Japan is a very modern, forward-thinking country in many aspects, but its modernity doesn’t extend to the nation’s gambling laws, which remain considerably tight by 21st century standards. A large percentage of gambling games are still illegal under the nation’s Penal Code…
Japan is a very modern, forward-thinking country in many aspects, but its modernity doesn’t extend to the nation’s gambling laws, which remain considerably tight by 21st century standards. A large percentage of gambling games are still illegal under the nation’s Penal Code, including live poker, although online poker is now permitted.
These stringent gambling laws have never stopped Japanese people from enjoying a gamble now and then. In fact, the game of — a blend of slots and pinball — is incredibly popular, with more than 12,000 Pachinko ‘parlors’ known to be operating throughout Japan, raking in upwards of $400bn a year for the national economy. Its popularity is similar to the West’s continued fascination with slot machines, which still remains the most popular form of gaming by a long way both on casino floors and casino websites.
Nevertheless, with the Japanese parliament facing increased pressure to liberalise their gambling laws and legalise poker, it’s possible Japan could be the next country where we see a ‘boom’. That boom will almost certainly be led by Japan’s elite high-stakes poker professionals who are making waves in tournaments around the world.
