A casino player at MGM National Harbor turned a rare table-game hand into a life-changing payday after winning a $2.6 million Face Up Pai Gow jackpot.

The winner, identified only as Michael, is a resident of Prince George’s County. He landed the massive prize earlier this week while playing Face Up Pai Gow Poker at MGM National Harbor.

Michael’s winning hand was a seven-card straight flush in clubs: 3♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ 9♣. The hand triggered the top bonus payout for a Seven Card Straight Flush, securing him the seven-figure jackpot.

Major Wins Continue at MGM National Harbor

Michael’s $2.6 million win was not the only notable jackpot at MGM National Harbor in May. Several other players have also recorded large payouts at the casino this month across different table games.

One player won $500,010 on Ultimate Texas Hold’em, while others collected $63,169 and $57,004 on the same game. Another casino guest won $32,315 on Super 4 Progressive Blackjack.

The results make May a strong month for big table-game payouts at the Maryland casino.

What Is Face Up Pai Gow Poker?

Face Up Pai Gow Poker is a variation of traditional Pai Gow Poker. The game uses a standard 52-card deck plus one joker, and players must split seven cards into two hands: a five-card hand and a two-card hand.

The main difference in Face Up Pai Gow is that the dealer’s seven cards are revealed before players set their hands. This gives players more information when deciding how to arrange their cards.

Another key feature is that Face Up Pai Gow is usually commission-free. In traditional Pai Gow Poker, casinos often take a 5% commission on winning player hands. In Face Up Pai Gow, that commission is removed.

Instead, the casino gains its edge through a special rule: if the dealer has an exact ace-high seven-card hand, all player hands automatically push, meaning the round ends in a tie.

Rare Pai Gow Jackpots Can Reach Millions

Seven-card straight flushes are extremely rare, which is why progressive Pai Gow jackpots can grow to huge amounts.

In January 2023, a player won approximately $6.4 million while playing Pai Gow at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. Last year, another player won $2.8 million at Caesars Palace.

However, Michael’s MGM National Harbor jackpot stands out because his seven-card straight flush did not rely on the joker. Previous major winners used the joker as part of their jackpot hand, making Michael’s natural straight flush especially notable.

The $2.6 million payout adds another major jackpot story to MGM National Harbor’s recent run of big casino wins.