Kobe issues ordinance banning pachinko, other gambling-type activities at elderly centers

[yuiyoshida]

People play pachinko in the city of Osaka. As amore and more day-care centers for the elderly offer various forms of entertainment, Kobe has taken action against activities suggestive of gambling. | BLOOMBERG

As Japan’s elderly population grows, some day-care centers are offering users pachinko, card games and other forms of entertainment as a pastime — as if they are playing at casinos.

But Kobe has taken action against those day-care businesses, saying addictions to such activities will undermine efforts to foster self-reliance on the part of the elderly.

On Thursday, the Kobe Municipal Assembly unanimously adopted a local ordinance as the country’s first municipality to ban day-care centers operating under the public nursing-care insurance system from letting elderly people play such games.

Under the ordinance, day-care centers cannot regularly provide activities such as pachinko and mah-jongg that may “stir up the passion for gambling.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/09/25/national/kobe-issues-ordinance-banning-pachinko-gambling-type-activities-elderly-centers/#.VgUOrn1J_Mp

[Old Crow]

1. Interesting.

I definitely think gambling-type activities can trigger gambling addictions. Thanks heavens, I've never fallen prey to a gambling addiction myself, but I've seen, first-hand, someone who has and it was horrible. So good for Kobe. I wish the U.S. would do more to regulate gambling. Overall, it's a pernicious influence on society that does more harm than good.

[SoapBox]

2. So was there actually any money involved?

Or were the games just provided as activity?

And that bit, the games MAY "stir up the passion for gambling". The citizens possibly should say, thanks for your concern...now butt out.

[Old Crow]

3. It's a very tricky topic, I think.

On the one hand, yes, you don't want regulators butting in and shutting down a harmless pastime, akin to bingo. But from what I've heard, the pachinko phenomenon in Japan more closely resembles America's slot machines than bingo. And having seen more than my share of seniors who are clearly addicted to slot machines and gambling away their retirement savings, I'd be opposed to moving pachinko parlors into retirement homes for the same reasons I wouldn't want them introducing slot machines.