2008 Annual Report Ongoing Strategic Plan

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

2008 Annual Report Ongoing Strategic Plan Planning for success 2008 ANNUAL REPORT ongoing Strategic Plan Adding to our Five Point Strategic Plan that was introduced in fiscal 2007, we emphasized a new objective in fiscal 2008: cost savings. 1) A continuing emphasis on leasing versus selling. 2) Continued development of relevant technology to drive new products across all product lines. 3) An effort to increase the return from existing assets already in the field by upgrading or adding new value elements. 4) A value engineering program to reduce manufacturing costs across all product lines. 5) The monetization of non-core assets and the utilization of the proceeds to reduce debt. Increasing recurruing revenue 6) A cost reduction initiative to reduce expenses throughout the Company without compromising was a primary focus of 2008 the quality of our products or service. INCOME STATEMENTS (in thousands, except per share amounts) Year Ended October 31, 2006 2007 2008 Revenue $ 162,991 $ 178,851 $ 190,006 Income (Loss) from Operations 27,482 * 24,582 (1,059) ** Net Income (Loss) 5,093 * 16,379 (10,803) ** Earnings per Share, Diluted 0.14 * 0.46 (0.27) ** BALANCE SHEETS AND CASH FLOWS (in thousands) 2006 2007 2008 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments $ 8,917 $ 4,392 $ 5,374 Long-term Liabilities, net of Current Portion 158,753 232,698 86,055 Shareholders’ Equity 34,549 87,634 102,858 Cash Provided by Operating Activities 34,021 33,048 44,018 * Fiscal 2006 earnings included a $19,145, or $0.53, one-time write off of Acquired In Process Research and Development costs resulting from our Stargames acquisition on February 1, 2006. ** Fiscal 2008 earnings included a non-cash goodwill impairment writedown of $22,137, or $0.55, as well as a year-over-year increase in weighted average shares outstanding related to our equity offering in July 2008 resulting in an additional 20.3 million shares. Letter to Our Shareholders REVENUE WAS A RECORD $190.0 miLLION, UP 6% YEAR OVER YEAR It is with bittersweet emotion that I write this, my last letter to Shuffle Master Shareholders. About eighteen months ago we announced my plan to retire from the Company and that we had initiated a search for my successor. That search has now reached a successful conclusion and Timothy J. Parrott, a gaming industry veteran who is extremely well suited to lead our Company, will be taking over as CEO on March 15th of this year. Little did I know in 1994, when I first met John Breeding, the founder of Shuffle Master, what an exciting journey this would turn out to be, nor the extent to which I would devote my next fifteen years to the Company. In any case, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your CEO and we can now all look forward to the next phase of this amazing story with Tim Parrott at the helm. Fiscal 2008 was a challenging but generally successful year for Shuffle Master. The Company delivered solid financial results, introduced significant innovations across the breadth of our product portfolio, and executed on initiatives that position us for strong future growth. Despite the challenging economic and competitive environment, the patient pursuit of our focused strategy of delivering cost-saving and value-added products helped us deliver a record-setting year. INCOME STATEMENTS (in thousands, except per share amounts) Year Ended October 31, Thanks to the continued success of our core Utility, Proprietary Table Games and Electronic Table Systems businesses, and strong growth in our Electronic Gaming 2006 2007 2008 Machines segment, revenue jumped to a record $190 million in fiscal 2008, an Revenue $ 162,991 $ 178,851 $ 190,006 increase of 6% compared with the previous fiscal year. Our total royalty, lease and Income (Loss) from Operations 27,482 * 24,582 (1,059) ** service revenue also increased 25% to a record $78.3 million, or 41% of revenue, Net Income (Loss) 5,093 * 16,379 (10,803) ** reflecting our continued emphasis on leasing versus selling. Earnings per Share, Diluted 0.14 * 0.46 (0.27) ** Throughout fiscal 2008 we saw strong adoption of Electronic Table Systems as evidenced by an 18% increase in total seats installed to 7,225, and segment lease BALANCE SHEETS AND CASH FLOWS (in thousands) and service revenue grew 57% to $9.5 million. Shufflers passed the 28,000 worldwide installation mark and recorded more than $73.7 million in revenue. Proprietary Table 2006 2007 2008 Games revenue increased 17% to $38.6 million, 86% of which was royalty, lease and Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments $ 8,917 $ 4,392 $ 5,374 service revenue. Our Electronic Gaming Machines enjoyed solid revenue growth year- Long-term Liabilities, net of Current Portion 158,753 232,698 86,055 over-year, gross margin improvement and a 23% increase in the average sales price. Shareholders’ Equity 34,549 87,634 102,858 Average lease prices increased in every product segment, excluding Electronic Gaming Cash Provided by Operating Activities 34,021 33,048 