Pai Gow and Sic Bo: The Ancient Chinese Games That Conquered Modern Casinos

Centuries-old tile and dice games from China now sit alongside blackjack and roulette on casino floors worldwide.

Pai Gow’s Ancient Tile Roots

Pai Gow originated in China roughly a thousand years ago as a domino-based game played with a set of 32 Chinese tiles, traditionally used both for gambling and family entertainment during festivals. The game’s name roughly translates to “make nine,” referring to the scoring system where tile combinations are ranked according to their point value modulo nine.

Pai Gow Poker: An American Hybrid

In 1985, a California card room owner named Sam Torosian adapted the traditional tile game into a card-based version called Pai Gow Poker, using a standard 52-card deck plus one joker, arranged to mimic the scoring logic of the original tile game while being more approachable for Western players. This card adaptation spread quickly across American casinos and remains far more common today than the original tile version.

Sic Bo: The Ancient Dice Game

Sic Bo, meaning “precious dice” in Chinese, is believed to date back over 2,000 years and traditionally involves betting on the outcome of three dice shaken inside a covered container. The game spread throughout Southeast Asia over the centuries, becoming especially popular in Chinese communities before eventually reaching Western casinos.

Sic Bo’s Arrival in Western Casinos

Sic Bo made its way into American casinos in the 1980s, primarily introduced to appeal to the growing number of Asian tourists visiting destinations like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Its layout, filled with dozens of possible betting combinations displayed on a large table, initially appeared intimidating to Western players but has gradually attracted a broader following.

A Bridge Between Cultures

Both Pai Gow and Sic Bo illustrate how deeply Asian gambling traditions have shaped the modern global casino industry, particularly as Macau and Singapore grew into major gaming hubs. Today, these games remain a staple offering in casinos catering to international, and especially Asian, clientele, standing alongside Baccarat as pillars of Asian-influenced casino gaming.