Online gambling is becoming undeniably popular nowadays. More and more countries are reevaluating their laws and regulations regarding online casinos and sports betting. Even though Asia, in general, will take a long time to legalize all the formats of gambling fully, there are still many options available for those who wish to find a source of secondary profit in Japan. As a matter of fact, many people who stay home caring for their kids are looking closer into similar opportunities. Online gambling seems to be a rather popular option among stay-at-home moms or individuals who want to find another occupation that doesn’t require their constant presence.
Playing casino games can be a rather profitable business, especially if you know all the ins and outs of this industry, including unique casino features and even possible hazards. Online gambling in Japan is not the most popular industry because this country mainly focuses on recreational land-based casinos and other amazing games like pachinko. Nevertheless, it is still worthy of your attention, especially if you want to have fun and earn real money. Let’s take a closer look at some of the casino life hacks that will help you to achieve your goal.
Online Casinos Worldwide and in Japan
It is not hard to understand that online gambling became specifically popular after the events of the recent pandemic. When COVID-19 took over the world, many casinos realized they could not provide their client’s services. The popularity of gambling started to decrease, and there is every chance that this industry wouldn’t have survived the pandemic if not for the presence of online casinos. Only a couple of years ago, online casinos were majorly frowned upon. They were hardly considered popular or worthy of your attention. They lacked the glitz and glamor and were largely ignored in the fever of land-based casinos. No, however, there are more people enjoying the benefits of online gambling, and casinos win more than ever. Online gamers can hardly be blamed for trying to find a new occupation, as online casinos actually offer real money.
Moreover, when you play casino games, you are guaranteed entertainment and fun that can later bring you real money and a source of potential income. Essentially, there are not many disadvantages when it comes to online gambling, especially if you play responsibly. On the other hand, the Japanese government has always been rather strict regarding gambling. The legalization of this activity is slow yet promising. It also helps that many Japanese citizens enjoy gambling even more than European or American players.
Gambling Culture in Japan
Gambling is almost just as old as many sports. In the majority of countries, it started together with horse racing. However, not many people know that gambling technically originated in one of the Asian countries way before horseracing was even a popular sport in Europe or the United States. We cannot precisely trace the beginning of the gambling culture in Japan, but we can say when the first casinos started to appear and why the actual government was immensely concerned with gambling. At the beginning of the 20th century, Japan prohibited casino gambling, preventing people from becoming addicted. All forms of gambling at casinos were illegal; however, some forms of betting were allowed. This included sports betting and pachinko.
Additionally, the government ran lotteries. Japan has a unique gambling culture in place of legal casinos. Over half of their leisure time is spent at pachinko parlors. With this in mind, don’t expect to win the entire pot with a lottery ticket. In recent years, attempts have been made to legalize gambling in Japan. Two laws passed in 2018 by the Japanese government changed laws related to gambling. The rules are called the Integrated Resort Promotion Law and Implementation Law, which allow land-based casinos at approved businesses. That is why we are finally witnessing a bloom of online platforms in Japan, at least their offshore versions.
The History of Pachinko
Our answer is straightforward if you’re wondering why Japanese culture prefers gambling. Even before the government officially legalized the presence of land-based casinos, this country had a viral, technically non-gambling game. Pachinko is a slot machine, pinball, and arcade game hybrid. It was invented in 1920s Japan as a children’s game. Pachinko players attempt to launch balls into pockets to win prizes. However, this isn’t easy because of the many brass pins on the field that interfere with ball movement. Pachinko parlors resemble casinos and are similar to arcade rooms. They are filled with pachinko machines that are themed after Japanese anime or popular movies. Some pachinko parlors allow smokers to smoke in their facilities, but many have smoke-free areas.
Additionally, many pachinko parlors provide translated signage and instructions for tourists traveling to Japan. By circumventing the law through a loophole, pachinko machines are illegal in Japan for gambling purposes. However, pachinko parlors provide players with balls and tokens, which players can exchange for money at third-party businesses.
