The Top Asian Casino Games That All Gamblers Should Play

Dating back centuries, some Asian gambling games are the most played games of chance in the world. Their popularity is not only found in land-based establishments across the globe, but also the best online casino sites as well.

The following is a list of the most popular Asian casino games that gamblers should seriously consider playing. We’ll take a look at each game on this list, how to play them, and where you can find them online.

Popular Asian Casino Games

You might wonder why baccarat is not on our list. While baccarat is predominantly played by Asian gamblers, the game originated in Italy and was popularized in France¹.

Keno

Keno is one of the oldest Asian casino games still active. There are two general variations of keno in casinos: video keno and live keno. Outside of casinos, state lotteries also have versions of keno.

As casinos remove live keno games in favor of using the prime real estate for other games, video keno has become far more common in these establishments. Both variations can be played at online casinos.

The origins of keno are referenced back over 3,000 years ago in China. The Emperor of the Han dynasty, Cheung Leung, is recognized as the inventor. To finance the army and support the dynasty, Leung introduced keno instead of an additional tax².

How To Play Keno:

1. Keno cards are comprised of eight rows of numbers from 1 to 80.

2. Gamblers must select up to ten or 20 numbers, depending on the game rules. Some keno games require a minimum of at least two numbers selected, while other games offer payouts for one number.

3. Numbers are drawn randomly by the computer or a live number caller from a drum.

4. To win at keno, players must match their numbers with the drawn numbers. A jackpot requires a player to pick all the numbers correctly (ten numbers picked and ten numbers matched).

5. Payouts are determined by how many numbers were selected and matched.

Example: Player A selects eight numbers and gets six correct. Player B selects six numbers and gets six correct. The latter will receive a bigger payout because they won 100% of their selections.

6. Also impacting the payout will be how much is wagered. For instance, a $2.00 bet per pick will pay two times more than a $1.00 wager.

According to the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, there is a 1 in 8,911,712 chance of going ten for ten and winning the jackpot. The jackpot pays out $200,000 for a perfect card³.

This popular Asian casino game offers players the opportunity to win big on a small bet. While the odds are long, keno can make a gambler rich on less than a $5.00 bet at the best Keno online casinos.

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Where To Play Keno Online?

Our favorite online casino to play keno at is DuckyLuck. Not only does this casino offer a variety of keno games like regular Keno and Vegas Jackpot Keno, but they also offer incredible bonuses. In fact, DuckyLuck is giving away free spins and matching over 500% of your first time deposit depending on which method of deposit you choose.

With incredible bonuses, and wonderful keno gaming options, DuckyLuck is the perfect choice for all of your keno needs.

Pai Gow Poker

If you do not like the game keno, there are Asian casino table games to consider playing. Online poker sites offer pai gow games with a live dealer or computer-based Random Number Generator game.

Despite its Asian-inspired roots, the first game of pai gow poker was played at the Bell Card Club in California in 1985. Casino owner, Sam Torosian, got the idea after a Filipino poker player told him about a Chinese card game known as puy soy⁴.

In puy soy, players receive 13 cards, which are then split into three poker hands. The three hands go heads up against a banker’s three poker hands. Torosian believed that a simpler and faster game involving fewer cards would catch on⁵, hence the birth of pai gow poker.

How To Play Pai Gow Poker:

1. Each player at the table is dealt seven cards. Players must place their chips in the circle above the “L” on the felt. Most pai gow poker games also offer an optional side bet.

2. The “H” and “L” on the felt of the table are reserved for the high and low hand. Two cards are used for the low hand, and the remaining five cards are for the high hand.

3. The player’s best five-card poker hand is placed on the “H” space. The second-highest two-card poker hand goes above the five cards on the “L” space.

Example 1: Player is dealt an Ace, Ace, 7, 5, 4, 4, 9. The pair of aces should be included with 7, 5, and 9 for the high hand. The pair of 4s is the player’s low hand.

Example 2: Player is dealt Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Joker, 2, 2. The straight constitutes the high hand. The joker can be used to complete a straight.

Example 3: Player is dealt 7, 7, 7, King, King, 2, 5. The five-card hand should include the three-of-a-kind. The two Ks will be used for the low hand.

4. The two hands go head-to-head against the dealer’s hands. For a player to win, both hands must beat the dealer. If only one hand beats the dealer, the game is a push and the player receives a refund for their bet.

5. A royal flush is not the highest hand in pai gow poker. Four aces and a joker supersede a royal flush in this Asian casino card game⁶.

6. Most casinos will charge a 5% commission for each winning hand in pai gow poker.

7. The side bet is not a head-to-head wager against the dealer. Only the player’s seven cards are considered. Payouts for the side bets are on the felt or screen for progressive jackpots.

The standard house edge for pai gow poker is approximately 2.84%⁷. It is not the best table game against the house, but it is far from the worst. For instance, American roulette (two zeroes) has a house edge of 5.26%⁸.

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Where To Play Pai Gow Poker Online?

For those looking to improve their pai gow skills, Bovada is one of the best pai gow online casinos around. The classic pai gow online game at Bovada has sweet looking graphics and smooth gameplay. Additionally, you can practice playing as many hands as you want before playing for real money. Check out Bovada’s bonuses for first time depositors and make this pai gow online experience an incredible one.

