Gather ‘round, gamblers of all kinds! Various forms of gambling, come one, come all! Let’s discuss the hardworking world of gambling.
Today, let’s take a lighthearted approach to summarizing an article. This special feature focuses on common standards in Japanese gambling.
Pachinko Parlors vs. Internet Casinos rooms
Both involve betting money, winning income, and losing money. However, pachinko is legal, while online casinos are not. Pachinko is deemed safe because it is thoroughly checked by retired police officers. On the other hand, online casinos are protected by powerful organizations. If you want to gamble casually in Japan, pachinko is the way to go. The success of the pachinko industry allows many retired officers to live comfortably.
Horse Racing, Boat Racing, Bicycle Racing, and Sports Betting
Horse Racing: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Boat Racing: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan Foundation [Sasagawa family])
Bicycle Racing: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Sports Lottery (Sports Betting): Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Pachinko: National Police Agency, and also the Public Security Bureau
The ultimate authority for all these forms of gambling is the Ministry of Finance.
Japanese government officials are highly respected. They graduate from top universities like the University of Tokyo or Kyoto University, study hard, and work diligently as officials, despite relatively low salaries. Hence, it’s considered normal for them to relax in post-retirement positions in the gambling industry, earning good money for lending their names. Given their excellence, it’s only fair they earn well.
What? The police have retirement positions too? Even without prestigious university backgrounds, they risk their lives confronting criminals. Therefore, they are happy to receive salaries in the pachinko industry or from organizations like the Security Communications Association (Security Communication Center – only one!) after retirement. Plus, they’re excellent at their jobs, with a 99.8% conviction rate post-indictment. Though indictments are the prosecutor’s job, police can still influence media impressions. Opposing them might result in arrests of associates, so be cautious. Power is indeed a formidable thing.
Sports Lottery by the Ministry of Education
In Japan, the sports lottery has a low return rate. If sports betting on team outcomes were allowed, it could become a huge industry. Supporting your favorite team through betting could add significant value. The exorbitant transfer fees for overseas soccer teams reflect the differences in the financial markets formed by sports betting. Sports betting is a global phenomenon, where people worldwide can bet on leagues like Nadeshiko or V-League. Budget differences in sports could see two additional zeros.
Top officials in the Ministry of Finance have the final say on budgets. Therefore, even if the Ministry of Economy seeks new avenues like sports betting, they must appease the Finance Ministry. And don’t forget to keep the Ministry of Justice in the loop.
Overseas Sports Betting
Overseas sports betting is banned in Japan. Recently, it was clearly defined as gambling. To make this known to the public, the police made an arrest. That person was… me!
The Prime Minister stated that online casinos (sports betting) are bad. When the highest authority in the country declares something, it’s final. Ensuring the welfare of competent individuals means preventing them from taking their business overseas.
Gambling impacts people’s lives significantly, so it must be prohibited to protect citizens.
However, public gambling and pachinko are not considered gambling but games, thus they are allowed. Even if gambling addiction arises, as long as it’s legally sanctioned, it remains permissible. Complain, and you might get arrested.
So, be wary of opposing authority!
National Association of Families with Gambling Addictions
There is an association for families with gambling addiction or those who have experienced it themselves. Some have spent 2 million yen in a day on boat racing.
The public corporation “Association for the Study of Gambling Addiction Problems” submitted a request to the government on the 6th to amend the law and legislate special laws to strengthen the crackdown on casino operators, payment processing companies, and YouTubers advertising online casinos. The request points out that overseas operators are difficult to investigate and that affiliate internet advertisements and promotions on video sites are entry points, urging the enactment of special laws to regulate these entities. In Japan, using online casinos is considered gambling, and the association receives many inquiries about gambling addiction caused by illegal casinos.
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