How to Play Pachislot in Japan: Medals, Smart Slots and Stop Buttons Explained

Pachislot (パチスロ, pachisuro), usually just called “slot” (スロット) in the hall, is Japan’s take on the slot machine. There’s one big difference from the slots you might know from Las Vegas or an Australian club: you stop each of the three reels yourself, with a button. Here’s how a session works on both classic medal machines and the newer smart machines.

The 30-second version

1. Insert a banknote into the unit beside the machine and press 貸出 (lend) for medals or credits.
2. Press MAX BET. That’s three medals per game on almost all machines.
3. Pull the lever. The reels spin.
4. Press the three stop buttons, left first, then middle, then right, unless the screen shows a different order.
5. When the bonus lamp lights, line up the bonus symbols (often 7-7-7).
6. When you’re done, count your medals or credits, take your card or receipt to the prize counter, and refund any unused cash.

Parts of a pachislot machine

Sources: DMM Pachitown, Pachinko Industry Web Reference, Pioneer.

Step 1: Choose your rate and machine

The standard rate is 20-yen pachislot: each medal is worth ¥20 to rent. Many halls also have 5-yen sections, and some have 10-yen. The newest machines may only be in the 20-yen section (DMM).

Beginner pick: DMM Pachitown suggests the Juggler series (for example I’m Juggler EX), because its system is simpler than most modern machines (DMM). On I’m Juggler EX you can even stop the reels in any order. See I’m Juggler EX in our database.

Spot the machine type from its name. In official names, conventional pachislot machines carry an S at the front, and smart pachislot machines carry an L (or the word スマスロ). Magazines and websites sometimes drop the letter (explainer, Japanese).

Step 2: Borrow medals or credits

Insert a banknote and press 貸出. On a 20-yen machine, ¥1,000 typically gets you 50 medals. Because most halls now build consumption tax into the lending price, you may get slightly fewer, around 46 (DMM).

Smart pachislot (スマスロ) works the same way, except the medals are electronic. Smart machines were introduced from November 2022. They have no medal slot, and the credits move between the machine and a dedicated unit beside it (Sammy).

Step 3: Bet, pull, stop

1. Bet three medals. Drop three in, or press MAX BET if you have credits. Almost all machines need three medals per game (Pachinko Industry Web Reference). Betting fewer can lower your chances of a bonus or small win, so three is the standard way to play (DMM).
2. Pull the lever to spin the reels.
3. Press the stop buttons. Unless the machine says otherwise, go left, then middle, then right (Japanese Slot Guide).

Follow navigation prompts. If numbers or arrows on the screen show a stop order (for example “2-1-3”), follow that order, even if it starts in the middle or on the right. On some machines, ignoring the prompt can reduce or lose part of a benefit (Japanese Slot Guide).

Each lever-pull to final stop is one game. Matching symbols across the reels pay out medals.

Step 4: When the bonus lamp lights

On bonus-type machines like Juggler, a lamp lights up to tell you that you’ve won a bonus. On the next game, aim to stop the reels with the bonus symbols in the window (DMM):

• 7-7-7 = BIG bonus (BB): more medals.
• 7-7-BAR = REGULAR bonus (RB / REG): fewer medals, “something like a minor jackpot” (Pioneer).

The bonus doesn’t start until you line the symbols up, but you can take your time. On Juggler, the bonus game itself can then be played without any special technique (DMM).

AT machines: more modes, more rules

Many modern machines, including most of the anime titles, are AT (assist time) machines. They have stages such as CZ (chance zones), bonuses and AT modes, with stop-order navigation and story animations. They’re great fun to watch, but read the machine guide (or ask staff) before you put serious money in. If something dramatic happens and you don’t know what to do, press 呼出.

Settings (設定, settei). Many pachislot machines have internal settings, chosen by the hall, that affect how often bonuses come. You can’t see them, and Japan’s National Police Agency guidance bars halls from advertising settings or “machines adjusted to pay out” (Greenbelt summary of the 2011 NPA notice). Treat any “hot machine” talk as superstition.

Smart pachislot cap. Smart machines include a “complete” function. If a machine pays out 19,000 medals in one business day (counted from its lowest point), it stops for the rest of that day (Sammy).

Step 5: Taking a break

On a medal machine, follow the hall’s rules: usually a break card or tag (Japanese Slot Guide). Many smart-machine units have a “ちょっと休憩” (short break) button. It locks the machine and returns your card, and putting the same card back in unlocks it (Sammy).

Step 6: Finish and exchange

Medal machine:

1. Pour your medals into the box or counting unit, and press 呼出.
2. Staff count them and give you a receipt or card (Pioneer; DMM).
3. Can’t speak Japanese? Pioneer’s guide suggests crossing your arms in an X in front of your chest to show you’re finished (Pioneer).

Smart pachislot:

1. Press the count button on the unit to send your credits back to the unit (Sammy).
2. Check everything has transferred, then press 返却 (return) and take your card.

Then, either way: take your receipt or card to the prize counter, and refund any unused cash at the in-hall refund machine. You can only get unused cash back on the same day (DMM). Prizes and the exchange system are explained in is pachinko gambling?

Next steps

• Compare the two games: pachinko vs pachislot
• Learn the words on the screen: glossary
• Find your favourite series: anime machine database