Pachinko is a cross between a pinball game and a slot machine. Pachinko parlors are almost always crowded. You can get prizes based on the number of balls you win, so you could call it “your local neighborhood casino”.

Pachinko parlors

In a pachinko game, you operate a handle or dial to shoot up balls into the pegboard. If your ball enters a hole, you are given extra balls. If you get lucky and your ball makes it to a special hole, you get even more balls. The prizes are sweets, cigarettes, household goods, and sometimes even fresh food. The rate of winning is computer-controlled.