The Most Popular Casino Games in Asia

For many years, Asia has been a leader in the gambling industry and this country is home to millions who love to gamble. The Asian gambling market has thrived and with the offering of land-based and online casinos, there are many options for those that like to engage in popular Asian table games. Gamblers from this area engage in all types of activities from standard casino table games to exciting sports betting. With the ability to gamble online, players have a great way to access their favorite titles and have super chances at winning payouts.

While popular games in other countries like the US and the UK include traditional options like slots and blackjack, Asian players have different preferences. Since many players do travel around the world to visit leading casinos, you will find popular Asian card game titles being offered at land casinos and they have also become quite popular on online websites. 

Here, we take a look at the popular games that are enjoyed by these players and provide some details about these games. You will find that online casinos offer many variations of the same game, providing gamblers with more ways to enjoy their favorite titles!

Baccarat

Looking for some great action at a Chinese card game casino? Be sure to head to the Baccarat tables. This card game is one of the most popular gambling games in Asia and it is also featured at leading online casinos where you can enjoy a standard version or play with live dealers. While this card selection often attracts high rollers, it can also be enjoyed by those with a smaller budget, especially when playing online.

When you engage in Baccarat play, you will have to rely on luck as there are no strategies that will help you win or improve odds. It is one of the easiest table games to learn and is a top choice for those that want a fast-paced and simple game. When betting, there are just three options. You can place your wagers on the Banker, Player, or Tie. These options reflect the hand that has the closest value to 9. The key to winning is to predict which hand will have the highest card value.

When determining the total hand count, tens and face cards are valued at zero and 2-9 are worth face value. An Ace will count for 1. When cards are dealt, they will be added and then 10 is subtracted to reveal the actual hand total. For example, a hand with 4 and 8 will equal 12, so the true value of this hand is just 2. 

Sic Bo

Sic Bo is among the most known Asia casino games played today and while it appears complicated, it is an easy game to learn. This is a game of chance that is played using three dice and the goal is to predict the outcome of a roll. To begin, players will select a bet amount and place chips on areas of a table based on what outcome they predict. The dealer will shake three dice and will perform the roll. For each correct prediction, you will win.

There are many bets when playing Sic Bo in a land casino or online. Small and Big bets are bets for beginners. These are basic wagers where you will bet on the sum of the dice. Small bets are for totals between 4 and 0 and Big Bets cover totals between 1 and 17. These wagers offer a 1:1 payout.

Sic Bo also offers single, double, and triple bets, where you can predict what number each die will be when it is rolled. The highest paying bet in this game is the Specific Triple Bet, where you will predict the outcome of all three dice and will earn a huge payout of 180:1! With as many as 50 different ways to bet, this ancient Chinese gambling game can yield some impressive returns.

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is a game that has become quite popular with Asian gamblers. It is an American version of Pai Gow and is played with cards and is a bit simpler to learn. With this poker variation, a deck of 52 cards is used and there is an extra card in use. This is an Ace that can be used as a wild to take the place of other cards. 

When playing Pai Gow Poker in a casino setting, there can be as many as 7 players at the tables. The game starts by placing a bet and players are dealt 7 cards. With these, you have to make two hands consisting of 5 cards and 2 cards. One will be a high ranking hand, and one is a low ranking hand. The hand rankings are the same as with all poker games and players will win if their high hand and low hand both beat the dealer. If only one wins, it will be a push.

The concept of his poker title is very similar to Chinese dominoes, which is why it has become a popular table game among Asian players. With some great payouts possible, Pai Gow is a featured poker game at online casinos and you can even enjoy tournament action for a chance to win massive payouts from a prize pool!

Keno

Keno is known to be one of the ancient Chinese gambling options that dates back to the Han Dynasty. The game is over 2000 years old and is still one of the top-played titles at land casinos and online gambling sites. This game is very simple to play and is a lottery-style title that can offer some great payouts, including jackpot rewards. You will have a card where you will see numbers between 1 and 80. Players will select numbers on a card and choose a bet amount. 20 numbers will then be drawn and the goal is to match as many as possible to those that have been marked on your card.

