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The World of Japanese Slots (2 of 2)

Furthermore, the NPA’s rules say that every must reel must be accompanied by a button that stops the reel. This turns many Japanese slots into what could be considered a skill-based game, because, theoretically, the gambler could try and stop the reel on the appropriate symbol to win. Consequently, there are no RNGs (random number generators) in Japanese devices, as there are in American ones. Other rules say that no more than fifteen coins can be paid out at a time (no progressive jackpots for Japanese players!), the credit meter may not exceed fifty credits at a time, and there is a maximum bet of three coins. All-in-all, these rules manage to keep the overall scale of Japanese slot machine play at a much lower roar than the American industry. There are lower payouts, less building-up of credits that can keep one occupied for hours, and much lower stakes.

Don’t let that fool you into thinking that Japanese slot games are boring, however. Many have “Regular Bonus” and “Big Bonus” modes that circumvent the national law against multiple coin payouts by dispensing large amounts of coins (up to seven hundred eleven, at the winningest games) in pulses, while the video display plays “special winning scenes” and the sound of “energizing music” is heard as the machine dumps payout after payout.

The Japanese government is concerned about the possibility of problem gambling developing as a national epidemic the way it has in other locations. Therefore, they make concerted efforts to ensure that the rules are followed, and regularly inspect slot machine games to ensure that the settings comply with national regulations.

Back to September 2008 Archive.