Fe-gaming

As a parlor game, Fan-tan has lost quite a bit of the luster and popularity that it once enjoyed in many Chinese areas of the United States in the late 19th century, however it is now enjoyed once again in several Macau casinos.

Fan-tan is enjoyed simply for its simplicity. It is played using a square area set up on a table. Each side of the table is numbered one through four. The croupier takes a handful of small items, usually in the form of buttons, and places them in the middle of the table, covered with a metal bowl, known as a "tan koi."

All players then bet on a particular number from one to four, and place their bets in that particular side of the table marked with the the number being bet. The players have the option of betting on two numbers, by placing their bets in the corner between the two numbers. This is an even money bet.

The dealer, or croupier, then removes the metal bowl, and using a bamboo stick, starts pulling the buttons out in lots of four. Whatever number is included in the final batch of buttons pulled determines the winning. The casino takes five percent right off the top, so if a player has placed $100 on number four, and there are four buttons left, the player wins $300 minus $15 given to the house, for a total of $285.

As seen, the game of Fan-tan is simple in form, easy to bet and quick to play, which has turned it into a draw at several Macau casinos.