How to play
pachinko in Japan.

The Handle adjusts how strongly the balls are launched. Small changes affect their route across the board. Start gently and watch the flow before making another adjustment.

During normal play, the machine directs balls toward the Center Pocket. During a Bonus or another game state, the required route may change. Watch the screen and listen for instructions.

If you see “Shoot to the right,” adjust the launching strength so the balls travel down the right side of the board. This describes the route of the balls. Ask staff to demonstrate if you are unsure.

On the LCD machines covered here, a ball entering the Center Pocket can trigger a chance for a Bonus. If the screen is still showing an earlier result, an accepted chance may wait in a queue called a Hold.

The number of Holds is limited. The screen then works through the accepted chances and shows their results in order.

Some scenes ask you to press a large button or press it repeatedly. This is the Interaction Button. Follow the prompt to take part in the animation, without hitting the machine or using force.

A button prompt can be exciting, but wait for the final result before deciding that you have a Bonus.

The Prize Pocket accepts balls during a Bonus and awards the specified number of balls for successful entries. Follow the machine’s shooting instructions while it is open.

Its position and operation vary by model. A diagram is helpful for learning the names, but check the actual machine in front of you.

A Hold is an accepted chance waiting for its turn while the current sequence plays. You may see small icons showing how many chances are waiting.

A Teaser is an effect that builds anticipation for a Bonus. It may appear as symbols move, during a Reach scene or through a change to a Hold icon. A dramatic Teaser is a reason to watch closely, not a reason to assume the result.

A Hold icon may change color or shape to suggest how promising that chance looks. The meaning of each color or symbol depends on the machine. There is no single color guide that applies to every model.

A Reach is a scene in which matching symbols are lined up and the machine is waiting to reveal the final result. Some Reach scenes develop into longer, more elaborate sequences, often called SP Reach.

Even a dramatic scene can end without a Bonus. Keep watching until the machine confirms the result.

Some animations appear to restart the symbols several times. A Pseudo-Chain Teaser is a repeated-looking sequence within one game, rather than several separate chances. You can enjoy the build-up without counting every apparent restart as another game.

Some machines return to normal play. Others enter a state that offers opportunities for further Bonuses. Names, entry conditions and ending conditions differ.

ST gives you a set number of chances. On some machines, another Bonus resets that count after the Bonus sequence. If the allowed count runs out without a Bonus, ST ends.

Kakuhen Loop machines use a higher-probability state that continues until the next Bonus. That Bonus determines whether the higher-probability state continues or the machine moves to another state.

You may also see RUSH on the screen. This name alone does not tell you whether the machine uses ST, a Kakuhen Loop or another system. Check the instructions for that model.

You do not need to memorize every system for your first visit. The practical questions are: “What state is this machine in?” and “What do I need to do now?”

No. Pachinko uses balls launched with a Handle. Pachislot uses reels, a Lever and Stop Buttons. They may be found in the same hall, but the controls and game flow are different.

No. This guide mainly covers LCD Pachinko. In Wing-Type Pachinko, opening wings catch balls and guide them into a mechanical feature called the Yakumono. Watching the ball’s physical route is central to that style of play. Ask staff which type you are looking at.

Choose a limit that you are comfortable spending on entertainment, and check the ball-rental rate before starting. There is no amount that guarantees a Bonus. Stop when you reach your limit rather than adding money to recover what you have spent.

No. Bonus Odds describe a probability for the relevant game state. They do not promise a Bonus within a particular number of games. Odds may also differ between normal play and a special state, so check which figure you are reading.

Ask staff before leaving your seat. Break rules, time limits and the way balls are counted or transferred vary. Check the current game state and the handling of your card before you move.

Press the Call Button, then point to the screen or control and ask staff for help. Show one question at a time. It is better to confirm the next action than to guess, especially during a Bonus or when finishing your session.