Which Casino Games Will Be Legal in Japan?

Japan still outlaws most types of gambling. However, this situation is set to change with three integrated resorts (IRs) on the way.

Lawmakers have lots of work to do between now and when the casino resorts are operational by 2025. They’re now one step closer to this goal, though, after determining which casino games will be legal.

I’ll cover the different casino games that Japan has approved below. I’ll also discuss what still has to happen before Japanese casinos finally open their doors.

Regulators Go Heavy on Baccarat, Blackjack, and Poker

The Casino Regulatory Commission held the responsibility of determining legal casino games in Japan. According to Inside Asia Gaming (IAG), the commission has approved 21 games.

Details on the exact casino games that have been okayed are scarce. However, the IAG report does highlight the game categories that are now approved. They include:

• Two baccarat variations
• Four blackjack variations
• Eight poker variations
• Casino war
• Craps
• Money wheel (e.g. Big Six)
• Pai Gow
• Roulette
• Sic Bo
• Electronic Games (e.g. slot machines, video poker)

For a brief time period, the public will be able to provide feedback and opinions on the choices. As it stands, though, the Casino Regulatory Commission appears to be moving forth with these games.

You’ll notice that the commission particularly favors baccarat, blackjack, and poker. The two baccarat variations possibly refer to different side bets, such as Dragon Bonus and Perfect Pair.

Blackjack features a number of variants with unique rulesets. Spanish 21, for example, removes all 10s from the deck. Blackjack surrender, for instance, allows players to surrender their hands while only forfeiting half a bet.

The eight poker variations might be split between house-banked versions and Texas Hold’em. Regarding the former, Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride, and Three-Card Poker are among the most-popular house-banked poker games.

Electronic games will play a prominent role in Japanese casinos like they do western gaming establishments. Specifically, slot machines should be quite abundant in the IRs.

Pachinko Left Off the List of Approved Casino Games

Pachinko is currently the predominant form of gambling in Japan. This slot-pinball hybrid is a truly unique game that earns $200 billion in annual revenue—roughly 30 times what all Las Vegas casinos combined earn.

Thousands of pachinko parlors are spread throughout the country. The average Japanese adult spends around half of their free time in these parlors.

Taking all this into account, you’d think that pachinko would’ve found its way into IRs. The commission, however, chose to leave it off the list.

Pachinko isn’t a traditional casino game in any other country. Therefore, regulators likely felt that it doesn’t have a place in the IRs.

Which Casino Games Will Be the Most Popular in Japan?

Japan will offer a mixture of popular eastern and western casino games. Baccarat, pai gow, and sic bo are both notable games in eastern gaming destinations like Macau and Singapore.

Meanwhile, real money blackjack, craps, poker, and roulette are heavily played in western countries. Overall, Japan’s mixture leans more towards what’s popular in the west.

Blackjack, poker, and roulette will likely draw many gamblers. Visitors from nearby China will spend lots of time at baccarat tables.

Slot machines, meanwhile, are popular throughout the world. They’ll find plenty of space on Japanese casino floors.

As for what will be the most popular game type, it’s difficult to say. Slots or baccarat are the likely contenders. The latter’s popularity is going to depend upon how many Chinese gamblers make the trip to Japan.

Other Important Decisions by the Commission

Casino games weren’t the only matters on the agenda for regulators. The Casino Regulatory Commission also made key decisions in other areas of the future gaming market.

Here’s a look at some of the most important decisions:

• All major stakeholders involved in the IRs must pass extensive background checks. This process will include detailed investigations into individuals’ financial history and any potential criminal activity.
• Casinos must ban any gambler whom they suspect of having an addiction for at least one year. They’ll also need to limit the number of visits that any relevant gambler makes to the IRs.
• The IRs must provide a consultation desk for players who wish to discuss gambling addiction with the staff.
• Casinos must display the time throughout the casino so that gamblers can clearly see it.
• ATMs will be banned from gaming floors.
• Comps must be offered in a way that doesn’t “arouse the passion for gambling.”

Regarding the first point, officials want to prevent yakuza or any other organized crime syndicates from running casinos. They don’t want a repeat of what happened within the first few decades of the Las Vegas gambling market.

The concept of watching out for and banning problem gamblers is pretty standard. Japan won’t differ from other gaming markets in this regard. They’re taking things a step further, though, by also including a consultation desk for players.

For decades, casinos have avoided putting clocks on their gaming floors. This move helps keep gamblers from realizing how long they’ve been in the casino. Japan, however, wants to prevent this nefarious move immediately.

Entry Fee for Japanese Gamblers

Japan will be similar to Singapore in how it’s going to charge entry fees for locals. Japanese gamblers must pay ¥6,000 (approx. $60) to get into an IR. Tourists, meanwhile, will get in for free.

The idea here is to discourage residents from visiting casinos too many times. Meanwhile, the IRs will draw plenty of tourism dollars due to foreigners not having to pay a cover charge.

By requiring locals to pay ¥6,000 before entering, the commission hopes to reduce gambling addiction. Singapore crafted this concept when imposing local cover charges for its casinos.

Where Is Japan at in the Process of Setting Up Its Casino Market?

The Land of the Rising Sun is never short on pachinko parlors. However, it has lacked many other gambling options.

The push for brick and mortar casinos has been in the works for a long time. The idea was first floated by a mayor of Odaiba—an island in Tokyo Bay—back in 2000. It finally gained steam when lawmakers submitted the Integrated Resorts Enabling Act to the Japanese Diet in 2015.

First off, officials haven’t even figured out which cities will host the casinos. Osaka became the first to launch a “Request for Proposal” in 2019. Nagasaki, Wakayama, and Yokohama have followed suit.

Tokyo is currently mulling over entering the field as well. Prospective casino operators have expressed the most interest in building near Tokyo.

Five companies have applied for the Osaka casino license, including Genting Singapore, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Resorts. Resorts recently won the bid for the Osaka casino.

Sands withdrew all interest from launching an IR anywhere in Japan. The world’s richest casino company pointed to concerns over the pandemic as the main reason.

Outside of MGM landing the Osaka license, most aspects of Japan’s gambling market are still up in the air. Lawmakers must decide where the last two IRs will go before any additional licenses can be granted.

Conclusion

Japan may be late to the game when compared to the many other nations that feature legal casinos. Nevertheless, it’s set to launch three IRs within the next several years.

Finalizing which casino games in Japan will be legal moves the country one step closer to this goal. The only real surprise on the approved games list is the exclusion of pachinko.

Now, the final step involves figuring out the remaining cities that’ll feature casinos and which companies will serve them. These decisions should be made by 2022 at the latest.