44,018 Machines, which are generally sold. Our strongest growth was in the North America, where we grew revenue $10 million to $99.8 million, with much of this growth being driven by the acceptance and success of our electronic tables which is an excellent example of our broader strategy of anticipating and capitalizing on new product trends in our industry. Our goal has been and will continue to be identifying future trends faster than our competitors and being the first to deliver relevant products that will play a crucial role in the future of gaming. In keeping with this, during 2008 we added what we believe will be an important new product to our broad portfolio, namely, the highly anticipated i-Table, a groundbreaking new e-table format that combines electronic wagering with live cards on popular games like blackjack and baccarat. We also rolled out the i-Shoe Auto, our next generation card reading shoe, and continued the rollout of the i-Deal shuffler, all of which represent important advances in our gaming technologies. In other business developments, in July 2008 we completed a timely equity offering and debt refinancing which strengthened our balance sheet and significantly reduced our debt obligations. We effectively took this action prior to the deterioration Our e-tables experienced substantial growth of the capital markets and I am proud of our ability to execute when we did. As a and ended 2008 with over 7,200 seats in play result, we ended the year with a strong and flexible financial foundation. Further, we expanded our reach into promising Asian markets outside Macau. As we head into a new fiscal year, we believe that Shuffle Master is ideally positioned to drive strong results in 2009 and beyond. We have excellent momentum and a great pipeline of products and technologies. Even more importantly, we have great people at every level, including strong leaders who have the experience and strategic insight to turn the opportunities that lie ahead of us into even greater success in the future. With the promotions of Executive Vice Presidents David Lopez and Roger Snow, we welcome a new generation of leaders stepping up to lead in areas such as worldwide operations, product development, business strategy and marketing. For more than 15 years, Shuffle Master has enjoyed tremendous success by delivering cutting-edge innovations that have revolutionized the table gaming space. Today, despite the economic climate, we’re in the midst of one of the most exciting periods in our history. Gaming content is shifting to electronic formats at During Fiscal 2008, our shuffler installed an expeditious pace. The convergence of technology with traditional table games base surpassed the 28,000 unit mark is transforming the way we create and deliver gaming experiences. With economic conditions affecting the gaming industry, it makes sense to carefully control costs but it is also imperative to be prepared for growth when the economy improves. As we enter fiscal 2009, we have the resources to weather the current market conditions as we continue to focus on the products and opportunities that will provide for our continued success in the future. We appreciate your continued confidence and support. Mark L. Yoseloff, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer planning FOR future success wiTH A FOCUSED, WELL-DEVELOPED AND EXECUTED STRATEGY 2008 was a challenging year, as gaming operators and suppliers worldwide were significantly impacted by the global economic downturn and financial industry woes. Operators saw their visitor numbers decline, causing them to scale back operations. This directly impacted suppliers who were affected by reduced new product placements and removals. However, with financial uncertainty on the horizon, capital constraints and reducing operating expenses a top priority of many operators, the gaming industry’s need for value-added products that lower operating costs and improve productivity, profitability and security without impacting the player experience is greater than ever, and Shuffle Master is well positioned to meet this need. Our fiscal 2008 financial performance demonstrates not only our ability to execute in a challenging market, but also the resilience of our long term planning, strategy and product mix. It also reflects the importance of global diversification and the benefit of having products that provide our customers with competitive titles, operational savings and productivity, and security-enhancing features in an environment when they need these tools more than ever. As operators strive to ensure that every dollar spent results in a maximum return on investment through improved floor performance and increased revenue, we are confident that our innovative products will continue to justify their cost. In the months ahead while gaming operators and suppliers alike look for ways to streamline their operations to better enable them to weather the current downturn, we renew our commitment to providing relevant, valuable gaming product solutions that will pave the way for even greater success in the future.
