The Best Chinese Gambling Games

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The Best Chinese Gambling Games

Chinese gambling games are some of the oldest forms of gambling in history. There are ancient Chinese gambling games that date back centuries to the imperial Chinese period. Gambling in China was first recorded over 4,000 years ago.

The wildest fact regarding some of these Chinese gambling games is that they are still popular today. Not only are the best Chinese gambling games still played today, but the rules remain largely intact after all of these years.

There are casino games that have seen their format and rules altered since their inception. For instance, the earliest roulette table in the 18th century looks much different than it does now. The rules have gone through many changes since then, as well.

When it comes to Chinese gambling games, there is still a lot of history preserved in these games. While there is a lot of history of gambling in China, it is not currently legal in Mainland China.

via@retailnewsasia

Gambling was made illegal in China in 1949. However, gamblers in Mainland China can take a short trip to Macau. Macau is regarded as the gambling capital of the world, even surpassing Las Vegas and Monaco.

High roller action in Macau is the norm, with whales throwing thousands around like they are play chips. Macau is a small island just off the coast of Hong Kong. Some of the ancient Chinese casino games are the most popular table games on the gaming floors in Macau.

Also note that there are Chinese online gambling games conveniently available for everyone to play. Check out our gambling online page for the best online casinos to play Chinese gambling games and more.

Best Chinese Gambling Games

Money does not have to be involved when playing Chinese gambling games. If you want to play for fun, there are options online and with your friends. Practicing for free before getting into real money games is what we recommend doing.

Unfamiliar gambling games should be approached with a bit of caution at first. Learning how to play the game first, and then practicing what you learned is the best method for success. Let’s get started with our list of the best Chinese gambling games.

Mahjong

When I think of Chinese gambling games, the first game that comes to mind is Mahjong. This was my first introduction to Chinese gambling games back many years ago. It was also my first introduction to briefcases packed with stacks of cash.

I was an innocent bystander in a friend’s family restaurant as a 13-year-old just after closing time. Curiosity got the best of me, and I had to question what this game was and what the deal was with briefcases of money.

via@dzennon

While I did not stick around to watch the game, or had any clue what Mahjong was, the name stuck with me through the years. When I was old enough, the older Asian men carrying stacks of cash around to play a board game made plenty of sense.

Mahjong is a tile-based game that was popularized in the 19th century. It can be played for cash — oftentimes by whales in underground games — or for fun with friends and family. The Mahjong table typically has four players.

How To Play Mahjong

It is a tile-matching game played with a total of 144 tiles. Each player at the table most commonly begins with 13 tiles. The tiles include Chinese symbols and characters.

Players use the extra tiles in the middle of the table to discard and draw new tiles. Keep in mind that tiles you discard can be used by the other players. Once they are discarded, other players are free to pick them up.

Three Suits of Tiles:

The three suits of tiles are known as Bamboo, Dots, and Characters. Each of these suits has four sets of tiled numbered from 1 to 9. As well as these tiles, there are 12 Dragon tiles, 16 Wind tiles, and eight bonus tiles (four seasons and four flowers).

Players will continue to draw and discard tiles through the game in an attempt to match for Chi, Pong, and Gong.

  • Chi – Sequence of three tiles of the same suit
  • Pong – Set of three identical tiles
  • Gong – Set of four identical tiles

Players must declare to the rest of the table that they’ve completed the sequence or set. The winning player at the end of the game must have four sets of three tiles, including a pair of identical tiles.

Mahjong has many variations and different rules. We could go on for hours discussing the different rules, combinations, and bonus points. The game is fast-paced and can get competitive, especially with money up for grabs.

TheSportsGeek advises playing a free-to-play game to get started if you want to learn to play Mahjong. It might take a few play-throughs to get the hang of this gambling game.

Sic Bo

Mahjong is not a Chinese gambling game found in casinos. However, Sic Bo can be found in casinos, notably in Macau. This is one of the most popular table games in Macau, though is rare in Las Vegas.

The Venetian is one of the only Las Vegas casinos to offer Sic Bo. Are you not interested in having to travel to Macau or Las Vegas? Fortunately, Sic Bo can be found in online casinos.

Sic Bo is an ancient Chinese dice game, but was only popularized in casinos in the 1960s. The game did not gain interest in the United States until the late 1990s. It shares similarities to craps, but players do not roll the dice.

How To Play Sic Bo

Three dice are usually rolled in a small plastic or glass dome with the push of a button by the dealer. Like in craps, gamblers are betting on the result of the roll. Sic Bo is even easier in this sense because there is no Pass Line or Don’t Pass bets to learn.

The number on the dice is the only thing that matters for Sic Bo gamblers. There is the option to bet on the number from all three dice, two dice, or one dice.

There are a variety of different combinations that Sic Bo players are able to wager on. The double and triple wagers are the most lucrative in Sic Bo.

The each triple bet — 1, 2, or 3 appearing on all three dice — wins 180 on a 1-dollar bet. There is also the option to bet on 4, 5, or 6 appearing on all three dice for a 180-dollar win. The each double bet is similar, but gamblers only need two dice to hit for a 10 to 1 payout.

A quick look at the felt on a Sic Bo table will tell you everything that you need to know. It is well laid out and explains everything pretty well, including the payout for each type of bet. The 1:1 bet on a 1 or 2 appearing on any three of the dice is the most simple wager.

