Pai Gow Poker banking: playing the house side
In Pai Gow Poker, a player can sometimes act as banker. The banker plays against every other hand at the table and wins ties, called copies. You must cover all bets, and the casino still takes its commission.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01The banker wins copies, which is a real edge.
- 02You must be able to cover every bet at the table.
- 03The casino usually charges 5% on net winnings.
Key numbers
Banking by the numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- Copies go to the banker.
- Your risk grows with the bets at the table.
- Most casinos rotate the bank or limit how often you take it.
- Set your hand the same careful way as usual.
On the felt
A copy goes to the banker
Banker high hand
Pair of kings
Player high hand
Same pair, same kickers
Low hands
If banker wins the other hand, banker wins
Player vs banker
| Point | Normal player | Player banker |
|---|---|---|
| Plays against | The dealer | Dealer and every player |
| Ties (copies) | Lose | Win |
| Commission | 5% on wins | 5% on net wins |
| Money at risk | Your bet | All bets you cover |
| Hand setting | Your choice | Your choice |
Rules vary by casino; read the placard.
How the bank works
As banker, you play the dealer’s usual role. Every other player now plays against your hand. If a player beats both of your hands, you pay them. If you beat both of theirs, you win their bet. If each side wins one hand, it is a push. Ties on a hand count as wins for you.
The dealer still deals and usually plays a hand too. Many casinos let the dealer play against you as a normal player, or they cover any bets you cannot. Some ask you to cover the dealer’s bet, called co-banking, while others split the bank with the house. Read the placard or ask the floor before you agree.
Most casinos offer the bank in turn around the table, and many allow it only every other hand, when you also bet as a player against the dealer. You can always decline it. Many players do, especially at tables with large bets from others.
Example payouts when you bank ($25 table)
| Result against each player | Count | Your net |
|---|---|---|
| Win both hands | 2 players at $25 | +$50 |
| Lose both hands | 1 player at $50 | −$50 |
| Push | 3 players | $0 |
| Net before commission | 6 players | $0 |
| Commission due | 5% of net win | $0 |
Commission is figured on your net result, not each hand.
Why banking can help
The edge in Pai Gow Poker comes from two things: the copies and the commission. As a normal player, you lose copies and pay 5% on wins, which gives the house an edge of under 3%. As banker, copies go to you instead, which turns a small part of that edge in your favor before commission.
The value is real but modest. It is larger when the other players set their hands poorly, since you play against them too. It also depends on whether the casino takes a fee to bank, and on how many players and how much money are on the table at that moment.
Because about 4 hands in 10 push, your results swing less than in most table games. Even so, as banker you face many bets at once, so a single bad hand can cost several times your normal bet. Size the bank to an amount you can lose comfortably.
Sequence
Taking the bank
Step 01
Check the rules
How often and what you must cover.
Step 02
Count the bets
Make sure you can cover them all.
Step 03
Agree to bank
Tell the dealer before cards go out.
Step 04
Set your hand
Follow the house way or your own plan.
Step 05
Settle commission
5% on your net win.
Setting hands as banker
You set your seven cards into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand, just as you would as a player. The high hand must beat or equal the low hand. Many players simply follow the house way, which the dealer will show you on request, because it is close to the best strategy.
Setting carefully matters more as banker, since your hand faces every player. Splitting two pair, for example, is often right with a strong low pair and high card. A mis-set hand, where the low hand beats the high one, is a foul and loses, which can be very costly when you cover several bets.
Floor rules
Banking terms
Know before you sit
- Banker
- The player or dealer whose hand faces all others.
- Copy
- An exact tie on a hand, won by the banker.
- Co-banking
- Splitting the bank with the house.
- House way
- The casino’s fixed way of setting hands.
Common mistakes
- Banking with too little money
- You must cover every bet.
- Forgetting the commission
- 5% is due on net wins.
- Fouling a hand
- High hand must beat low hand.
- Banking every turn by habit
- Decline when the table is too big.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What does banking mean in Pai Gow Poker?
You take the role of the banker, so every other player plays against your hand and you win any copies.
Do I have to bank?
No. Banking is optional. You can decline it each time it is offered and keep playing as a normal player.
How often can I bank?
It depends on the casino. Many offer it in turn, and some only every other hand, alternating with the dealer.
02Money
Do I still pay commission as banker?
Usually yes. Most casinos charge 5% on your net winnings as banker, figured after all bets are settled.
What if I cannot cover all bets?
The casino may cover the rest, or you may not be allowed to bank. Ask the dealer before agreeing.
Is banking a winning strategy?
It can cut the house edge and sometimes flip it slightly, but results swing and the casino still collects commission.
03Play
How should I set my hand as banker?
The same way as a player. Following the house way is a simple and solid choice for most hands.
Who wins a copy?
The banker wins an exact tie on a hand, whether the banker is the dealer or a player.
What happens if I foul my hand?
A fouled hand, where the low hand beats the high hand, usually loses to everyone, which is costly when banking.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Pai Gow Poker Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Rules, banking and strategy
- Wikipedia — Pai gow poker Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Rules and history
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 15, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER