What is the difference between pachinko and slots?

Pachinko and slots are both recreational games that offer rewarding prizes. They are easy to play and offer players a fast-paced thrill without needing complicated strategies to win.

What sets pachinko and slots apart is their mechanics, play style, and special features. If you can’t decide which of the two to play, we have the most comprehensive slots guide and pachinko guide to winning at Bitcasino. Learn more about these two classic games and their variations below.

What is pachinko?

Pachinko is a mechanical gaming machine that originated in Japan and is typically played at arcades by people of all ages. The game is similar to the popular game ‘pinball’, where a pachinko ball is launched onto the playing field using a lever.

Once the ball is thrown into play, it can end up in the centre, where pins are located. These pins can alter the ball's route before it ultimately falls. When it reaches the bottom section, it may fall into pockets that indicate the amount you’ll win.

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What are online slots?

Slots are one of the most popular online casino games. It’s traditionally played at brick-and-mortar casinos but is now available in online casinos. To play slot games, you hit the play button to spin the reels. After the spin, the reels show various regular and special symbol combinations. When these combinations match the game’s paylines, you’ll receive the corresponding rewards or even the jackpot. 

Slot games are also known for their special bonus features, such as free spins, unique bonus rounds, and multipliers that increase your chances of winning. 

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What is a pachislot?

Pachislot is a slot game variation found in brick-and-mortar establishments in Japan. It is gaining traction as one of the most popular betting activities in the region, alongside the lottery. 

In pachislot, you also spin the reels like in the traditional slot gameplay; however, you can control when the reels stop spinning with a button press. 

When playing the game, several buttons represent the number of reels on the screen. Hitting each of them at the start of the round begins the spin, and hitting them a second time stops it. That means you have more control over when the game starts and ends, allowing you to manage the symbols that land on the reels.

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What is the difference between online slots and pachislot?

Online slots and pachislots have many key differences. See the summary of the most common online slot and pachislot differences in the table below:

Below, we discuss these differences in-depth to give you a better understanding of both games:

• Gameplay

Their gameplay is the biggest difference between slots and pachislots. Although both games spin the reels to generate winning combinations, the way these combinations are created is different.

In online slots, you spin the reels and wait for them to stop since you have no control over the game’s features. The combinations that land on the paylines are provided by a Random Number Generator (RNG). 

Meanwhile, in pachislot, you can stop each reel individually using the corresponding button. This is similar to arcade pinball or pachinko games, where you can determine the game's flow.

• Location, accessibility & availability

Slot games can be played in brick-and-mortar casino slot machines and online casinos. However, pachislot is exclusively played at land-based gaming arcades in Japan. This means you won’t find many online pachislot games. If you can find any at all, the options are limited. 

In comparison, online slots are more accessible since they’re available at various online casino platforms like Bitcasino. On top of that, they can be played from anywhere in the world using your computer or smartphone.

• Design and themes

Online slot designs vary depending on the game’s theme and game provider. There are numerous slot themes, the most popular being mythology, adventure, retro-classic, and more. 

In comparison, the game design for pachislots is more distinctive. As a game largely played in Japan, the graphics take inspiration from Japanese pop culture, featuring popular Japanese shows, anime, manga, artists, and more.

• Cash and payment methods

Both online slots and pachislots are games that require monetary payment if you want to win real prizes. However, their payment methods differ from each other.

Since pachislot is an arcade game, it’s typically played using physical options. You can exchange your cash for arcade tokens or credit it using an arcade card. Then, you insert the tokens or swipe your card into the pachislot machine to start the game.

In online slots, you have to deposit funds into your account in an online casino. Instead of using tokens or cards, you can use your money directly to play the game and withdraw your winnings afterwards. Moreover, most online casinos accept various types of transactions for both fiat and cryptocurrency payments. 

• Jackpot and prizes

Winning in pachislot is straightforward and typically rewards tokens or money credits at the arcade. Additionally, the pachislot reduction rate in Japan is set at 15%. This indicates the house edge or the amount the casino will deduct from you.

In online slot, the bet amount varies depending on the provider. This means various rewards can be triggered. The prizes you can win include free spins, multiplier bonuses, access to mini-games, and more. These rewards also often lead to even bigger prizes like the games’ jackpots.

• Regulation and legality

Since online slots are a form of gambling, their legality varies from country to country. Despite its online availability, it can still be inaccessible to certain regions, depending on the laws and legal restrictions they have on casino games.

A good example of this is the restrictions Japan has on betting games. Aside from a few exceptions, such as horse racing and a few motorsports, you can't access these games in the region. Meanwhile, pachislots are accessible and widely available in various gaming establishments in Japan.

Which is better: Pachinko or slots?

There’s no way to objectively determine which is better between online slots and pachinko since they are different games that appeal to different players. Ultimately, it all depends on your preferences as a player.

To help you figure out which of the two better suits your play style, we listed the advantages and disadvantages of both games below:

1. Slot games offer a lot of variety

When looking for exciting games to bet on, slots are often the first ones that come to mind since this category offers thousands of options for you to choose from. Just have a look at Bitcasino’s slots game page, for example. With such a massive library, you can find a slot game that suits your preferred themes, bonus features, and jackpots. 

On the other hand, pachinko gameplay is largely the same, even if specific titles have different visual designs. This offers fewer options, especially since pachinko machines can only be found in specific gaming establishments in Japan.

2. Payout rate: Pachinko is fixed at 77% vs slot games’ variety of RTPs

The payout rate or RTP (Return to Player) is also important when choosing a game. It represents the amount you can expect to win back over time when playing.

You can find a variety of RTPs in online slots, as well as slot games with high RTPs. Moreover, it’s up to you to select which one to play. This is not an option widely available to pachinko players. Typically, the most common RTP in pachinko machines is set at 77%.

3. Pachinko is less accessible than slot games

As a game primarily popular in brick-and-mortar establishments in Japan, the options for online pachinko are still limited. At Bitcasino, we offer games such as Pachinko by Microgaming, Crazy Pachinko by Evolution and Live Pachislots by Slotcast.

Meanwhile, slot games are widely available in both land-based and online casinos. On top of that, you have thousands of selections to choose from, making it easier to find a game you enjoy.

Tips and tricks to win when playing at Bitcasino

Whether you’re playing slots, pachislots, or pachinko, various online casino tips and strategies can increase your chances of winning. Here are some key tips you should know:

1. Be smart with your bankroll

Casino money management and budgeting your funds is important when playing slots and other casino games to avoid losing more money than you can afford. Moreover, losing track of your wagers is easy when playing slot games since the gameplay is fast and simple. To avoid such instances, employ betting systems that outline a profit-mark or stop-loss measures to have a more organised approach to your gambling funds and habits.

2. Consider the RTP and volatility

A slot game’s volatility and RTP are important factors when choosing which games to play. As previously mentioned, RTP refers to the percentage of returns you can expect from the game over time. Meanwhile, volatility indicates the frequency and amount of wins you can get. 

3. Don’t fall for the gambler’s fallacy

When gambling, it’s easy to find patterns even when there are none. This phenomenon is called the gambler’s fallacy. However, casino games like slots run on RNG, meaning all the results are drawn randomly. This proves that each outcome is independent from the previous, and there is no way to predict the result of the next few spins. For example, just because a paying symbol hasn’t appeared in the last several turns does not guarantee it will land soon.

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Despite the pachislot, pachinko and slot differences, all three games have thrilling and fast-paced gameplay that offers quick wins and big prizes. That’s why they’re the best games to play when you want a fun and rewarding game that doesn’t require complicated strategies to win

You can find the best easy betting games to play at home at Bitcasino. Check out our catalogue to discover online slots, pachislots and other games that offer easy gameplay with high returns, like Crash, Dice, and Mines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do both pachinko and slots have in common?

The main thing that pachinko and slots have in common is their easy game mechanics. Unlike other betting games, these two don’t require much strategy for you to win. That’s why they are preferable to punters who don’t have much experience in gambling games.

Why is pachinko popular in Japan?

Japan is a strict country regarding betting games, though with a few exceptions. Pachinko is one of these exceptions since it’s widely regarded as a source of entertainment and is inspired by the 1920s children’s toy called the ‘Corinth game’. 

Since it’s not restricted in the country, many players have turned to pachinko to satisfy their desire to play exciting betting games.

Words by: Cathrene Joseph