Pachinko in Crisis: Japan's Classic Game Faces Scandal, Regulation, and Decline
Japanese pop culture news edited by Patrick Macias
Japan’s pachinko industry is shrinking under the weight of regulation and social change
A 2025 election bribery case exposed political ties and deepened public mistrust
Once a national pastime, pachinko now struggles to survive in a new era
Pachinko, the once-ubiquitous pastime of postwar Japan, is facing its steepest decline since it rose to prominence over 100 years ago in the Taisho era. Legal limits, shrinking player numbers, and a fresh political scandal have all put pressure on the industry. It is no longer just a game. Pachinko has become a symbol of Japan’s shifting values and vanishing traditions.
Pachinko and Political Scandal
In July 2025, police arrested the president of a pachinko hall operator and several others for allegedly violating Japan’s election law. The suspects were accused of promising rewards to employees and associates who voted for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate in the House of Councillors election. That candidate, Yasuhisa Abe, was backed by a pachinko industry group. Prosecutors believe the plan was orchestrated to protect industry interests in the Diet.
The arrests sent shockwaves through the pachinko business. Once protected by powerful lobbying groups and informal ties to the political world, the pachinko industry now faces increased scrutiny. News outlets and public watchdogs have begun to question how deeply pachinko interests are entangled with lawmakers and regulators. Trust has eroded, and operators are being forced to reckon with a new level of transparency.
Laws Meant to Limit Risk and Luck
Japan’s government regulates pachinko under the adult amusement business law. Rules limit nearly every aspect of operation, from machine specs to shop lighting. Pachislot machines are now in their sixth generation of regulation, and newer pachinko cabinets must limit how many balls can be won in a given time period. The goal is to minimize what authorities call “shakoushin,” the dangerous urge to gamble.
Pachinko once attracted players of all ages, but younger people have largely turned away. Mobile games, cafes, anime, and esports now fill leisure time. In contrast, most pachinko parlors feel like smoky reminders of a bygone era. Even the game's mechanics, once thrilling, now feel cumbersome and outdated to new generations used to faster feedback loops and dopamine hits.
Industry Veterans Sound the Alarm
Further complicating matters is Japan’s shift toward casino-based Integrated Resorts. These venues, scheduled to open in Osaka in the late 2020s, are poised to compete directly with pachinko for entertainment spending. Some critics argue that regulation around pachinko has intensified specifically to make space for the casino economy, which is viewed as more appealing to tourists and international investors.
Former pachinko executives and shop owners have begun speaking publicly about the end of the line. “It is no longer sustainable,” one longtime manager said in an interview. “Even if you follow every rule, the customers are not coming back.” Some parlors are converting into used-goods shops or other hybrid businesses, but most simply shut their doors.
Can Pachinko Evolve or Is It Game Over?
Unless something drastic changes, pachinko may go the way of other once-ubiquitous Japanese industries. It needs a generational rebrand, new technology, or legislative reform to survive. The question now is not just whether pachinko can recover from scandal and decline. It is whether Japan still has the need for it it at all.
