Pai Gow, while relatively unknown for a number of years has begun to gain in popularity in U.S. casinos recently. Pai Gow dealers have the responsibility of operating the game in accordance with both house and government rules. This game is somewhat different than other casino games because there are no built-in odds that favor the house. To counter this problem the casino receives a 5% commission from all winnings. Pai Gow dealers randomly mix the tiles on the table before the beginning of each game. This is known as washing the tiles. The tiles are then divided into equal stacks and the dealer rolls three dice to decide which players is given the first stack of tiles. The dealer must also be able to assist the players, particularly if they are unable to read their tiles and need help in arranging their tiles. While dealers can provide some assistance to players in creating the best hands from the tiles they receive the dealer does not indicate to the player how much he or she should bet.

Pai Gow dealers should have excellent people and communication skills as this position requires interacting with the public for long periods of time each shift. They should also thoroughly understand the game and be able to count quickly as well. Pai Gow is generally very fast-paced, so individuals who are energetic tend to be well suited for this position. This type of position does involve tips, usually generous. Those dealers who have been particularly helpful and friendly generally earn higher tips.

Pai Gow is played with 32 tiles that are imprinted with dots. The Pai Gow dealer places the tiles on the table in a random order and then arranges them in stacks of four. The game begins with the dealer rolling three dice to determine which player obtains the first stack. The remainder of the tiles is then given to the other gamers. Each player and dealer is provided with two hands. The goal for the player is to be sure he gets 2 hands that are higher than the bank. Each player also has an opportunity to be the bank. When it is the player's turn to be the bank he must pay the winnings. If he wins; however, he is allowed to keep all the winnings for the round. To win, a hand must have a particular combination of numbers and characters.

While the game tends to be fast paced when people are playing because many casino customers are still unfamiliar with the game, there can be shifts when there is virtually no one playing. These times can be tedious and boring. The good news; however, is that when a player does decide to play he or she will usually remain for a long period of time and frequently provide large tips.