Kitsune bakuchi
Japanese dice game with a 95.8% house edge.
Kitsune Bakuchi, whose name translates to "fox gambling," is a Japanese dice game played with three dice. A player wins when all three dice show the same number—a triple—and receives four times their original wager. Out of 216 possible combinations, only six are triples, giving a winning probability of 1 in 36. This results in a house edge of 95.8%, meaning the game heavily favors the house. For the game to be fair, a winning bet would need to pay 36 to 1, returning the original stake plus 35 times that amount.
Several other dice games from the Edo period also feature "fox" in their names. In Fox Choboichi, a single die is used; players bet on one number and win five times their bet if it matches, yielding a house edge of 16.7%. Fox, or Fox Chobo, is a variant of sic bo or chuck-a-luck with three dice. Players pick a number, and payouts depend on how many dice show it: 1:1 for one match, 3:1 for two, and 4:1 for three, giving a house edge of 40.3%. Another version, also called Fox Chobo, uses standard dice but pays 1:1, 3:1, and 5:1 for one, two, and three matches respectively, with a house edge of 39.8%. Two specific rolls—4-5-1 and 3-2-6—automatically win for the dealer. Finally, a two-dice game called Kitsune resembles chō-han. Players bet on a single number, receiving 3:1 for one match and 4:1 for a pair. However, the dealer selects two numbers before rolling; if both appear, the dealer takes all bets. This version has a house edge of 2.78%.
- Field
- Dice game
- Nationality
- Japanese
- Known for
- High house edge of 95.8%
- Winning probability
- 1/36
- Payout
- 4× original bet
Lore & Background
Kitsune Bakuchi is a dice game from Japan in which a player rolls three dice. If the roll results in a triple—each die showing the same number—the player wins four times the amount wagered. The term literally means 'fox gambling.' There are only six triples out of 216 total possible throws, so the winning probability is 1/36. The house edge with the standard payout of 4× the original bet is 95.8%. A fair game of Kitsune Bakuchi with zero house edge would pay out winnings at 36 for 1, meaning the winning player would receive their bet back plus a bonus equal to 35 times the original bet.
Reader's Guide
Kitsune Bakuchi is significant as a historical Japanese dice game with an exceptionally high house edge of 95.8%, far exceeding most modern casino games. Its name, meaning 'fox gambling,' connects it to a family of Edo-period dice games whose names include the word 'fox' (狐, kitsune). These related games include Fox Choboichi, Fox Chobo, and others, each with different rules and house edges. Kitsune Bakuchi's extreme house edge illustrates how gambling games can be heavily tilted in favor of the house, and its inclusion in historical references such as the autobiography of Katsu Kokichi (Musui's Story) provides insight into gambling culture in Tokugawa-era Japan. The game's simple rules—rolling three dice and winning only on triples—make it a clear example of a high-risk, low-probability wager.
Did You Know?
- Kitsune Bakuchi literally means 'fox gambling.'
- The winning probability is 1/36, with only six triples out of 216 possible throws.
- The house edge is 95.8% with a standard payout of 4× the original bet.
- A fair game would pay 36 for 1, returning the bet plus 35 times the original bet.
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