How Do You Play Cho-Han?

What Cho-Han Is and How It Works

Cho-Han is a traditional Japanese gambling game played with dice. The name comes from the two possible bets: cho means even, and han means odd. Players wager on whether the sum of two dice will be an even or odd number¹.

The game is simple to set up. You need two dice and a small bamboo basket called a tsubo, which is about the size of a rice bowl. The dealer, sometimes called the tsubo-mochi or bowl-holder, places the dice in the basket, shakes them, and then reveals the result. Players have placed their bets before the reveal, choosing either cho (even) or han (odd)¹.

Cho-Han has been played in Japan for centuries. It is related to other Asian dice games, and you can read about how it compares to games like Xoc Dia, Bau Cua, and Chinchirorin in our guide to Asian dice gambling games.

The game traditionally involves a commission called tera money. In some versions, 10 percent of the pot goes into the hachi (the box) when certain outcomes appear, such as a sum of 7 (called biri) or doubles (called zorome). This commission is the underling's income. In other versions, the commission is higher. One historical rule describes a 5 bu fee, which is 50 percent of each pot, going to the boss as tera money. This was called "Gobu-tera" or "Bantera-gobu"¹.

Regional variations existed too. In the Kanto region, certain outcomes like (1,1) and (1,6) were generally not treated as special roles. In Kansai, those same outcomes meant neither cho nor han won, and the house took the entire pot. These rules varied by region and local custom¹.

How a Round Is Played, Step by Step

Here is how a typical round of Cho-Han works:

Step 1: Players place their bets. Before the dice are shaken, each player decides whether to bet on cho (even) or han (odd). Bets are placed in front of each player or in a central area.

Step 2: The dealer shakes the dice. The dealer places the two dice in the tsubo, a small bamboo basket. The basket is shaken to mix the dice thoroughly¹.

Step 3: The dealer reveals the dice. The basket is turned over or opened so all players can see the result. The two dice are read, and their values are added together.

Step 4: The outcome is determined. If the sum is even (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12), cho wins. If the sum is odd (3, 5, 7, 9, or 11), han wins. Players who bet on the winning side are paid. Players who bet on the losing side lose their wager¹.

Step 5: The house takes its commission. Depending on the house rules, a percentage of the pot may be taken as tera money before payouts are made. This can range from 10 percent on certain outcomes to higher percentages in other versions¹.

The game moves quickly. Each round takes only a minute or two, from placing bets to paying out. This fast pace is part of what made Cho-Han popular as a gambling game.

For comparison, other traditional Asian games have different pacing. Oicho-Kabu, a Japanese card game, deals four hands to the table and players bet on which hand will win⁴. Cho-Han is faster than that.

Reading the Dice: Odd and Even Bets

The core of Cho-Han is the bet on odd or even. With two standard six-sided dice, the possible sums range from 2 to 12. Here is how the sums break down:

The probability of cho (even) or han (odd) is 1/2, or 50 percent¹. This makes the game simple to understand: you have roughly equal chances of winning or losing on each roll.

However, the payouts are not always even money. The house takes its commission, which shifts the odds in the house's favor over time. If the commission is 10 percent, you might bet 100 yen to win 90 yen. If the commission is higher, the house edge grows.

Some versions of Cho-Han treat certain outcomes as special. A sum of 7, called biri, might trigger a commission. Doubles, called zorome, might also trigger a commission. In some regional variants, specific doubles like (1,1) or (1,6) meant the house took the entire pot¹.

For players used to casino dice games, Cho-Han is simpler than Sic Bo, which uses three dice and offers many more betting options⁵. It is closer to the even-money bets in craps, which uses two dice and lets players bet on outcomes like pass or don't pass⁶.

Is Cho-Han Legal in Japan?

Betting money on Cho-Han is illegal in Japan. The country's gambling laws are strict, and the Penal Code prohibits most forms of gambling for money².

This does not mean the game has disappeared. Cho-Han is sometimes played at festivals, community events, or private gatherings for fun, without money changing hands. In those settings, it is a cultural activity rather than gambling. But as soon as real money is wagered, it crosses into illegal territory.

The law applies to everyone in Japan, whether you are a Japanese citizen, a foreign resident, or a visitor. There is no exception for tourists or for games that are traditional or cultural. If you are caught betting money on Cho-Han, you could face legal consequences.

That said, enforcement focuses on organized gambling operations rather than casual private games. The risk is highest when the game is run for profit, when large amounts of money are involved, or when it is connected to organized crime.

Where Gambling Is Legal in Japan: The Licensed Exceptions

Japan does allow some forms of gambling under specific laws. These exceptions exist to respect everyday entertainment or to return proceeds to social welfare².

Public sports gambling includes the following, operated by local governments or authorized bodies:

• Horse racing
• Keirin (cycling)
• Boat racing
• Auto racing

You must be 20 or older to bet on these⁷. Night races are conducted at four racecourses in Japan⁸.

Pachinko and pachislot are legal for players aged 18 or older⁷. These are technically not gambling because players win balls or tokens that are exchanged for prizes, not cash. However, the prizes can be sold for cash at separate exchange shops, which is how the system works in practice. Pachinko parlors are allowed to operate through workarounds on transactions and a cultural carve-out⁹.

Sports lotteries like toto, BIG, WINNER, and DUNK are legal. The minimum age to purchase is 19¹⁰.

Casino resorts are planned but not yet open. The law that would allow integrated resorts with casinos has been passed, but no casino has opened yet. When they do open, they will be regulated and subject to specific rules¹¹.

Here is a summary:

If you are visiting Japan and want to experience legal gambling, the public sports are your best bet. You can read more about the options in our guide to gambling in Japan.

Online Play and the Legal Grey Area

Online casinos are illegal in Japan. Connecting from Japan to gamble on an online casino is a crime, even if the casino is legally operated overseas¹². This applies to free versions and free bonuses too⁷.

Japanese authorities have arrested players who used online casinos as customers. The crime is gambling (togeshi), and repeated play can lead to a more serious charge of habitual gambling⁷. The police have stated that they will strictly enforce the law regardless of whether the site is legal in its home country¹³.

The National Consumer Affairs Center has also issued warnings about online casinos, noting that gambling using online casinos from within Japan is illegal¹⁴. The police have published research showing that using a smartphone in Japan to access an overseas casino makes it a domestic crime, and a foreign license does not justify it¹⁵.

This is not a gray area in Japanese law. The law is clear: gambling from Japan on online casinos is illegal. The only ambiguity is how aggressively the law is enforced, but arrests have happened.

For comparison, other countries in Asia have similarly strict laws. In China, online gambling can lead to hefty fines and imprisonment¹⁶. Online football betting is explicitly illegal and a criminal offense¹⁷. In Hong Kong, operators are prohibited from allowing anyone under 18 to gamble¹⁸.

If you are in Japan and want to play casino-style games, your options are limited to the legal forms of gambling listed above. Online casinos are not one of them.

For more on how Cho-Han compares to other traditional games, see our guides to Oicho-Kabu and Chinchirorin vs Cee-Lo.