According to recent statistics, Japanese players spend more than 175 billion euros annually on pinball-like machines called pachinko.
Most people in Japan spend more than half their free time playing pachinko, and there are many employers working in a pachinko parlour. However, the game is not only very lucrative but also very addictive. To control the negative impact on people, the Japanese government has decided to take some measures. You can find out more about pachinko games and the measures taken by the government here.
What is pachinko?
Pachinko games are machines, similar to slot machines, which use small steel balls that deal with players from the pachinko parlour. Pachinko balls are not only the object of the game but also the bet and the prize. The game itself works quite simply. The player inserts one or more balls into the machine and then presses a handle, which in turn is attached to a soft hammer inside the machine. The hammer launches the ball into a metal track, which guides the ball onto the field - similar to a pinball. The field is full of small cups, which will bring a prize to the player if the ball falls into the cup. On the opposite side, the ball would fall into a hole in the ground. A ball caught in such a catcher would initiate a payout, with different balls falling on the tray in front of the machine. The idea of the game is to catch as many balls as possible and then exchange them for prizes.
Why are pachinka machines so profitable?
Gambling is illegal in Japan. However, pachinko parlors have found a legal loophole that allows them to run their business. Pachinko games do not reward players with money, but rather with non-monetary prizes such as bags, shoes and even electronics. However, players can exchange their gifts for money at special establishments near the saloons. The police tolerate these activities because the exchange of gifts is not handled by the salons themselves. In the past, currency exchange was controlled by the Yakuza mafia, but that has changed over the past few decades thanks to the efforts of the police. Oh, how good it is that the best online casinos are available to Swedish players https://utansvensklicens.casino/casino-utan-spelgrans/ without too much risk.
There are now more than 10,000 pachinka parlors, and one in 11 Japanese are regulars. According to the latest statistics, the games have grown so popular that they now employ 10 times as many people as the top 10 car manufacturers in Japan. An interesting fact is that the industry is largely run by Korean Japanese, who considered pachinko saloons their only job after World War II.
Today, however, salons are beginning to be regarded not only as an industry in which many people work, but also as the best place for Japanese people to spend their free time. The game itself is not only easy, but also interesting, and many find it attractive and useful as a stress reliever. As we mentioned above, the industry earns over £150 billion a year; that's 30 times the annual revenue from gaming in Las Vegas.
The government takes legal action against pachinko parlors
The pachinko industry has been found to not only generate huge profits but can also be deadly addictive for players. According to statistics, a significant proportion of the Japanese population visits pachinko salons at least once a week. Therefore, the government has decided to take certain measures to limit the impact of pachinko games on people. According to a newly introduced law, the payouts from each machine will start to be reduced by 1/3, meaning players will not be able to get more than $450 for a four-hour session.
In addition, the Japanese government has decided to lift the ban on casinos. However, to avoid gambling addiction, residents are allowed to visit no more than three times a week, and entrance fees are charged. While lawmakers hope that their new measures will reduce the harmful effects of pachinko on people, it is also a fact that the pachinko industry is facing a certain crisis, as many pachinko cafes have closed in recent years and interest among young Japanese has generally increased.
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