Balut is a game of dice, similar to Yahtzee, created by United States soldiers as an alternative to poker, and is a popular pastime of businessmen overseas.[1] Edgar "Eddie" Woolbright was an American soldier stationed in the Philippines who remained there for the rest of his life, becoming a successful local businessman.[3] The "poker dice" game gained its current name when Woolbright and some players out on a walk one day, hearing the cries of "balut!"[3] Woolbright took the game from Tacloban to his later establishments in the Philippines as his businesses grew, and also played it at the British Club in Cebu City.These Clubs organize regular local and international tournaments as well as gathering together each year for the STC Balut Interport Championship.
A set of poker dice from the 1940s, of the type originally used for balut