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like iPods, X-Box's, Wii gaming systems and more. The best part is you can redeem your gift points for cash if that's what you would like instead. If you're looking for something a little bit different from a traditional card game, then Hawaiian Gardens Casino offers Pai Gow Tiles. The game of Pai Gow Tiles, which originated in Ancient China, is played in most oriental countries. "Pai Gow" is a game of Chinese dominoes and literally translated means "Cards-Nine". The goal of this spin on Pai Gow is for the seated player to make two hands out of the four tiles they receive that rank higher than the player-dealer. The seated player wins if both of his/her hands rank higher than the player-dealer hands. In situations where one hand is ranked higher and the other is lower, it is called a "push" and both the player-dealer's and the opponent's bets are returned. The player-dealer wins in all situations where the both of the opponent's hands are identical to his/her own. So if Pai Gow isn't your game of choice, don't worry, because Commerce Casino offers Chinese Poker. This variation on the classic game of poker is played with a regular 52- card deck and standard poker rankings apply. Four players are dealt 13 cards each and after the players have set their cards into three separate poker hands, the cards are turned face up and the deal is scored. Each player compares his three hands against those of his opponents, one player at a time, beginning with the player clockwise next to the dealer button and moving clockwise around the table. The object of the game is to set the players 13 card hand received on the deal into three separate poker hands: a three-card front hand (straights and flushes do not count in the three-card hand); a five-card middle hand; and a five-card back hand. The major point of the game is to create three hands that outrank the corresponding hands set by opponents. It should be noted that in Chinese poker the front hand may not rank higher than the middle hand, and the middle hand may not rank higher than the back hand. If a player fails to set his hand in the proper ranking order, the hand is considered foul and that player must pay a penalty to each of his/her opponents. So there you have it, four different ways to ring in the Year of the Tiger this February. Whether it be cash giveaways at The Bike, Pai Gow games at Hustler or Hawaiian Gardens, or Chinese Poker at Commerce Casino, the LA Casino scene has something to help you celebrate the Chinese New Year without all the danger of losing a finger to a traditional Chinese firecracker. L.A. CASINOS 5 Writer>>daniel albert