The Allure of Pachinko: Inside Japan’s Unique Gambling Craze

Japan his renowned for its great variety of games, from the marble flicking Ohajki to card drawing in Karuta, the country has a rich history of entertaining pastimes. One of the most popular in recent history, and controversial, is pachinko, Japan’s very own arcade, pinball-style gaming machines. They have been around for most of the last century, and are widespread across Japan.

The games are quite similar to slots, with low stakes, minimal strategy and a complex payout hierarchy. Though here is the kicker. Gambling is actually forbidden in Japan, with very few vices that are legally sanctioned in the Japanese Criminal Code. Pachinko, with all its bells and whistles, could fall under the same bracket as slots gaming, which is not allowed in Japan. Yet pachinko falls into a category of its own. Whether through the historical significance, or the huge public demand, pachinko is completely legal. The market in Japan for these arcade games is immense, and it is quickly spreading.

What is Pachinko and How to Play It

The base game is very simple and easy for complete beginners to pick up. Players buy a tray of small metal balls, which are loaded into a machine and then they will fall into different pockets. If the balls fall into the right pockets, you can earn more balls, which you can exchange for prizes. If you have ever played online plinko before, think of that mixed with some elements of classic pinball machines and bingo. For the most part, you won’t have any nudge or flipper functions, so there is no way you can influence the outcome of each round. The balls will fall down the playing field and into any of the pockets below.

Older, or let’s say “analogue” machines may have a handle that you can crank to unleash the balls – like a pinball machine plunger. There may be games where you unleash a few balls at a time, others may just have a button that will release all the balls, one after the other. Across the playing field, there are small brass pins that the balls fall onto, guiding them in all different directions. Again, just like Plinko if you have ever played it.

History of Pachinko Games

The first pachinko machines were built in the 1920s, and were children’s toys. They were based on Corinthian bagatelle and were a form of entertainment for Japanese children. But by the 1930s, a gambling element was introduced to the game, to make it more appealing to mature audiences. And pachinko became quite a hit in Japan prior to the Second World War.

Pachinko was forgotten about during the war, with all the parlors closing down and the game practically disappearing. But it was revived in the last 1940s, and went from strength to strength. Parlors were built to hold all the pachinko machines. These were similar to the original one-armed bandit slot machines. In that they were fully analogue and mechanical. But by the 1980s, digital versions of pachinko machines started to hit the market.

Nowadays, pachinko machines have gameplay and mechanics comparable to slot machines. Go into a parlor and you will find endless aisles of pachinko. The action is displayed on a large screen, with the machines chirping and flashing just as modern slot machines.

Looking Inside Pachinko Parlors

Pachinko parlors are similar to casino floors in that they are packed with machines, with similar audio and visual stimulants. The machines are neatly packed into aisles, easy to get around and find various themed pachinko, jackpot games, and other variants. Though the pachinko parlors don’t have the same grandiose interiors as, say, the casino resorts on the Vegas Strip. It really depends on the parlor. But some of these have a more “local” and humble atmosphere. And they attract anyone from groups of students to pensioners.

The machines themselves can have animations, ambient J-pop music, and celebratory chimes to congratulate you on winning. It is quite easy to zone out in these parlors and get stuck in your gaming. With ergonomic seating and visual effects to keep you stimulated, you can easily spend a few hours gaming. Remember though, just like at landbased casinos, you should always keep an eye on your bankroll and don’t end up pumping more money into the machines than you can afford to lose.

Special Variants and Extra Features

Slots have evolved extensively over the years, to include all kinds of extra add ons and special features. Pachinko is very much the same. Modern games can have different play modes, including bonus rounds, hidden modes and post payout features. Some games have special features that trigger a “fever mode”, others may have second-chance wins, to heighten the excitement. Pachislots are a merger of the two, taking exhilarating elements of slots and combining them with the best of pachinko. There are also variants that are highly similar to lottery games, or video bingo, with numbered balls falling into a cage or table.

Digital pachinko use kakuhen systems, which translates to “definitely variable”. These are essentially random number generators, creating random sequences of outcomes, so you can never predict what will happen next. They are similar to the algorithms used in slot machines, and are tested for fairness before the machines hit the market.

Playing Pachinko in Japan

For anyone visiting Japan, pachinko is very much a part of the cultural experience. You will find pachinko parlors all over Tokyo, and practically everywhere in the country. They are highly worth peeking into and exploring. Again, these aren’t really like casinos, but more like entertainment arcades. You can expect to see players of all demographics and backgrounds trying their luck playing the games. And if you have some JPY on you, you can have a go yourself.

It is really easy to learn, and at digitalized machines you basically just need to stick your cash into the machine to stake your bets. Or, you can go traditional. Find a hybrid analogue-digital machine and purchase your balls as the cashier. Then, load these balls into the machine and crank that handle to start the game.

Gambling Legislation in Japan

Slots are the most prominent games at online casinos. For the most part, around 70-90% of the games offered at any online casino are slots, and there are hundreds of quality software providers who release new slots on a regular basis. In the world of online gambling, pachinko has not caught on as such.

There are online pachinko simulators, apps, and a rare few online casino games, but they are nowhere near as popular as pachinko parlors. You can find demos of these games online and test out pachinko from the comfort of your phone or laptop. But don’t expect to find them at many licensed online casinos. And why is this?

Online gambling is still illegal in Japan, according to the Criminal Code chapter 23. There are efforts to legalise the market, as there are many unregulated online casinos operating in Japan. The market demand is definitely there, but the state has not yet come up with a solution to legitimise the market. But you can find licensed and reputable online casinos in Japan, only they are licensed abroad and not officially recognised by the government.

Can I Play Online Pachinko in Japan?

The short answer is no. There are no official online casinos in Japan, and pachinko is still very much an arcade game that is served at official parlors. These are fully regulated and are legal in the eyes of the law.

Elsewhere in the world, the demand for online pachinko is not really as large, so there are very few game providers who make online pachinko games.

Most Similar Casino Games to Pachinko

The next best thing is to find a game that has similar features and gameplay to pachinko. And there is no shortage of those.

Slot machines have the same fast-paced nature, with complex paytable structures and laden with bonus features. You can also find slots with Asian themes, characters and symbols. Plinko is another good alternative, where you drop balls onto a multi-row pyramid of pins, and the balls drop into pockets. This is perhaps the most similar game to pachinko, and there are plenty of game providers who make Plinko. Online casinos with a good portfolio of arcade games usually offer Plinko. You will find them among the scratchcards, crash-style games, Mines, and various other instant win titles.

Keno and bingo also share a few similarities with pachinko. An alternate lotto game, in keno, you choose numbers and hope for lucky draws. There is a little more strategy involved than pachinko. With bingo, you buy tickets and try to fill out lines and other combinations to win.

No game fully replicates pachinko though. And if you want to play the original game, it is best to hit a Japanese pachinko parlor. Or, download a simulator app or find a demo version online. A charming venture in its own right, pachinko has captivated generations of Japanese gamers.