Chinese Gambling Games – Chinese Games Popular Around the World

In our article, we will introduce to you the top Chinese gambling games you can try. Some of the popular Chinese games were created in ancient times and remained popular until today. Below, you can read a short description for each gambling game originated or played in China. Those are popular games that are entertaining even if you play without wagering money.

Officially, gambling in China is prohibited by law since 1949, but the ban allows special administrative regions in Macau and Hong Kong to be opened as gambling centres. The casinos in those regions are open to players from all over the world. Read on, and you may find your next preferred gambling game and a reason to visit the gambling regions in China.

Chinese Casino Games & Gambling Games Popular in China

1. Mahjong – A Game Played Since Qing Dynasty

First on our Chinese gambling games list is the centuries-old game Mahjong. This is an excellent example that there was gambling in ancient world over 2000 years ago. There is no mandatory bets rule in Mahjong. Most of the variations are played for fun and entertainment like chess, backgammon, or Go chess. You can bet in the casino or at online operators.

This game is most played by three or four players. Mahjong is played with 144 tiles decorated with Chinese characters and symbols. Each player receives 13 tiles. The players take a turn to draw and discard tiles on the table. The goal for each player is to have a complete four melds (or sets) and a pair (eye) by the time he draws the 14thtile. This game is practised on many occasions, for example, it is one of the best AARP Games online.

2. Chinese Lottery Offers You Welfare Lottery & Sports Lottery

Casinos and gambling rooms may be prohibited by the laws regulating gambling in China, but the lottery is not. Chinese authorities do not consider lotto to be gambling and even created two lotteries for the Chinese people. The first government lottery is the Welfare Lottery, established in 1987. In 1994 was created the second lottery called the Sports Lottery. Every Chinese person at legal age can participate and win.

The Chinese government lottery has a website where the players can learn the latest news and check their tickets. Even though this gambling game is operated and monitored by the government, there are still issues and scandals. In 2004, one of the four winning tickets did not go to the winner. As a result, five people were arrested. The winner received his award (a new BMW), sold it, and retired to live in the Qinling Mountain.

3. Pai Gow Tiles & Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Tiles is a Chinese gambling game played with a set of 32 Chinese dominoes. In this game, there are seven players and the dealer. The tiles are shuffled and organised in a woodpile – eight face-down stacks that have four tiles in each. Once the tiles are spread, the players place their bets.

The goal is to form two hands of two tiles. The hand with the lower value is called front hand, while the one with the higher value is called a rear hand. The players’ hands are compared only to the dealer’s front rear hands. If the player wins one hand and loses one it is called push, and he collects the original bet, he made. If player’s both hands are higher than the dealer’s – well, the gambler wins.

Pai Gow Poker, also known as Double-Hand Poker, is a derivative of the Pai Gow Tiles. This game is played with a standard 52 card deck. The players are six, and there is a banker (dealer). The objective of each player is to create a 5-card poker hand and a 2-card poker hand that beat both hands of the dealer. Some casinos have their variation of this game.

4. Keno – Legendary Chinese Game of Chance

Keno is one of the Chinese casino games that leads its roots back to the time of the construction of the Great Wall of China. The game was created as an interesting and fun way to collect funds for the construction. In our days, this gambling classic can be played in the best gambling destinations in Asia.

Chinese gambling games require tiles, cards, or dice. Keno is played with paper and ink. The player needs a keno card that has written numbers from 1 to 80 aligned in 10 columns and 8 rows. Depending on the casino, the player can choose up to 10 or up to 20 digits from the list. Then, a keno worker or an automatic number generator gives out numbers. The player who foretold the winning numbers wins. Knowing how to play lottery and bingo will help you learn how to play keno right away.

5. Sic Bo – Roll the Lucky Dice

Fifth in our list is Sic Bo. This ancient game goes so far back in time that no one remembers who created it. The origin may be misty, but this dice game thrives under many names – Tai Sai, Dai Siu (Big and/or Small), and Ho-Lo. Gambling in China was prohibited in the middle of the last century, but this can’t stop the players. Sic Bo, just like every other game, is played by many for entertainment where bets are not required.

The name of the Chinese gambling game Sic Bo means “precious dice”, and that is exactly what this game is about. Chinese people have been rolling dices for centuries before introducing the game to the rest of the world. Many players can take part by placing bets on a certain number on the table. Once all bets are placed, the dealer shuffles the dice in a small container and opens it so that everyone could see the numbers on the dice. In this game, the player either wins or loses after every dice roll.

6. Fan-Tan – a 2000 Years Old Game

Fan-Tan is a Chinese gambling game that has existed for over 2000 years. During this time, a lot has been changed, but the base of the gameplay was kept the same. Today, there are land-based and online casino variations of the game. We will tell you the standard rules and elements that apply everywhere. The playing table has a square with marked sides 1, 2, 3, and 4. The gamblers choose one of the numbers and place their bets on it. Then, everything is in the hands of Lady Luck.

The dealer announces the end of the betting, and throws on the table 200 beans, coins, buttons, or other small objects of the kind. The dealer puts 60-100 of them in a small cup and leaves them aside. With the help of a thin stick, the dealer separates the remaining beans on the table in lines of four. The number of beans in the last pile (always between 1 to 4), shows the winning number.

In Fan-Tan, the winning bet is usually paid off at 3 to 1. In some casinos, a winning bet is paid off at 4 to 1 (minus the commission), and there may be more betting options allowed like betting on odd or even numbers.

7. Other Popular Casino Games Chinese People Play

Gambling in China is taken seriously like everything else. One of the most traditional casino gambling superstitions is to wear colours that attract money and prosperity. Even the professional Chinese gamblers take precautions to keep luck on their side in every land-based and online casino. Lucky charms can help in selecting the right gambling casino game, the right table, and even the right hour for the player to win.

The good luck charms help with Chinese casino games and all other gambling games popular all over the world. The Chinese gamblers go to casino centres like Macau and Hong Kong to play baccarat, roulette, blackjack, and roulette. You will see many Chinese people taking part in poker tournaments and placing high stakes on tables. Many gamblers prefer to play online or visit gambling locations all around Asia and the world.

8. Animal Races & Animal Fights

Chinese New Year gambling games are something that brings the family together. Just think about it – what better way to start the year with a prize brought by a good luck animal like the dragon, tiger, or the pig. It is said that the first animal race created the Chinese calendar. The legend has it that Buddha called all animals in his kingdom for a grand race, but only 12 came. As a reward, Buddha named a year of the Chinese calendar on each of them.

Our Chinese gambling games list includes the forbidden cockfights. Animal fights and animal cruelty is illegal in most countries, and the violators are punished harshly. Animal races, on the other hand, are extremely entertaining and many gamblers prefer them over other wagering games. Chinese people like all dog, horse, and other animal races as an entertainment. To make a profit out of this, the gamblers must go to the areas allowing such types of gambling.

Chinese Gambling Games FAQ

We will answer the most often asked questions regarding the Chinese gambling games. We will tell you which casino game has 32 Chinese dominos, what Chinese gambling games you can play online, which are the oldest, and more.