12 DECEMBER NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 4739

place a wager, in conjunction with the house where he/she is a co-banker, which shall:

(a) win if:

(i) the banker’s high hand is higher than the player’s high hand and the banker’s low hand is higher than the player’s low hand, or

(ii) either the high hand or the low hand in both the banker’s hand and the player’s hand is zero, regardless of ranking, or

(iii) the banker and the player have the same value hand and the banker’s high tile is of equal ranking to the player’s high tile, or

(iv) the banker and the player have identical hands;

(b) lose if:

(i) the player’s high hand is higher than the banker’s high hand and the player’s low hand is higher than the banker’s low hand, or

(ii) the banker and the player have the same value hand and the player’s high tile is of a higher ranking than the banker’s high tile; and

(c) constitute a push if only one of the banker’s high and low hands is higher than the corresponding hand in the player’s hand.

6.3 All wagers at pai gow shall be made by placing chips, with the smaller denomination chips on top, in the appropriate box of the pai gow layout after the shuffle, and prior to the cut, of the tiles.

6.4 Except as otherwise provided in these rules, once the dealer has announced “No more bets” no player shall handle, alter or remove any wager, or place any additional wager, until a decision has been made and implemented with respect to the wager.

6.5 Orally declared wagers shall be accepted only when accompanied by chips and if the dealer has sufficient time to place the wager on the layout prior to “No more bets” being called.

6.6 Subject to the rules of this division, the casino operator may permit up to three players to wager on any one box at a pai gow table.

6.7 The casino operator may direct that the total of all players’ wagers on any one box shall not exceed the table maximum, or that the total of the wagers of any particular player(s) on any box shall not exceed the permitted maximum. Where the casino operator issues such a direction, a sign stating the box maximum and/or the player maximum, as the case may be, shall be displayed at the gaming table.

6.8 Subject to rules 6.11, 6.12 and 8.11 of this division, where more than one player wagers on a box, the decisions with regard to the tiles dealt to that box shall be made by:

(a) the player who is seated at the box; or

(b) at the discretion of the seated player (if any), the player with the highest wager on that box; or

(c) where there is no seated player, the player with the highest wager on that box; or

(d) where there is no seated player and all wagers on the box are of equal value, the player whose wager is nearest to the dealer.

6.9 The dealer shall, prior to the commencement of a round of play, ascertain the player who shall make the decisions with respect to any box in accordance with rule 6.8 of this division.

6.10 The dealer shall ensure that the player making the decisions places his/her wager in the part of the box nearest to the dealer’s side of the table.

6.11 A player may wager on more than one box at a pai gow table, but may not control the tiles on more than one box.

6.12 A player controlling the tiles dealt to a box may not place an additional wager on another box when no other player is in control of that box.

6.13 Upon accepting of the bank, the player/banker shall make a wager dependent on the method of play. The dealer shall ascertain that the player/banker has sufficient funds to cover the minimum requirements for that method.

6.14 Where there is a player/banker, his/her wager is the only wager allowed on the player/banker’s box.

6.15 Where a player/banker is holding the bank other than as a co-banker, there is no maximum wager restriction for either the player/banker or the players, but the stated table minimum will apply.

6.16 A winning wager against the bank shall be paid at odds of one to one, less a commission of 5% on the amount won, which shall be payable to the house and shall be collected from the player at the time the winning payment is made.

6.17 A 5% commission shall be collected by the dealer from any winnings by a player/banker following:

(a) the payment of any winning wagers to the other players;

(b) the return of moneys to the casino operator when the player/banker is a co-banker; and

(c) the return of the player/banker’s original wager.

6.18 If it would not be possible to pay a wager against the bank exactly in chips at the odds of one to one, less commission, were that wager to win, the wager shall not be accepted.

6.19 If a wager is made and accepted in contravention of rule 6.18 of this division, as much of the wager as could be paid exactly in chips, were that portion of the wager to win, shall be regarded as valid and the remainder shall be void.

7.0 The Dice

7.1 After the tiles are shuffled and before the cut, the dealer shall announce “No more bets” and then shake the dice cup so as to cause all of the dice tumble. Where there is a player/banker, the dealer shall permit him/her to shake the dice cup after the dealer has done so, if the player/banker wishes to. The dealer shall then place the dice cup in centre of the table and remove the cover.

7.2 All three dice must come to rest with one surface flat to the base of the dice cup, otherwise the dice cup shall be shaken again.

7.3 After the dealer has announced the total of the dice, he/she shall determine which box shall receive the first tiles by counting in a counter clockwise direction, starting with the box designated by the chung, which shall be counted as 1, 9, or 17. The first box to receive tiles shall be that which corresponds to the number which is total of the dice, adjusted in accordance with rule 5.8 of this division, where applicable.

7.4 The dealer shall then announce “first tiles to box......”, identifying the appropriate box by number.

8.0 General Conditions of Play

8.1 After determining where to start, in accordance with rule 7.3 of this division, the dealer shall deliver four tiles to each box in accordance with the style of the cut that has been adopted. The tiles shall be delivered face down in groups of four to each of the boxes, irrespective of whether anyone is seated at the box or there is any wager on the box.

8.2 Where a two or more groups of four tiles are to be delivered to adjacent empty boxes, they may be placed collectively in relation to those boxes.

8.3 When all of the tiles have been delivered, the dealer