Pai Gow Poker is a combination of Chinese dominos and American poker. Pai Gow Poker was introduced to California by Chinese immigrants and then as word spread the game took off.
Pai Gow is an ancient Chinese game that is still played today in some Asian countries, Americans combined this game with the poker version of five-card draw to achieve the game's current play and rules.
Pai Gow is Chinese for "Make-Nine." The original game was played thousands of years ago in the court of Genghis Kahn.
Dominos were used instead of cards and the idea was to have more combinations closer to nine than has the dealer.
Very popular throughout the ages, the Chinese actually still play an ancient form of Pai Gow with dominos.
In America, very recently as far as card games go, the game was adapted and combined with poker.
Casinos then picked up the game and it has never been more popular.
