As with most gambling things, gambling is just as popular in the Far East as it is in Europe and the United States, probably more so. Ancient oriental gambling games, many played with clay tiles rather than cards, date back thousands of years. Many of the oriental games have made their way west and a few have adapted and developed into very popular gaming options.

Slots is a game that has made its way East, both in its traditional form and with some alterations. Two games that are somewhat similar to slots are pachinko and pachislo. Of the two, pachislo is more like slots, while pachinko, the vastly more popular of the two, resembles a combination of the slot machine and pinball.

Pachinko

Pachinko parlors are very popular in Japan where the game is hugely popular. The game is played much like a vertical version of pinball with the player shooting the ball into the game in much the same fashion as in pinball. The balls fall down between slots on the game layout and most disappear at the bottom, but some fall into special holes. This sets into motion a type of slot machine. As with slots, the player wins if three matching pictures or symbols appear. The winner gets new balls. The balls can be exchanged for prizes.

Even though gambling is illegal in Japan the parlors find ways around it. The balls can be turned in for prizes at the pachinko parlor’s gift shop, but also can be exchanged for merchandise that can then be exchanged for cash at a window outside the pachinko parlor.

Pachislo

Pachislo machines essentially are slot machines with a couple of modifications. Just as with slot machines, winners are determined by spinning reels and matching symbols. The only difference is that with pachislo, there is no “arm” to pull, just a button to push, and the wheels stop spinning when the player pushes a button under each one, thus adding an element of skill to the game.

New pachislo machines cost from $3,000 to $4,000 but refurbished ones can be purchased anywhere from $200 upward to $350 or $400. The machines accept tokens, not money. As with pachinko, winnings in the form of tokens can be exchanged for prizes in Japanese pachislo parlors.

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