Pachinko popularity in Japan on steady decline in 2017, research finds

The allure of glitzy pachinko parlors dotting the streets of Japan continues to fade as the country prepares for the entry of integrated resorts.

At least 420 pachinko halls were shuttered in 2017, as Japanese residents became more exposed to an expanding number of entertainment options, according to a Japan Today report.

Data from the Tokyo-based Yano Research Institute showed that at the moment, only 10,258 pachinko halls remained in operation. This meant that one in 25 pachinko halls closed shop in 2015, according to Yano Research analysts.

In 2017, at least 177 pachinko operators were out of business, the study showed.