Japan's $22.5 billion passion for horse racing

(CNN)Horses, bikes, powerboats and motorbikes all have one thing in common in Japan -- they're part of a small selection of sports that members of the public are legally able to gamble on.

And in the case of horse racing, the Japanese people certainly make the most of it. In 2015, the total wagered throughout the country totaled at $22.5 billion.
This year has been the first time the Japanese have been able to bet on foreign races, and they've certainly leaped at the opportunity.

For October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, more than twice the value of bets were made in Japan than in France, which hosted Europe's richest race.
Naohiro Goda, a Japanese horse racing analyst, says gambling has helped the sport blossom in his country.

"We have only four subjects that we can bet on in this country, so this is quite a rare opportunity for us to enjoy gambling," he told CNN's Winning Post show.
"This is one reason why horse racing is so popular here ... The Japanese are very much enjoying placing their money on foreign races."
The profit created by betting is reinvested into racing prize funds by the Japan Racing Association (JRA), meaning its meetings are now amongst the most lucrative in the world.
The purse at this year's Japan Cup, for example, stood at a mouthwatering $5.25 million. Gamblers in Japan wagered over $179 million on the race.

"Prize money in this country is very, very good -- I believe, the very best in the world," Goda says. "So this is another reason why the racing in this country is so competitive now. The quality of Japanese racing and the quality of horses will only keep improving."

Last month's Japan Cup was won by home favorite Kitasan Black, whose jockey Yutake Take rode to a clear victory for the $2.5 million first prize and his record fourth win in the event.
Britain's Ryan Moore, recently crowned the 2016 Longines World's Best Jockey, was fifth on Real Steel as Japanese horses filled the first six placings in the 17-strong field.

Numbers are hectic they must have a yen for the game

Is gambling illegal online ?

Meaning all they can punt is on track ?

Same with Hong Kong let them punt lucky numbers and racing will die quicker than than Liverpools title challenge

South Africans love punting numbers and soccer!

Bob Brogan wrote: Is gambling illegal online ?

Meaning all they can punt is on track ?

Same with Hong Kong let them punt lucky numbers and racing will die quicker than than Liverpools title challenge

South Africans love punting numbers and soccer!

Hong Kong version of the Lotto is called the Mark Six and is run by the Tote. Soccer Fixed Odds betting is also run by their tote.

naresh wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote: Is gambling illegal online ?

Meaning all they can punt is on track ?

Same with Hong Kong let them punt lucky numbers and racing will die quicker than than Liverpools title challenge

South Africans love punting numbers and soccer!

Hong Kong version of the Lotto is called the Mark Six and is run by the Tote. Soccer Fixed Odds betting is also run by their tote.

Yes they get no options like we do

Bob Brogan wrote:

naresh wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote: Is gambling illegal online ?

Meaning all they can punt is on track ?

Same with Hong Kong let them punt lucky numbers and racing will die quicker than than Liverpools title challenge

South Africans love punting numbers and soccer!

Hong Kong version of the Lotto is called the Mark Six and is run by the Tote. Soccer Fixed Odds betting is also run by their tote.

Yes they get no options like we do

I think the income per capita determines the betting differences and preferences for both countries. Soccer being the number one followed sport in South Africa and the demographics of South Africa makes soccer a popular bet enhanced with the illegals and migrants. In the apartheid era, when casino gambling was outlawed, a popular gambling game in the townships was called "Fafi". Fafi is basically a numbers game linked to dreams with a Asian/Chinese descendant determining the "Lucky Number" that was drawn. This could be the reason why Lucky Numbers are so popular.

Bob Brogan wrote:

naresh wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote: Is gambling illegal online ?

Meaning all they can punt is on track ?

Same with Hong Kong let them punt lucky numbers and racing will die quicker than than Liverpools title challenge

South Africans love punting numbers and soccer!

Hong Kong version of the Lotto is called the Mark Six and is run by the Tote. Soccer Fixed Odds betting is also run by their tote.

Yes they get no options like we do

The elite is flying to Macau, the biggest gambling mecca of the world in terms of amounts wagered. Similar to how South Africans supporting Sol Kerzner casinos in the TBVC states during apartheid. He nows sponsors the Met...

Marshalls will take more money on this Friday's Power Ball than they will in the Met and July combined

It's very scary to us " serious punters " but numbers are huge

Seemingly there are some huge punters betting numbers and turning over millions

they have pachinko parlors in Japan which is like pinball and you have to get the ball in a hole to win other balls to play. When you won they would give you gold in plastic casings then you can take it to the shop where you can sell the gold for cash. Very popular and exciting.

I would think that with an unemployment rate of 3% and with a strong culture of savings these people have disposable income to burn. Sa has 27%, maybe more unemployment, and a poor savings rate so it's no wonder our public try heavily to secure dream bets. Also the participation in horse racing historically for the majority of black people was either punting or working as grooms while soccer has always been enjoyed at grass roots levels (a great deal of black players play in international leagues). I agree with Naresh that Fafee had a large following in the poor black community, I remember in the 70's and 80's the domestic workers would all assemble at a predetermined corner to wait for the "Chinaman" to drop off the numbers for the day. The lotto and its extensions are very similar to this and with the life changing pools on offer there is no way Racing can compete especially since we have a culture of "luck" and "superstition" which goes against the supposed skill of racing.

lol...gambling of any sort is a way of life in japan...any kind of game...lol