Gambling (賭博, tobaku) is the act of "performing an act of uncertain outcome in exchange for a participation fee or something specified by the other party in the event of a loss, and receiving some kind of prize according to the outcome", is a common example of this. The designated item is usually currency in the modern world, but it does not have to be currency to constitute gambling. Roughly speaking, "the act of obtaining something by drawing lots" may be treated as gambling, with the only difference being whether it is legal or not.
In Japan, gambling is strictly regulated by law, with the exception of public gambling and public lotteries, which are prohibited by law. Public gambling includes horse racing, bicycle racing, boat racing, and auto racing, while public lotteries include sports promotion lotteries (such as Toto).
Pachinko and pachinko slot are the most common forms of gambling in Japan, and are frequently discussed. Other examples of gambling include game arcades and mahjong.
Gacha, which has become a social problem with the spread of the Internet and smartphones as an extension of game arcades, also falls under the category of gambling. However, it has become a serious problem because it is easy for operators to cheat by programming, it is difficult to grasp the actual situation, and there is a problem of setting probabilities.
As stated before, gambling is basically prohibited by law, and it is an undeniable fact that gambling for money, including pachinko and pachislot, is in a gray zone. It should not be forgotten that there are various problems such as those who lose money as a result of repeated gambling, those who fall into a vicious cycle of further debts, and those who abandon their children.
The establishment and operation of casinos is currently not permitted in Japan (this is why gamblers sometimes travel abroad to countries where casinos are legal).
In recent years, there has been a conspicuous movement toward lifting the ban under the Integrated Resort Law (IR Law) in anticipation of the growing inbound demand, including the Osaka Expo in 2025.
However, in Japan, opinions shying away from gambling and gambling are strong, and opposition movements are becoming more active in regions where leaders have expressed a positive attitude toward lifting the ban or inviting IRs to their areas.
For more information, see the Casino article.
