Japan’s five-member Casino Regulatory Commission is seen here at its first meeting in January of 2020. The panel says pachinko machines will not be allowed inside the country’s casinos. (Image:
Kyodo)
Pachinko is a mechanical recreational arcade game that is often described as an inverted pinball-slot machine hybrid. The colorful and noisy machines challenge players to shoot small steel balls into a variety of holes and areas that discharge additional balls.
Once finished playing, patrons can exchange their pinballs at the parlor for tokens. These tokens are commonly exchanged for cash at nearby redemption vendors. Japan bans pachinko parlors from handing out cash winnings.