Boat Racing in Japan

January 30, 2023 Japan iGaming & Gambling

Power boat racing is perhaps not the first sport that springs to mind when you think of Japan, but every day hundreds of fans travel to stadiums all around the country to watch races. Boat racing’s popularity is more due to the fact that betting on boat races is one of the few legal forms of gambling in Japan. A day at the races is a terrific opportunity to explore a side of Japan that is poorly known outside of Japan, regardless of whether you have any prior familiarity with powerboats.

One of only five sports in Japan where wagering is permitted is powerboat racing, often known as “BOAT RACE” or “Kyotei” (the Japanese word for “boat race”). There are 24 boat race stadiums across the nation, some on bodies of water like lakes, rivers, or the ocean, while others are man-made ponds made of concrete in the middle of urban areas. Entry is extremely inexpensive because gambling generates the majority of the revenue (usually only 100 yen for a day, but a few thousand yen for a reserved seat in the VIP area).

No matter whatever venue you go, the route and the races are virtually the same because the sport is strictly supervised by a central authority. Each race features six drivers, and the winner is the first to cross the finish line after completing three laps around the buoys. Although it might seem simple, much of the action happens before the boats ever leave the starting line, and in some cases, it happens even before the drivers board their boats.

Of course, having money on the line makes everything more exciting, especially when you’ve selected a winner. If the dizzying array of data on the historical performance of drivers, boats, and engines confuses you, Helpers are available to help you for a price of 100 yen. You can either place a straight wager on the winner, make an attempt to correctly forecast the top three finishers, or select one of numerous possibilities in between.

There are 12 races total on each racing day, with most of them beginning around 10 a.m. and lasting all day. However, some stadiums also conduct evening races. Japan’s central and western regions both have boat race stadiums, however the northeast has none because it’s a little too cold for water activities.