The Asian Gambling Scene

You never hear about the Japanese gambling scene, because apparently casinos are not legal in Japan. On the other hand, pachinko is a Japanese gambling game. Pachinko parlors are legal, and Japan is actually number two in the world in terms of the number of gaming machines, but the laws regarding casinos and online casinos are somewhat muddled in Japan. Japan accounts for the second largest number of players in Asia despite its relatively small population, and the popularity of online casinos is on the rise in Japan.

There is a lot of speculation as to why the Japanese play so much at online casinos. One thought is that the culture of pachinko play makes Japanese think of casino play as an activity, whereas people of many other nationalities don’t consider gambling entertainment in the way that they would consider going to a movie or a show.

In Las Vegas, where most vacationers are American, the casinos have jacuzzis, spas, shows, children’s activities, and fine dining. This is true of Macau too, which is the prime destination for Japanese tourists looking to gamble, but for the Japanese, the gambling itself is considered part of the entertainment.

While many players claim that gambling is just for fun, the reality is that most people at the casinos are hoping to win a jackpot. They don’t go in the hopes of playing some good games. They go with plans to win big and usually already have their spending planned. According to some in the gambling industry, this is less true of the average Japanese gambler. The average Japanese gambler enjoys the game and plays for the challenge and the fun.

While casino play has stagnated in Las Vegas and other American land-based casinos over the past few years, Macau has experienced steady growth. This is partially due to the fact that the recession that has hit America has not hit the rest of the world so hard. Another factor is the fact that gambling of any sort is illegal in China, and the crackdown has forced more Chinese punters to head for Macau. There are no legal land-based gambling establishments in mainland China, and online gambling is strictly forbidden.

To enforce the ban on online gambling, the internet service providers of China have what is known as the “Great Firewall of China.” Computer operators located in China using Chinese internet are blocked from accessing online gambling sites. This blockage is required by the Chinese government, and includes all gambling sites, as well as other sites deemed inappropriate by the Chinese government.

As a result, Chinese online gambling is uncommon, while Japanese online gambling is becoming ever more popular.