Gambling is illegal in Japan, but pachinko is regarded as an exception and treated as an amusement activity. Although awarding direct money prizes for it is illegal, parlors may reward players with tokens which can then be sold for cash at nearby exchange centers.

In 2024, the pachinko and pachi-slot market size in Japan amounted to 14.6 trillion Japanese yen. While the size of the industry continuously decreased during the past decade, pachinko still comprised a substantial share of Japan's leisure industry.