Entertainment in Nippon is an interesting topic to discuss since, regardless of limited legality, there are still a lot of popular establishments all over the country. This is mainly due to the interpretation of lotteries. Sweepstakes in Japan are considered legal. The supervision for such activities is strict and falls under special laws.
When a new operator wants to enter the gambling market in the country, there are a few ways to achieve this. At the same time, whether it is a purchase of gaming hardware or online casino software (オンラインカジノ ソフトウェア), it will be necessary to organize the activity in the form of lottery entertainment.
Let us see how gambling is officialized in a progressive state and what are its popular manifestations.
Legal Public Sport in Japan: Koei Kyogi
Wagering is the activity number one by trendiness in the country. It is legal and positively perceived by the government due to its high profitability.
Koei kyogi can be divided into different manifestations:
- keirin (bike competitions);
- keiba (horse racing);
- kyotei (motorboat speeding).
Sports wagering is a common gambling manifestation that the Japanese often engage themselves in. Due to the official nature of the activity and enhanced control from the authorities, the public for such amusement is abundant.
Sweepstakes Variations
Fortune tickets (takarakuji) are the most widespread type of lotteries sold around the country. Draws are regular and are held once a few days. There is also a tradition concerning New Year’s tickets. They are offered just at Mizuho Bank for a limited time.
Takarakuji has the biggest possible prize of around 10 million yen ($80,000). The popularity of this sweepstake activity heavily covers the entire country even though 50% of the possible win is sent to different charity organizations. The cost of a ticket varies between 150 and 550 yen ($1–5).
Pachinko
Slots are also widely spread in Nippon. Pachinko is the most common game played on such terminals and resembles pinball. These machines are not considered to be gambling amusement. Due to an old historic origin, the Japanese preserved this manifestation but adapted it to the modern environment.
Pachinko arcades are provided by independent organizations throughout Japan. While being popular among locals, around 50% of its participants are tourists from abroad who come to study local entertainment peculiarities.
This is how the playing process is conducted:
- The main object of the game is a small steel ball of 10 millimeters.
- Each session costs around 4 yen ($0.3), so players usually deposit at least a thousand ($8).
- The goal of the game is to direct balls to the target, getting through different obstacles that affect the movement.
- The process is regulated by a special device that changes the pace of balls.
- The main targets are victory pockets scattered across the field.
- The challenge is to avoid obstacles and prevent balls from falling to the bottom of the slot.
- The final prize is based on the total amount of points earned by the player.
The majority of terminals give out the same steel balls that represent winnings and can be traded at a special spot for a corresponding amount. According to the gambling classification, stating that a person is not allowed to yield money from the activity, pachinko is subjected to be sweepstakes type. It implies paying for participation with a chance to get a material prize.
Pachisuro
Pachinko is mainly brick-and-mortar entertainment based on mechanical machines. Pachisuro is an electronic slot heavily resembling traditional terminals. Their popularity is on the same level as fruit machines in Europe or America.
Locals love participating in pachisuro. Engaging in these slots is believed to be the easiest way to snatch a victory. The pay-out system is similar to common Nippon gambling: prizes are obtained for scoring points that can be later traded for cash.
The unique feature of pachisuro is a 100% guarantee of winning. Even if the prize is small, it is granted almost in every game.
Online Gambling
While it is not currently possible to register a gaming site at a national commission, locals still enjoy various casino entertainment online. Operators enter the Japanese market through offshore registration. By applying for a license at a corresponding foreign jurisdiction, an owner of a site can not be affected by local authorities.
Online gambling is still new to Japanese users, but it is becoming trendy in Japan because it offers attractive bonuses such as first-time deposit bonuses (初回入金ボーナス in Japanese) and free spins.
Japanese punters prefer typical casino amusement:
- blackjack;
- roulette;
- slot simulations;
- craps;
- baccarat;
- poker variations.
The main difference here from the games played in Europe or the US is the design. Locals are more into the anime thematic. So, when an operator wants to begin targeting the Japanese with a casino platform, this is an essential aspect to keep in mind.
For a fruitful start of a casino portal, it is recommended to work with experienced guides. 2WinPower is a long-standing aggregator of services, helping entrepreneurs solidify their positions in different markets. Japan is a frequent target for operators due to the high solvency of punters and a considerable demand.
More details can be obtained upon resorting to the company directly via official communication means.