Many players do not realize that Keno has deep roots in Asian culture. The name of the game came from the ancient Chinese version called white pigeon ticket. Back in those times, the results of Keno games were sent to various Asian villages using pigeons. 

During wartime, the game of Keno remained a top choice for players as a way to be distracted from the turmoil going on. The government then used the money earned from regulated Keno titles to construct the Great Wall of China and to finance various war affairs. Keno was later introduced in the US by Chinese immigrants and today, this game is featured at all operating casinos and online sites. 

Pachinko

Those who want a unique Chinese gambling experience may want to check out Pachinko. With this, you will be playing a unique selection that is a mix of an arcade selection and a slot machine. It has become very popular and is now featured in casinos in digital form. Widely available in Asian casinos, the game is not often found in venues in other countries. Based completely on luck, Pachinko is a perfect choice for those that seek a title that does not require any special skills or strategies to be used. 

Pachinko can be considered a version of slots and you will find an Asian casino floor littered with these loud and active games. With no action needed by the player, the hope is for a ball to land in a high paying slot at the bottom of the screen. Mechanical games are still used in casinos, while you will find digital versions being offered online.

Mahjong

Mahjong is one of the most popular games played in Asian countries and it is a gambling game that first originated in China. Created during the Qing Dynasty, this game became popular not only in Asian countries but all around the globe. When playing Mahjong, 144 tiles are marked with Chinese symbols and different characters. Often played with four players, bets are placed before any tiles are placed. Dice will be rolled to designate a dealer and 13 tiles will be provided to each player. Players will then draw and discard tiles to complete a winning hand and will call Mahjong to win.

The goal is to create groups of tiles to form a meld and collect points. Each type will be worth different points and the stronger your meld, the quicker you will amass points and be able to win the game. When featured at casino venues, Mahjong attracts many strategic players and is a great multiplayer option if you want to enjoy something other than traditional gambling titles. 

Since this has become a popular gambling game, it can be found on online websites that focus on Asian casino games and there are various betting options and payouts. For those that like traditional Asian games and titles that have a deep-rooted Chinese history, Mahjong is a great Chinese gambling game that can provide hours of entertainment and challenge your cognitive skills.

Pai Gow

Like the popular Mahjong Chinese casino games, when it comes to Chinese casino table games, Pai Gow is another popular choice for gamblers. This game has been enjoyed for over 1,000 years and it is very similar to the game of dominoes played by Western gamblers. However, Pai Gow is more complex and is a game designed for gambling instead of recreation. 

Many players will confuse Pai Gow with Pai Gow Poker. These two titles are entirely different. Pai Gow is played with 7 players and there are 32 tiles in use. It is also referred to as Chinese dominoes. The maximum score one can create is 9, which is determined by adding the dots and dropping the value of 10.

When playing, bets are placed and players and a dealer will receive 4 tiles to create two hands, a low hand and a high hand. The goal is to beat the value of the dealer. While this sounds like a simple feat, there are 36,000 possible combinations, making it a game of strategy, luck, and skill. It is also a slower-paced game, which is preferred by many Chinese gamblers as they can enjoy this title while not quickly depleting a bankroll. 

Chinese Slots

While there are some great Asian card game casino sites that provide access to the mentioned titles, these websites also offer Chinese slot games. For those that like a simplified form of gambling, these titles are a great choice. You will find that all operating casino sites deliver a huge portfolio of slots that can be enjoyed. Many of these have an Asian theme, which is appealing to most players.

Chinese slot machine games are known to offer great payouts and most come with added bonus features that can increase the amount you win. The best providers are always working to develop new titles, so there is no shortage of slots when players visit a land based casino or engage in online gambling.

Conclusion

With some unique game selections and many ways to wager and win, Asian casino selections have become popular all over the globe. You will find many of these games being featured at top-rated casino sites and they will also be located on casino floors. Each game has unique gameplay and sets of rules, making each one interesting to gamblers. If you want to engage in some great Chinese games and have chances to win decent returns, be sure to check out these amazing titles and have your chance to be the next big winner. 

In Asian countries, gambling has been a pastime for thousands of years and many of these games are ancient selections that have evolved over time into titles you know today.