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Belangkai is a gambling game that is played in MalaysiaA[p. 127] and is named after the Malaysian word for the horseshoe crab belangkas. The game is also referred to as Belankai, Belanki, or simply Belan(g)kas. In Gambling Games of Malaya (p. 127) the name 勿人介 is also given, although without explanation. In Vietnam, it is called Cua Hoàng Đế (‘emperor crab’).
The game is still played currently, and has many online implementations.See also here for a game streamed online but with a live table.
Equipment
A four-sided teetotum is used, with images of:
- a horseshoe crab
- a flower, sun, or star device
- a fish
- a prawn
The staking layout also bears these four symbols.
Various modern plastic spinners.
© Arjan Verweij, used with permission
Play
The banker spins the teetotum and covers it with another bowl. Players then place their bets on the outcome in appropriate parts of the layout. Bets can be placed on a single outcome by placing it within a particular section, or on two outcomes by placing the stake on a dividing line between two sections.
Any players who have chosen a bet that matches the outcome win. If they placed a bid on a single outcome they win 3× back, if they placed a bid on two outcomes they win 1× back.B All other stakes are lost.
Gambling Games of Malaya gives the more precise (harsh) returns of 2.7× and 0.9×. More modern versions might pay 2.85×/2.9× and .95×.C
Recent versions of the game also include a third bet type, which wins on one symbol, pushes (neither wins nor loses) on another, and loses on the other two. This pays 2× or 1.95×.C
Several online implementations also provide a three-way bet which pays 0.3×.
References
Dobree, C. T. (). Gambling Games of Malaya. The Caxton Press: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Yeoh, TH (). ‘The Belangkas Game’ [archived]. What Goes Under the Sun.
Shackleford, Michael (). ‘King Crab’ [archived]. The Wizard of Odds.