PAI GOW Maximum Number of Players: 7 Vigorish: 2.5 percent (depending on your skill) A standard deck is used, but it contains 1 Joker that can be used as either an Ace or to complete a Straight or Flush. Some casinos may allow the Joker to be wild. Unlike many other table games, players play against each other: one player plays the banker, and plays against the other players. The house takes 5 percent of winning bets. The Game: Players place their bets. The dealer makes 7 piles of 7 cards. The banker shakes a dice cup, containing 3 dice. The dealer then distributes the stacks based on the number shown on the dice. Players arrange their cards into 2 hands, a high and a low hand. The high hand is made up of 2 cards and must be lower than the low hand, which is made up of the remaining 5 cards. Once arranged, players place their hands in the appropriate positions. The high hand (2 card hand) is placed in the box closer to the center of the table, and the low hand (5 card hand) is placed in the box closer to the player. Once all players are done arranging their hands and have put them down on the table, the dealer reveals the banker's cards. The banker directs the dealer as to how to arrange the cards. The dealer reveals each player's cards, in turn. If both of the player's hands are higher than the banker's hands, then the player wins even money. If the banker's hands are higher than or tie the player's hands, then the banker wins even money. Split hands push. Note, low hands are compared only against low hands and high hands only against high hands. Note, while the winning bets are paid even money, the house takes a 5% commission. Only pairs and high cards count for the high hand (2 card hand). Regular poker hands are used for the low hand (5 cards hand), with the following exception: an A-5 straight is the second highest straight.