After moving to Tokyo, Itou Kaiji is living a life of self-indulgence when one day he is forced by Endou, a financier, to pay off a debt he once co-signed. At Endou's invitation, Kaiji boards the gambling ship "Espoir," which offers debtors the chance to pay off their debts in full. The game is "Restricted Rock-Paper-Scissors" using 12 cards. If he wins, his debts are wiped out, but if he loses, his life is forfeit...