In addition to race gambling, Japan has other types of gambling—Pachinko, Slot machine (Pachi-suro), and Marjhong. But actually, the last three aren’t gambling in terms of laws. While race gambling is legalized by the designated laws that permit racing organizers to hold races legitimately, Pachinko or Marjohng houses don’t have such laws. So, how are they legally categorized? They are considered games.
But you might believe that Pachinko is definitely a type of gambling in Japan. Yes, it is virtually gambling because fans earn money by acquiring pachinko balls. However, they can’t exchange the balls for money directly. If you win in Pachinko, you first exchange the Pachinko balls for prizes like micro-gold ingots at checkout inside the Pachinko parlors, and then you hand the them to the cashier in the booth outside the stores to get money. What an intricate procedure Pahinko fans are required to make money! But Pachinko parlors can’t help but have their fans follow the procedure because no laws authorize Pachinko as lawful gambling.
In the meantime, you can exchange pachinko balls for things other than gold ingot. Tobacco, snacks, beverages, and toys are the typical prizes in every pachinko parlor. Generally, the exchange rate for that stuff is more favorable than the gold ingot, but almost all the fans prefer to exchange the balls for ingots, regardless.
As to mahjong, most players bet money on games in mahjong houses. But they won’t be arrested or charged unless they overbet. Although no laws allow mahjong players to bet money on games, authorities tolerate players as long as they bet within “the range of common sense.” But, up to what amount of betting money does “the range of common sense” cover? It is often said that players won’t be charged if they play at fewer than 200 Japanese yen for 1,000 mahjong points. In the past, some Japanese celebrities and TV personalities playing Marjohng at higher stakes were arrested while playing in mahrjhon houses.
In that aspect, horse racing, boat racing, bicycle racing (Keirin), and motorcycle racing are genuinely legitimate gambling operated under respective laws. All the laws were individually enforced a few years after World War II ended with the aim of gaining money from the citizens to raise funds for restoring the country and local cities.