealer shall place the cards into the discard rack. Surrender must be completed prior to the reveal of the dealer's hand;

(10) If a player would like assistance, the player must ask for a house rules button. The player shall lay all seven cards face down. The dealer shall set the player's hand according to the house rules when the hand is revealed;

(11) The licensee shall prescribe house rules consistent with the rules for Pai Gow poker;

(12) Winning wagers must be paid at odds of one to one except that a commission of not more than ten percent may be taken from the amount won. The commission shall be collected at the time that the winning wager is paid; and

(13) The provisions of §§ 20:18:16:21 and 20:18:16:31.01 do not apply to Pai Gow poker.

S.D. Admin. R. 20:18:16:15.16

38 SDR 116, effective 1/10/2012; 40 SDR 101, effective 12/2/2013.

General Authority: SDCL 42-7B-4(18), 42-7B-7, 42-7B-11(13).

Law Implemented: SDCL 42-7B-4(18), 42-7B-7, 42-7B-11(13), 42-7B-14, 42-7B-15.