Recommended publications
  • Asian Americans and Problem Gambling by Michael Liao, MSW; NICOS Chinese Health Coalition
    Asian Americans and Problem Gambling By Michael Liao, MSW; NICOS Chinese Health Coalition INTRODUCTION ASIAN AMERICANS & GAMBLING Asian Americans are a diverse group. The U.S. Census Types of Gambling defines an Asian person as having origins in countries It was been noted that types of gambling preferred of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian varies among ethnic groups. Even among various subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, Asian American sub‐groups, there may be differences India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine in game preference. For example, several studies Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.1 According to the have noted that casinos games such as black jack, Asian Pacific Islander Health Forum, Asian and Pacific roulette, baccarat, and Pai Gow poker are favored by Islanders originate from over 50 countries and speak some Asian ethnic groups including Vietnamese, over 100 difference languages and major dialects.2 It Chinese, and Koreans.3, 4 Some theorize that this is difficult to pin‐point a universal Asian American preference for casino games may be related to the “culture” amidst a kaleidoscope of diverse experiences long historical practice of using cards and dice for and cultures. However, despite the wealth of diversity, wagers. In today’s society, the significant Asian Asian Americans do share some commonalities – such presence in the glitzy world of poker tournaments, as traditional values of collectivism and the where many of the top players are of Asian descent, is importance of the extended familial networks. More fairly well‐known.5 Other games favored by Asians recently, there has also been increased awareness of include machine games such as slot machines and something that many members of the Asian American video lottery terminals.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Connection
    July 2010 • MOP 30 • ISSN 2070-7681 Electric Dreams Macau’s cap on live table numbers could be a golden opportunity for the electronic variety Marina Bay Sands In Focus: Game Changer The Philippines: All Change? | Mentor the Dragon: Macau Policy | Junket Market View: Tough Love? Top Table: NRT Technology Corp | Fortune’s Wheel Turns for IGT CONTENTS July 2010 Electric Dreams 6 Electric Dreams 12 Game Changer 18 All Change? 20 Tough Love 22 Mentor the Dragon 26 Top Table 28 Winner Takes All 30 Singles Champion 31 The Power of Ten 32 Pinball Wizard 33 Fortune’s Wheel Turns for IGT 35 From VIZION to Reality 36 Player Power 38 Survival Island 42 Loyalty Costs 44 Regional Briefs 46 International Briefs 48 Event Calendar 18 2 3 Editorial Our Friends Electric “We believe that electricity exists, because the electric company keeps sending us bills for it,” said Dave Barry, an American humorist. We also know electronic gaming tables exist, because the equipment manufacturers keep selling them into the market and invoicing the casinos for them. But in the traditionalist table gaming destination of Macau, can electronic tables ever be more than bit part players? The answer is probably ‘yes,’ but not an unqualified ‘yes’. Just as some slot machine games are more popular than others, so some electronic table games are likely to outperform others. The deciding factor may be not how closely the electronic table mimics the play style of the traditional table, but how effective the game is at delighting most of the people most of the time.
