Gambling Rules Japan
- In a nation where gambling has long been outlawed, Japan’s foray into casinos is a historic policy shift that lifts a ban on private-sector gambling for the first time.
- The, only, exception, for Koreans, to the Gambling Laws is casino gambling at Kangwon Land. The Special Act on the Assistance to Development of Abandoned Mines established the legal framework for the development of the Kangwon Land casino and the law and related laws allows Koreans to patronize this casino.
Most forms of gambling in Japan are generally banned by the Criminal Code chapter 23; however, there are several exceptions, including betting on horse racing and certain motor sports. Gambling in Japan is an activity deemed illegal according to Chapter 23 of Japan’s Criminal Code. However, not all forms of gambling are prohibited in the country. We clarify what forms of betting is legal in Japan and explain the current and future gambling laws. GUIDE: JAPANESE ONLINE CASINOS.
Betting on Japanese baseball provides a great opportunity for value bettors. What are the main differences between NPB and MLB? What should totals bettors consider? What markets are available for NPB bettors? Read on to find out.
Japan is home to the second biggest professional baseball league on the planet. The Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB) features 12 franchises who compete for the prestigious Japan Series title.
Each NPB team plays 143 regular season games so there are plenty of opportunities for bettors to find value, especially those who take an analytical approach to betting. Large sample sizes and relatively settled rosters provide a strong opportunity for data-focused bettors.
Pinnacle are the choice for knowledgable Japanese baseball bettors
NPB teams
There are 12 NPB teams split into two divisions:
Central League | Pacific League |
Chunichi Dragons | Chiba Lotte Marins |
Hanshin Tigers | Fukuoka Softbank Hawks |
Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters |
Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Orix Buffaloes |
Yokahama DeNA BayStars | Saitam Seibu Lions |
Yomiuri Giants | Tohoku Rakuten Eagles |
NPB league schedule and postseason
Each team plays 143 regular-season games. After all regular season games have been played the top three teams go on to compete with each other in a two-stage playoff.
The regular-season runners-up play the third place team in a best-of-three series. The winners of that contest then play the regular-season league champions in the Final Stage. The Final Stage is a six-game series with the regular-season champions starting with a one-game advantage.
The winners of the Climax Series from each league then play in the best-of-seven Japan Series to determine the overall champion.
Differences between MLB and NPB
Gambling Rules Japanese
Betting on NPB is broadly similar to MLB betting, however there are a few differences bettors should be aware of:
Regular season games can end in a tie
If an NPB game is level after 12 innings then the result is a tie.
In terms of betting, in the event of a tie all wagers on the Money Line will result in a push (stake is returned to the bettor) whilst spread and totals bets will be settled as usual.
Longer shifts from starting pitchers
Since NPB teams can operate a six-man rotation, as opposed to five in MLB, NPB managers can leave their starters out for longer as they can play weekly rather than every five days. It is not uncommon to see opening pitchers racking up 100 or more pitches in a game.
This adds to the importance of knowing the starting pitchers for each matchup since longer shifts can see them have a greater impact on the game.
Totals
In general total runs per game are lower in the NPB compared to Major League Baseball. However, scoring can be variable season-to-season so trends need to be monitored.
NPB runs per game
Season | Central League | Pacific League | Average |
2018 | 4.44 | 4.28 | 4.36 |
2017 | 4.04 | 4.01 | 4.03 |
2016 | 4.09 | 4.12 | 4.11 |
2015 | 3.42 | 3.98 | 3.7 |
2014 | 4.22 | 4.01 | 4.12 |
Average | 4.04 | 4.08 | 4.06 |
MLB runs per game
Season | MLB |
2018 | 4.44 |
2017 | 4.65 |
2016 | 4.48 |
2015 | 4.25 |
2014 | 4.07 |
Average | 4.38 |
Per game run totals in NPB dropped in 2015 after the ball was changed to a less hitter-friendly one, however run totals have slowly increased as the league has adapted.
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Totals bettors should be aware that average runs in NPB are marginally lower than in MLB due to a combination of factors including fresher pitchers and the change of ball.
Over the past five seasons marginally more runs have been scored in the Pacific League than in the Central League, however this difference is so small that it can probably be attributed to variance.
NPB betting: Markets available
Pinnacle offer a range of markets which will be familiar to MLB bettors:
Money Line
A bet on which team will win the fixture. This will result in a push in the event of a tie.
Run Line betting
This is a bet on the spread or handicap. For betting on the NPB a team is assigned a total number of runs to be added or taken away from their final total.
Totals
A bet on the total number of runs which will be scored in the game.
Team totals
A bet on the total number of runs to be scored by a specific team in the game.
Team to score first
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A bet on which team will score the first run.
Hits+ runs+ errors
A totals wager that combines the runs, hits and errors in a game. Bettors can bet on there to be over or under a set total.
For more information about baseball betting read Pinnacle’s guide to betting on baseball.
Get the best odds for Japanese baseball betting
The Japanese league provides an exciting market to those familiar with baseball betting and newcomers to the sport alike.
Now that you know the basics behind betting on Japanese baseball make sure to take advantage of Pinnacle’s best value NPB odds.