Now you understand that you have a range of gambling in Japan. But there are some sorts of gambling you’ll never experience in this gambling-wise developed country. Below are the gambling you can’t enjoy in Japan as of 2024.
1. Casinos
Although people can play pachinko and slot machines in their parlors, traditional casinos with a variety of video and card games have yet to be established in Japan. The law for casinos has already been enacted, and the first casino is expected to open in Osaka around 2030.
2. Harness Racing
Horse racing is Japan’s most popular race gambling, but fans are unfamiliar with harness racing or trotting. A form of horse racing in Japan, similar to harness racing, is called Ban-ei horse racing in Obihiro, Hokkaido. Each horse is driven by a jockey on a sulky with no wheels, weighing up to one ton!
3. Greyhound Racing
Greyhound races have never been held in Japan. Some lawmakers tried to enact a law for them in the 1950s but failed.
4. Sports Betting
Fans can bet on Japanese professional soccer and basketball games through TOTO and WINNER, but they don’t have any legal measures to bet on baseball, one of the most popular sports in Japan. Betting at OTBs in foreign countries like Williamhill in the U.K. or TAB in Australia is the only way to bet on Japan’s baseball games if they are listed on the betting menu.