    [Show full text]
  • Mike's Cardroom
    Pai Gow Poker with Wrangler Push and Outlaw 9 High or Better Bonus Bet Type of Game The game of Pai Gow Poker with Wrangler Push and Outlaw 9 High or Better Bonus Bet utilizes a player-dealer position and is a California game. The player-dealer shall collect all losing wagers, pay all winning wagrs, and may not win or lose more than the original amount wagered. Once the player-dealer’s wager has been exhausted, the wagers not covered by the player-dealer shall be returned to the respective players. The player-dealer may only ‘bank” the hand (including bonus bets) for two consecutive rounds of play before it is offered in a clockwise fashion around the gaming table. The gambling enterprise does not participate in the actual play of the game and has no interest in the outcome of the play. Object and Summary of the Game This game uses the traditional Pai Gow Poker game and adds two bonus bets, Wrangler Push Bonus Bet and Outlaw 9 High or Better Bonus Bet. The bonus bets have to be placed prior to the hands being played. A player has the option to place a Wrangler Push wager and the wager will win when the player’s hand and the player-dealer’s hand push. This Wrangler Push Bet pays 1:1 except when there is a pair of 3’s or higher, then it will pay 2:1. In addition, a player has the option to place an Outlaw 9 High or Better Bonus Bet wager and the wager will win when the wagered hand of seven cards consists of an Ace high or lower.
    [Show full text]
  • Illinois Gaming Board
    ILLINOIS GAMING BOARD Monthly Riverboat Casino Report December, 2011 Adjusted Gross Tax Allocations (000's) Receipts (AGR) Casino AGR Per AGR Per Adm Tax + Wagering Tax Docksite (000's) Square Feet Admissions Square Foot Admission State Share Local Share Alton $5,575 23,000 71,370 $242 $78 $1,397 $350 East Peoria $9,036 26,116 98,625 $346 $92 $3,134 $550 Rock Island $6,855 42,000 102,742 $163 $67 $1,988 $446 Joliet - Hollywood $10,414 50,000 104,828 $208 $99 $3,594 $626 Metropolis $8,720 30,985 68,838 $281 $127 $2,536 $505 Joliet - Harrah's $18,648 39,000 149,080 $478 $125 $8,690 $1,081 Aurora $12,979 41,384 117,243 $314 $111 $5,426 $766 E St Louis $11,165 40,000 164,034 $279 $68 $3,957 $722 Elgin $18,973 29,850 147,721 $636 $128 $8,833 $1,096 Des Plaines $32,998 43,687 308,767 $755 $107 $13,403 $1,959 Totals $135,364 366,022 1,333,248 $370 $102 $52,957 $8,101 NOTE: - On August 23, 2005 new admission tax rates became effective. - Local Share = $1 of the admission tax plus a portion of the wagering tax equal to 5% of the AGR - State Share = the balance of the admission and wagering taxes. Adjusted Gross Receipts Summary Admissions Summary $35 350 NOTE: M $30 T 300 I H Due to the initiation of dockside gambling on L $25 O 250 L U June 26, 1999, the admissions graph is under $20 200 I S development to provide more accurate graphical 150 O $15 A comparisons to historical data.
    [Show full text]
  • Blackjack of Poker”
    OFTEN CALLED THE “BLACKJACK OF POKER” Fortune Pai Gow Poker® is played with a 53-card deck including a joker. It’s a you-against-the-dealer game where the best possible poker hand wins. Fortune Pai Gow Poker offers an optional bonus wager on a player’s best hand possible using all seven cards, which is the Fortune Bonus. If you or someone you know needs information on how to deal with a gambling problem, visit paysbig.com/responsible or call the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling 24-hour helpline toll-free at 1-800-426-2535. Potawatomi Bingo Casino encourages you to gamble responsibly. MAKE A SURE BET—KNOW YOUR LIMIT. 1721 WEST CANAL STREET • MILWAUKEE, WI 53233 • 1-800-PAYSBIG • PAYSBIG.COM MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE RULES. ©2012 FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY, WISCONSIN OFTEN CALLED THE “BLACKJACK OF POKER” Fortune Pai Gow Poker® is played with a 53-card deck including a joker. It’s a you-against-the-dealer game where the best possible poker hand wins. Fortune Pai Gow Poker offers an optional bonus wager on a player’s best hand possible using all seven cards, which is the Fortune Bonus. If you or someone you know needs information on how to deal with a gambling problem, visit paysbig.com/responsible or call the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling 24-hour helpline toll-free at 1-800-426-2535. Potawatomi Bingo Casino encourages you to gamble responsibly. MAKE A SURE BET—KNOW YOUR LIMIT. 1721 WEST CANAL STREET • MILWAUKEE, WI 53233 • 1-800-PAYSBIG • PAYSBIG.COM MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE RULES.
