Table Games Pai Gow Tiles at Bellagio?

Anyone know the typical minimum bet at the Pai Gow tiles table next to the Pai Gow Poker pit? I'm thinking of giving tiles a try this time around.

Last trip at the Pai Gow Poker table, the minimum was $15 when I showed up early in the morning. They later raised it to $25, but I was grandfathered in.

Also, in tiles, is the commission treated the same (IE, is there a commission?)

 

Don't know how commission works as I've never played, but Bellagio's Pai Gow (poker & tiles) are pretty much always $25 unless it's early morning and completely dead in the casino.

 

I'm sure the commission on Tiles is the standard 5% on wins, though they might round off the quarters on a $25 bet and only take $1. I've seen that at Wynn. You can also ask to 'prepay' the commission: put $105 in the circle and they'll pay you $100 when you win. This reduces the edge to 4.86%; usually they'll only let you do this if you bet in multiples of $100.

I wish I could learn how to play the Tile game; it looks pretty cool, and the tactile part of handling the dominoes has got to be nice, (similar pleasure like playing on a nice backgammon set.) Every time I read the rules and explanations of the tiles, I just start shaking my head in bafflement. It's like the guy that invented the drawing rules for Baccarat; I mean who thought this stuff up??

Anyway, I know I can have the dealer set my tiles for me, but it would be nice to know when I had a good hand and why I won. For $25/hand, it's really cheap, no bonus game to suck down your money and it goes really slow. The same goes for Pai Gow Poker, about it being cheap (if you skip the bonus). The game is so slow the amount you put at risk at $10 blackjack is probably the same as playing Pai Gow Poker or Tiles for $25, especially at a full table. And all those pushes make your money go a long way, usually.

I probably just need to print out the cheat sheet, sit down and play and see if it's fun.

I know I've seen it at Wynn and perhaps even at Harrah's; I'm sure I could find it at Aria. Who else do they have the Tiles game?

Oh, and BTW, I'll be in Vegas, baby in 24 HOURS for a 6-day trip! Can't wait! "We're gonna be up five-hundy by midnight!!"

 

I've seen it at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Aria, and Bellagio. I'm sure it's other places too.

I think it'd be interesting to play, but whenever I look at the Wizard of Odds page to try to understand it my head explodes.

 

I did manage to play two sessions of the tiles this at Harrah's on the trip I just returned from. (I promise to do a trip report, soon.) You have to think about it and understand the rankings of the tiles; http://discountgambling.net has a good page on this.

The ranking are semi-logical, but not really! And you have two wild tiles, the 3 and a particular 6 that can each be used as 3 OR 6.

The last piece is that the 12 and 2 tiles (Teen and Day) have a special purpose in that when they pair up with a 9, 8 or 7, they form a Wong, Gong, or High-9 respectively which are just below the pairs and above any of the simple point totals. Also, you do set a low and high hand, but there is not risk of screwing that up and being penalized like in Pai Gow Poker. When she exposes the two pairs, she'll put the low and high where they belong.

When I played I set my tiles myself first and then showed the dealer each time before I put them down. If you have a good dealer that speaks English well and a empty or near-empty table, you'll start 'getting it' and learn the thought processes necessary from the dealer and some of the exceptions to the standard ways you'd think they should be set.

I lost exactly $0 on the two 45 minute sessions. It's pretty fun and even better than Pai Gow Poker (IMO) for making your money last a LONG time. No stupid bonus bets to drag down the bankroll.

And you should TOTALLY tell the dealer and other players that you are new and will need help.

 

I really want to try this game on my next trip. Mostly for the fact that I know my friends on the trip will freak out when they see me go sit at a game that for the last 20 years none of us have even considered attempting to play.

I have been practicing on my iPad and I hope the dealers are patient with a new player.

 

The minimum at Bellagio for tiles is $25. However they are the most unfriendly dealers in town. For tiles may I suggest Mirage or Wynn. Same minimum, MUCH friendlier dealers. You'll need that if you are a beginner.

 

I fully agree with Buttnugget. Dealers at Bellagio do not like to talk and do not like non-asians on the game. Harrah's is a great place for beginners. Usually the lowest limit on the strip ($15) and dealers are very friendly. Mirage is my main place to play. Friendly dealers and welcoming to new comers. Aria deals a good game. Wynn dealer's and pit personnel are awesome but sometimes the minimum on that game is higher.

For commission I do not believe Bellagio uses quarters. They use 50 cent pieces after that.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the tiles dealers attitudes at Bellagio. The Pai Gow poker dealer I had last time was awesome, but the dealer at the empty tiles table looked standoff-ish now that you mention it. We'll see I suppose.

 

Harrah's minimum was down to $10 in the mornings. On the last trip I saw a $25 minimum table at Wynn where they only took $1 commission on a win (4% instead of 5%). I don't know if that's standard or not when the minimum is $25, but it's something to look for.

 

Dave's easy tiles strategy....covers 90% of houseway

follow rules in order
1. If you have a pair...play it
2. Play teen (12) or day (2) with any 7, 8, or 9
3. Play 2 small tiles to make 8 or 9
4. if none of above rules apply... average hands to make even hands...do this by putting tiles in order from lowest to highest and putting the two outside together.

 

While that is the house way, the house is trying to win against many. You are just trying to win against the house (unless you are banking of course).

There are other strategies that have a slightly better percentage against the house mainly due to how you do number 4.

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MGM has some fairly patient dealers for those that are just learning. When the table is empty they'd rather be teaching you how to play than just stand there. I've never had a problem with the dealers at Aria. Although every dealer seems surprised when they see this pasty white caucasian coming up to the table. I usually get the 'this is tiles' line, but they have no problem with me playing. I think they enjoy the fact that I don't smoke.

 

Tiles are my game of choice, like most have said you can play a long time on smaller bets than other games. I agree withn what was said about the dealers at Bellagio and really liked the dealers at the Wynn better. I just got back from Aria and didnt like the dealers on the first day but loved them the second also had a great pit boss the second day. I tried Aria because the best offer from the Wynn was BOGO and i didnt play enough at Bellagio to even get an offer so hoping Aria is better. It is a great game once you learn it and you can learn the basics fairly easy and the dealers will help with any of the harder decisions. just sit down and have fun

 

Are there any apps you can download to practice this game?

 

While I know there are many exceptions...which I know and use and will play aggressively against the house.... I find it helpful to be able to provide new players with a simple easy to learn basic strategy. Crawl..walk...run

 

Wholeheartedly agree.