Japanese lawmaker targets pachinko

Takashi Takai has questioned the “moral fitness” of the pachinko industry and claimed there’s a lack of consumer protection.

Japan.- Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Takashi Takai has fired away against the pachinko industry in Japan. He claimed that the segment is the main cause of addiction in the country and that the industry doesn’t protect consumers and questioned its “moral fitness” in casinos.

Pachinko is considered to be an amusement game and not gambling. However, Mr Takai argued that it “offers services that are substantially equivalent to gambling” and said: “Considering that there was a major tampering case by pachinko makers from a mere three years ago, I believe we must take a strict view towards their participation in the casino industry.”

“Also, the National Public Safety Commission, as well as the prefectural public safety commissions, have proven themselves unable to prevent large-scale tampering by the pachinko makers and therefore it is inappropriate to have them supervise the casino business,” he added in an interview with AGBrief.

Despite the lawmaker’s opposition, the pachinko industry continues to be strong in Japan and could even get larger as companies such as Universal Entertainment, Sega Sammy, and Heiwa, have expressed interest in becoming IR operators in Japan.