    [Show full text]
  • So, Have You Been to Poipet?
    So, Have You Been to Poipet? Fri, Apr 25, 2014 The Cambodian city close to greater Bangkok presents a unique opportunity. When examining the major casino markets of Asia, Macau and Singapore most often come to mind. Most gaming executives are familiar with these markets, and their prodigious gaming revenue performance continues to attract the interest of the media and financial analysts. The extraordinary performance of these markets has caused casino developers to look more closely at other regional Asia markets such as South Korea, Vietnam and Japan as they look for that next great opportunity. What are often overlooked are other regional Asian markets that are already established yet are somewhat removed from major Asian cities. These gaming markets generate prodigious amounts of gaming revenue and serve as convenience-based gaming destinations to regional populations. One such market is Poipet, Cambodia, which serves residents living in greater Bangkok, a metropolitan area with over 10 million people. With legal casinos prohibited in Thailand, Poipet is the nearest gaming option for those residents. Poipet sits across from Aranya Prathet, a border town in northeastern Thailand that serves as the primary overland crossing between those two countries. The casino district is comprised of seven properties, ranging in quality from two-and-a-half stars to three-and-a-half stars. Each casino has 65-100 table games, 125-300 slots and 140-550 hotel rooms. Poipet casinos’ location relative to each country’s immigration checkpoints is unique. One leaves Thailand and enters the Poipet casino district without actually going through Cambodian Immigration.
    [Show full text]
  • NE Property Facts Rev 2
    Foxwoods Mohegan Plainridge MGM Encore Hollywood Oxford Twin River Tiverton Resort Sun Resort Park Casino Springfield Boston Casino, Casino & Casino & Casino & Casino Casino & Raceway Resort Harbor Hotel & Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel FW MS PR MGM EBH HB OX TW TIV Location Mashantucket Uncasville, Plainville, Springfield, Everett, Bangor, ME Oxford, ME Lincoln, RI Tiverton, RI CT CT MA MA MA # of Hotels 4 2 None 1 1 1 1 1 1 Hotel 2266 1600 None 236 room, 671 Rooms 148 rms / 4 107 rooms, 136 rooms 84 rooms Rooms Rooms, Rooms & 16 suites & Suites Suites 5 suites, 1 & suites Suites & Suites grand suite Hotel 3 pools, 2 2 pools , 2 None 1 pool, 1 1 pool, 1 Fitness No 1 pool, 1 fitness Amenities Spas, Spas, Spa, Spa, Center Spa, center Fitness Fitness Fitness Fitness Fitness Gambling FW MS PR MGM EBH HB OX TW TIV Legal 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 18 18 Gambling Age Rewards FOXWOODS MOMENTUM - MARQUEE MLIFE - 5 RED CARD MARQUEE OXFORD TWIN RIVER Tiverton Club REWARDS 4 5 Levels. REWARDS Levels. Connected to REWARDS REWARDS - 3 CASINO CASINO Levels - No Affiliated with Four Levels Connected to Wynn Palace Four Levels Tiers. Tier REWARDS 3 REWARDS 3 affiliation to Resorts (AC) & Connected to over 20 MGM Cotai Connected to status Tiers Tiers, other casinos. Mohegan Sun over 20 Penn Properties Wynn Las over 20 Penn reviewed affiliated with / Tier Status is Poconos (PA) / National Properties Vegas National quarterly Twin River biannual Tier Status is Properties Across U.S./ Wynn Properties Casino biannual Across U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Gaming Guide
    GAMING GUIDE GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER. WindCreekBethlehem.com | Follow Us PREMIER GAMING AT WIND CREEK BETHLEHEM Welcome to Wind Creek Bethlehem. This guide is provided to assist you with questions you might have about gaming in our state-of-the-art casino. Here you will find all the information needed to learn such exciting games as Craps, Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, and more. Please read through each section completely to acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations for each game. Once you’ve learned how to play the games you choose to play, it will make for a better gaming experience. Your Wind Creek gaming experience can be even more rewarding if you choose to become a member of Wind Creek Rewards. Wind Creek Rewards card makes you eligible for