Japan’s pachinko revenues reach 75% of pre-pandemic levels

Although sales in the sector seem to be recovering, pachinko revenues could fall again if Japan suffers a new wave of Covid-19 cases.

Japan.- Pachinko parlor revenues have reached nearly 75 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels, with January and February sales per game machine coming to PY301,000 (US$2,760) thanks to a relaxation in the Covid-19 countermeasures.

However, the number of operational pachinko halls in Japan fell by 584 in 2020, with a large drop in the number of available machines.

Pachinko parlor sales per game machine reached almost 83.6 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in October 2020 but the number quickly fell after a rise in Covid-19 cases.

According to analysts, pachinko sales haven’t recovered for good because of a possible fourth wave of Covid-19 cases that could provoke new countermeasures.