Sic Bo

Sic bo (tai sai), which translates to dice pair, is regarded as one of the oldest Asian casino games. While the exact date is unknown, sic bo dates to ancient China thousands of years ago⁹.

If you like the randomness of roulette and craps, then you will like playing sic bo. The dice game is incredibly popular in Macau casinos. It is not nearly as popular in American casinos, with few land-based casinos offering the game.

Sic bo players are better off logging into their online casino of choice and playing a live dealer game. Instead of having to go on a scavenger hunt, it only takes a few minutes to get started with a dealer online.

How To Play Sic Bo:

1. The felt of a sic bo table has similarities to roulette, in that there are several betting options on the outcome of a random event. Rather than a roulette ball spun around a wheel, three dice are “shaken” inside a small plastic cylinder electronically.

2. Every possible outcome of the dice can be bet on in sic bo. Included on the sic bo table is the payout for each bet. This is unlike craps or roulette, where the payouts are not disclosed on the felt.

3. The single-number wager is located at the bottom of the felt. There is an option to bet on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This bet pays even money if your number appears on one die, 2 to 1 for two dice, and 3 to 1 for three dice.

4. Above the single number row on the felt is the two-combination outcome. The two-combination bet is wagering on the exact outcome among the three dice. For a $1.00 winning bet, players will be paid $5.00.

5. The third row on the felt is a bet on the total sum of all three dice. The dice must add up to the corresponding number. For instance, if you bet on 5 and the dice come up 2, 2, 1, you win $31.00 on a $1.00 wager.

6. The top row includes the highest payout in sic bo. The triple bets pay $180.00 on a $1.00 bet. All three numbers must come up on the dice for this bet to be successful.

7. For the simplest wager in sic bo, consider the small and big bets. Like an “over/under” wager, the total sum of the numbers must be 4 to 10 for the small bet, and 11 to 17 for the big bet to win. Any triple is a loss.

As we mentioned, numbers and superstitions are part of Chinese culture¹⁰. It is easy to see why sic bo is a staple of Asian casino table games. Do not expect any Chinese gamblers to bet on the number four, though.

The number four is considered bad luck in Chinese culture because it sounds like the word “death”¹¹. If you don’t believe us, try to find a casino in Las Vegas with a fourth floor on the elevator.

Where To Play Sic Bo Online

Do you like playing roulette or craps, but need a change? Sic bo is the perfect alternative to other random games of chance in the casino. Currently, Sic Bo can be played at top-notch casino sites like Betway,

Asian Casino Slots Games

Do you like playing slot machines and want an Asian flare? There are several slots online and at land-based casinos with a Southeastern Asian theme.

Most of the Asian slot machines come with free bonus rounds to win big on. Additionally, there are Asian slots for any gambling budget online.

There are high-limit slots available, along with penny slots for gamblers that want to bet smaller amounts. Keep in mind there are some penny slots with high max bets.

Ensure that you know how much each bet is before pressing the spin button. The denomination and the number of lines played are important for the bet size on slots.

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Where to Play Asian Slot Games?

One of our favorite Asian slot games to play is Golden Dragon Inferno. It can be played at Wild Casino and it is the perfect blend of slot gaming and Asian aesthetics. This video slot game is made by Betsoft, features 5 reels and 3 rows, has a nice range of minimum to maximum bets allowed, 243 ways to win and an RTP of 96.41%.

Wild Casino has roughly 400 of the best real money slots games available online and plenty of bonuses for first time deposits.

Some of our other favorite Asian slots games are 8 Lucky Charms at Bovada and FaFaFa XL at DuckyLuck casino.

Fan Tan

Fan tan is another ancient Asian casino game that goes back thousands of years. The earliest evidence of fan tan was approximately 2,000 years ago in China.

The game spread to the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century by workers who immigrated to the country¹². However, the game is mostly non-existent in land-based U.S. casinos today.

If you want to play fan tan legally at a land-based casino, a trip to Macau will be required. It doesn’t need to be that difficult logistically, though. Fan tan can be played at many reputable online casinos.

Like sic bo, fan tan is a game that does not involve any underlying strategy or betting system. Winning bets are determined by pure luck and randomization. It is a simple game to learn without much of a learning curve.

How To Play Fan Tan:

1. The fan tan table is comprised of multiple beads on the felt. The croupier will take a cup and collect some of the beads.

2. The croupier will use a rake to separate four beads at a time to the left of the table. This process will be completed until there are 1, 2, 3, or 4 beads remaining in the game.

3. Gamblers bet on how many beads will remain on the table after the process is completed by the croupier. There are multiple different betting options in the game.

4. Along with betting on the exact number of beads remaining, there are odd and even bets, small and big bets, and betting on which number will not come up.

Example 1: Player makes a big bet. There must be 3 or 4 beads left on the table.  

For a small bet, a winning wager requires 1 or 2 beads.

Example 2: Player bets on Ssh 1-4-3. As long as 2 beads do not come up, they win.

Where to Play Fan Tan Online?

Most North American and European gamblers have never played fan tan. However, as it continues to gain popularity, more online casinos are offering the game. One such casino site, that’s well-known for its fan tan action, is PlayAmo. Here, you can spend countless hours playing this ancient Asian casino game from the comforts of your own home.

If you want to try something new, fan tan is highly recommended. All it takes is one or two practice sessions to get accustomed to the betting board and table.