a variety of benefits including invitations to special events, invitations to casino promotions, food, beverages and more. To receive your complimentary membership, please visit the Rewards Center. We hope you will find this guide informative. However, a guest of Wind Creek Bethlehem should always feel free to ask questions. When you are at Wind Creek Bethlehem and require assistance, please do not hesitate to ask any of our Team Members. PREMIER GAMING AT WIND CREEK BETHLEHEM Welcome to Wind Creek Bethlehem. This guide is provided to assist you with questions you might have about gaming in our state-of-the-art casino. Here you will find all the information needed to learn such exciting games as Craps, Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, and more. Please read through each section completely to acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations for each game.
    [Show full text]
  • Gambling in Maryland and Beyond: What to Know
    Gambling in Maryland and Beyond: What to Know Dr. James Karmel Harford Community College [email protected] November 2013 Macau casinos Indian casinos in California Foxwoods Resort, Connecticut; Pequot-owned Indian casino Maryland Casinos • 1943-1968: legalized slots operated in five southern MD counties • 2007 - Maryland Assembly sets VLT tax is set at 67%, 2nd highest in US • 2008 – MD voters approve five casinos (VLTs only) • 2012 – Maryland Assembly lowers VLT tax for casinos, adds table games at 20% tax • 2012- MD voters approve addition of table games & 6th casino in state • 2013- Maryland Live! (at Arundel Mills Mall) becomes most lucrative casino in mid-Atlantic market (MD, DE, PA, NJ) • 2014-2016: Maryland will reach voter-approved threshold of six casinos around state 2008, 2012: Maryland voters approve six casinos & table games Anne Arundel County Rocky Gap State Park Cecil County Baltimore City Prince George’s County Worcester County (Ocean City area) live chicken tic-tac-toe- Mt. Airy Casino (2009) Game House Edge Roulette 5.3% Craps 1.6% Craps (double-odds) .6% Blackjack (average player) 2% Blackjack (6-deck basic strategy) .5% Baccarat (no tie bets) 1.2% Caribbean Stud 5.2% Let it Ride (optimal strategy) 3.5% Pai Gow Poker (ante/play) 2.5% Robert Hannum, “Casino Mathematics” http://gaming.unlv.edu/casinomath.html, Video Poker .5-3.5% accessed 13 Nov. 2013 Slots 5-10% THEO (Theoretical Loss)= average bet X hours played X decisions per hour X house advantage THEO example for average blackjack player average hours decisions house bet X played X per hour X edge = THEO $20 3 80 .02 $96 Forum Shops, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas Installing security cameras at Maryland Live! Keith Taft & his wearable Blackjack computer from the 1970s online gambling Gambling in Maryland and Beyond: What to Know Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Fortune PAI GOW
    Fortune PAI GOW Fortune Pai Gow Poker combines elements of the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow and the American game of poker. The game is played with a traditional deck of 52 playing cards, plus one joker. The Joker can be used only to complete any straight or any flush or as an ace. Object of the Game Each player at the table is dealt seven cards, which the player arranges to make two hands; a two-card hand and five-card hand. The five-card hand must always rank higher than the two-card hand. To win the wager, the player’s two-card hand must rank higher than the banker’s two-card hand and the player’s five-card hand must rank higher than the banker’s five-card hand. If the player’s hand wins, the player will be paid even money less a 5% commission. The dealer will collect the commission when the winning wager is paid. Should a player’s hand rank exactly the same as the banker’s hand, this is a tie. Ties are also called copy hands and the banker wins all copy hands. If the player wins one hand but loses the other, this is considered a “push” and no money is won or lost. Rules to Remember Once the player has set their high and low hand and placed them face down on the layout, the player may not touch the cards again. Players are not allowed to show or discuss their cards with other players, while setting their hands.
