satta matka

In the older pre-electronic days, the positioning of the inochi no kugi (the “life pins” positioned immediately above the scoring slots) was the tip-off for a hot machine, and parlors re-positioned pins after closing for the night. With the advent of electronic circuits that control wins, the pin connoisseur has been left in the dust. Pins are generally repositioned to increase the number of wins only when a new parlor opens or an old parlor reopens with new machines, in hopes that customers who win big will come back for more.

Although pin positions now have little meaning, players still line up in the mornings. Mr. Nakamura Kinzo, a 52-year-old Tokyo restaurant owner and self-styled “pachinko pro,” explains that “the electronic circuits are altered only once every three or four days. Serious players will be in the parlor at closing time checking out which machines are ringing up big wins. Those are the machines they make a beeline for the next morning. Especially if they are kenrimono machines, they’ll give spectacular wins. Forget about the pins…”

Even though much of the technique has been taken out of the game, Mr. Nakamura is unconcerned. What’s important, he says, are the cash payoffs. “If it weren’t for the payoffs, I wouldn’t bother to play. It’d be just like a video game. Why waste your money on nothing?”

On his best day Mr. Nakamura says he made 92,000 yen ($836) in three hours, starting out with just 3,000 yen. On his worst, he lost 55,000 yen ($500) in about the same period of time. satta king His favorite machine is the hanemono type. “Hanemono is fun,” he says. “The trouble is you can’t find them much anymore. There is less of a risk and you can play longer. Neighborhood parlors are best. Here in Sendagi, we can play four machines at the same time. Other places won’t let you do that.”

The current economic hard times may be the pachinko parlor’s best friend. At a time when people are cutting corners and are worried about the economy, pachinko pulsates with neon promise. Says Mr. Nakamura, “With only 3,000 yen, it IS possible to make 100,000 yen (about $900). With the economy the way it is and my own business down, I don’t want to waste my money on a movie or a night out. But pachinko, that’s different — today just might be my lucky day!”

High-tech Pachinko Wars

In some ways pachinko is a noisy incongruity, a curious counterpoint to a normally peaceful, group-oriented society like Japan. Players sit alone surrounded by harsh lighting and ear-shattering music. Yet despite a few signs of weakness, pachinko is so well established that it seems sure to stay one of Japan’s favorite leisure pursuits for many years to come.