24 Jan 2025

Pachinko: Japan’s gambling grey area

From 8 til Late, 8:15 pm on 24 January 2025
A gentleman, in a Pachinko Parlour, sat at a brightly-coloured Pachinko machine on a blue seat. Others are sat in a line next to him, and are doing the same.

Photo: eerkmans on Flickr, 2006

Gambling is strictly regulated in Japan. However, one game has found a loophole, allowing punters to gamble legally– while still being illegal… We speak to First Up’s Japan correspondent Chris Gilbert for a rundown on the culture and attitudes surrounding Pachinko and we get some input from the Department of Internal Affairs if Aotearoa would consider the game as gambling.