    [Show full text]
  • Face up Pai Gow Poker
    FACE UP PAI GOW POKER Face Up Pai Gow Poker™ features head-to-head play against the dealer and offers two optional side wagers, Fortune BonusSM and Ace-High. As in standard Pai Gow, each player and dealer receive seven-cards, but in Face Up Pai Gow Poker the dealer’s cards are dealt face-up. Face Up Pai Gow Poker is a commission-free game. However, when the dealer plays Ace-High Pai Gow, all Face Up Pai Gow wagers will push. GETTING STARTED To begin each round, make a standard Face Up Pai Gow wager. You may also make your optional Fortune Bonus or Ace-High wagers. FORTUNE BONUS The Fortune Bonus bet wins if your best possible five-card hand is straight or better. If you wager at least $5 on the Fortune Bonus, the dealer will place an “envy” button next to your bet. This qualifies you for an envy bonus payout. See pay table for odds. ENVY BONUS The dealer pays any envy bonuses at the end of the round. If at least one player receives a hand that qualifies with a four-of-a-kind or better, all players with envy buttons win. You can win multiple Envy Bonuses in a round, but you CANNOT win an Envy Bonus for your own hand or the dealer’s hand. ACE HIGH This bet wins if the dealer is forced to play an Ace-High Pai Gow. See layout for odds. FACE UP PAI GOW POKER FORTUNE BONUS: HAND PAY OUT Seven-Card Straight Flush, No Joker 5,000 to 1 Royal Flush Plus Royal Match 1,000 to 1 Seven-Card Straight Flush with Joker 500 to 1 Five Aces 300 to 1 Royal Flush 110 to 1 Straight Flush 45 to 1 Four-of-a-kind 25 to 1 Full House 5 to 1 Flush 4 to 1 Three-of-a-kind
    [Show full text]
  • How to Play Pai Gow
    HOW TO PLAY PAI GOW YOUR GUIDE TO PLAYING CASINO TABLE GAMES PLAYING THE GAME Pai Gow Poker combines elements of the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow and the American game of poker. The game is played with a traditional deck of 52 playing cards, plus one Joker. The Joker can be used only as an Ace, or to complete a Straight, a Flush, a Straight Flush or a Royal Flush. Each player at the table is dealt seven cards, which the Player arranges to make two hands: a two-card hand and five-card hand. Pai Gow Poker is essentially two separate poker hands according to traditional poker rankings. Thus, the highest two-card hand would be two Aces, and the highest five-card hand is five Aces (four Aces and the Joker). The five-card hand must be equal to or higher than the two-card hand. To win, your two-card hand must rank higher than the Dealer’s or your opponent’s two-card hand, and your five-card hand must rank higher than the Dealer’s or your opponent’s five-card hand. If the Player’s hand wins, he will be paid the same amount wagered less a 5% vigorish or commission charge. The Dealer will collect the commission when the winning wager is paid. Should one hand rank exactly the same as your opponent’s hand, this is a tie. Ties are also called copy hands, and the banker wins all copy hands. If you win one hand but lose the other, this is considered a “push.” In “push” hands, no money is won or lost.
    [Show full text]