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is another Chinese gambling game that can be found on the casino floor and in online casinos. It is more popular in Las Vegas casinos than Sic Bo. Pai Gow Poker is a variation of Pai Gow.

Traditional Pai Gow — also known as Pai Gow Tiles is played with domino-like pieces regarded as tiles. The game functions in a similar way against the dealer. However, Pai Gow Poker is played with playing cards instead of tiles.

Pai Gow Poker is the more popular game, so for the purposes of this analysis, we are looking at this variation of Pai Gow. It can be found at many Las Vegas casinos and any reputable online casino.

How To Play Pai Gow Poker

A Pai Gow Poker table typically accommodates up to six players. Each player at the table is dealt seven cards. There is an L and H spot located on the felt in front of each player at the table.

The second-highest two-card combination will be placed on the L. The highest-two card combination will be included on the H with the other three cards.

For instance, let’s look at this hand: K, K, J, 9, 5, 3, 2. The pair of Kings will go on the H spot along with 5, 3, 2. The Jack and 9 is your second-highest two-card hand, so this is placed on the L.

via@CaesarsRewards

Both the low and high-hand must beat the dealer to win the game. If only one hand beats the dealer, then the game is declared a push and the player receives a refund.

Side bets are available to bet, but not required. A bonus payout is paid for a straight (2 to 1), three-of-a-kind (3 to 1), flush (4 to 1), full house (5 to 1), four-of-a-kind (25 to 1), and so on. There are some casinos that offer a progressive jackpot, as well.

Fan Tan

Fan Tan is another Chinese gambling game that is popular in Macau, but has not caught on at US casinos. If you want to get your Fan Tan fix, it can be done at an online casino, though. North American and European gamblers can play Fan Tax with a live dealer online.

This is a game of chance with no strategy involved. Like Sic Bo, Fan Tan all comes down to luck. There are no cards or dice involved, just a group of beads on the table. It almost looks more like a pharmacist counting pills instead of a dealer separating beads for gambling.

How To Play Fan Tan

The dealer will use a cup to scoop out beads from a big pile on the table. They will then use a dealer stick to separate the beads into lines of four beads. This process will be repeated until there are 1 to 4 beads remaining in the game.

The number of beads that are last in line represents the winning number. Let’s assume there are six beads left during the separation process, the dealer will separate four beads, leaving two on the table. Two represents the winning bet.

via@Evo_global

Basic bets on Fan Tan are 1, 2, 3, 4, odd, even, big, or small number. A small bet is on 1 or 2 beads, while a big bet is on 3 or 4 beads. There are also outside bets on two or three outcomes, which come with worse odds.

There is a commission on Fan Tam — similar to the Banker baccarat bet — the commission is 5% on each winning wager. The number of beads left on the table after being separated is completely random.

Chinese Poker

In one of the least popular forms of poker against other players, Chinese Poker was played at the World Series of Poker in 1995 and 1996. The game is typically played between two to four players at a table.

via@CrackAAces

There is more luck involved than in popular poker games like Texas Hold’em and PLO. It is a good game for beginners that are not well-versed in complicated poker strategies and techniques. However, if a player does not understand the best poker hands, it can be tough to win.

How To Play Chinese Poker

Each player at the table will receive 13 cards. There are no community cards involved in the game. So, there is not a flop, turn, and river like most players are accustomed to in Texas Hold’em.

The player must arrange their 13 cards into three rows. Five cards on the bottom, five cards in the middle, and then three cards on the top. The best five-card poker hand is on the bottom, followed by the second-best hand in the middle, and then the worst three cards on the top.

For example, if your 13 cards includes a flush and a straight, the five cards that complete the flush will be on the bottom. A straight does not beat a flush, so these five cards will go in the middle. The three remaining cards will be on top.

Each winning hand is worth 1 point, or 1 unit. Winning all three hands typically comes with a bonus of 3 points for a total of 6 points. Note that the hands must be compared against every player at the table.

For an easy way to keep track if you are Player 1, write down Player 2, Player, 3, Player 4 on a piece of paper. Compare your top, middle, and bottom hands with Player 2, and then 3 and 4. For every hand won, a point is recorded.

Everyone in the game can decide on a dollar amount to be exchanged for each unit won. If your playing amongst friends you can have a buy-in, and the player with the most points at the end of your session can collect the pool.

Chinese Online Gambling Games

Four out of the five Chinese gambling games mentioned can be played at online casinos. Mahjong tournaments can be found if you do some digging or ask around.

Just do not expect to find Mahjong games for real money easily online. You might have to know the right people. In any event, there are free Mahjong apps to practice and master the game online.

Sic Bo, Pai Gow Poker, Fan Tan, and Chinese Poker can all be found on our best gambling online page. These are fun and exciting games for everyone to play regardless if you are Chinese or not. Browse through our most recommended online casinos to find the online casino that is best for you.

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Kyle Eve
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Kyle Eve is Editor-in-Chief of The Sports Geek. Since joining the team in 2012, Kyle, has covered some of the biggest sporting events in the world. From the Super Bowl and World Series to March Madness, the NBA Finals, Kentucky Derby, and many more, Kyle has provided reliable analysis for millions of readers. After dedicating himself to hockey and football in high school, Kyle placed his first sports bet on his 18th birthday. Since then, he has spent his entire adult life devoting himself to becoming the best sports bettor and casino gambler possible. Kyle is from Windsor, ON, Canada
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