Choosing Online Casinos
Know that we have settled more legal issues, it is your time to learn how to choose the best possible casino available for you. Now, this advice is universal and can be applied to other countries and offshore casinos. It is not only applicable to Japanese venues. With that being said, there are quite a few things you need to consider when choosing the best platform. It might take a while to get to the hang of it and enjoy your experience. Nevertheless, you should waste a little bit of your time doing proper research. Otherwise, there are no guarantees that you will enjoy the experience and get the profit you are looking for. So here are several things you need to consider, and we will come back to them in more detail later:
- Licensing and security
- Payment options
- Availability of online support
- Online reputation
- Presence of different promotions, bonuses, and offers
- Generous game selection to keep you entertained
You will refine other elements after trying at least several different platforms. Naturally, you can settle for the first available option for you. Nevertheless, the market of online casinos is highly competitive. This means that you, as a user, have a chance to get the most out of your experience if you do enough research.
License and Security
One of the first things we always recommend checking is the presence of a license. Even though the government does not necessarily license Japanese online casinos, offshore venues should still be regulated by the rules and conditions of fair gambling. Several European countries license many casinos and are eligible to provide their services. It doesn’t matter for you as a user what government or establishment regulates your casino. The rules and regulations are practically quite similar, if not the same, for all regions, countries, and states. Therefore, if you see a proper license, you are already increasing your chances of getting an adequate win and having a good time with this particular company.
Payment Options and Banking
Banking methods are no less important than a proper casino license. You have to understand that selecting payment options will also determine whether you will be able to maximize the experience and an adequate casino win when gambling. That is why we have included this point in our casino tips. Typically, there is a choice between three categories: credit cards, digital wallets, and cryptocurrencies. The overall intention is entirely up to you. If you have a particular preference, ensure that your platform offers a proper selection that covers your category. If you have not yet chosen which method to use, we would advise you to go for any available digital wallet. It is the safest answer, the quickest option that can also offer you fast withdrawals and smaller fees. Cryptocurrency would be our second pick, and this means that we certainly do not advise the usage of credit cards and debit cards. Putting your information directly through an online casino is never the best option.
What Game to Play
If you have found the best online casino and you are satisfied with the selection of payment options, now you can get to more severe matters. Choosing the game is our final casino tip when it comes to placing bets and gambling. All gamers have to understand that casino games can be divided into traditional slot machines and table games. Naturally, there are other unique casino features and less conventional games, yet many still prefer old-fashioned variations. If you are looking for a secondary profit but you are not willing to spend time learning, we would advise you to choose traditional slot machines. However, let’s analyze each game.
Poker
Poker is one of the most complicated games you can find online playing and gambling. With that being said, it is still relatively popular among gamers for good reasons. Poker tables are often associated with much larger fees and still have better odds than slot machines. Nevertheless, you will have to learn specific bluffing skills and understand all the combinations to succeed in poker. Doing some online is a little bit easier than in real life. However, poker can turn into a complete occupation. Playing poker for money may not be your best option if you want to try gambling.
Blackjack
Blackjack is a game that we would generally recommend to beginners and professionals alike. This game has the best odds in the house and requires little to no skill. Your only goal is to collect 21 points before the dealer does so. It is practically the only rule worth remembering. Therefore, it won’t take long to understand this game’s basics and actually get your very first casino win. Furthermore, it is a good rule to always choose table games over slot machines. They are not only more entertaining but more profitable and enjoyable in the long run.
Online Slot Machines
Slot machines have extremely low odds, yet they are still popular and for good reasons. Online slots do not require your skills or knowledge. Even those people who understand the basics of probability theory do not necessarily have the upper hand. All mathematical models are predisposed and written way before you even start playing. Naturally, it is a game of luck and chance. It will be perfect for you if you want to have fun. They also serve as an excellent introduction to the world of online casinos. We recommend viewing slot machines as a trial run before getting into more serious games like poker and blackjack.
Final Thoughts
As we have learned today, gambling in Japan is not drastically different from any other country. It is true, however, that the Japanese government has more strict laws than you are used to if you have previously played in Europe or the United States. However, all the rules are not without loopholes, and you can still enjoy yourself and online casinos, even if they are offshore. That is also why so many people who stay home taking care of their household or children view gambling as their secondary source of income.
Truly, gambling combines the best of both worlds. You’re not only getting entertainment and fun but also real money and bonuses. Moreover, considering how popular online gambling has become over the years, the game selection and your choice of different casinos are almost countless. This will allow you to maximize your experience no matter where you are and play directly from Japan. Finally, since gambling is arguably a big part of Japanese culture, at least when it comes to pachinko, there are many online slot machines and games inspired by local culture and people. With that being said, don’t forget to always play responsibly and set your budget before playing.