Japan Tip of the Day: Betting on Japan Racing Association horses

Tokyo Racecourse paddock (Photo by Jun Sakahira, Stripes Japan)

Occasionally, I like to test my luck and gamble away a few dollars. Since casino gambling is illegal in Japan and pachinko slots seem like they require a little more money to play, I go to the horses.

In Japan, there are two different horseracing organizations, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) and the National Association of Racing (NAR). JRA is a special public company with 10 racetracks across the country, including Tokyo, Kyoto and Hanshin. The NAR, on the other hand, is operated by local governments and has 15 racetracks in Oi, Kawasaki, Nagoya and other prefectures.

WHERE TO BET

Since JRA races are national, the prize money tends to be higher. Also, placing JRA bets online is easier. There are two ways to bet on JRA races that even foreigners will not find difficult.

First, you can bet online, but it requires a Japanese debit card. The other way is to obtain a Smappy QR code online, take it to the nearest JRA facility and place bets with it on the UMACA machine.

In my experience, online betting with a Japanese debit card has been the easiest. I can translate the website and pick which style of bets I would like to place. For paying, my fiancé and I use her card just to keep it simple. I always wanted to try to visit one of the racetracks Japan but have been told it would be too chaotic with people who have betting addictions.

(Photo by Jun Sakahira)

Tokyo Racecourse on Derby day (Photo by Jun Sakahira)

(Photo by Jun Sakahira)

HOW TO BET

There are many betting formats to choose from, but I prefer “win” bets, so I can bet 100 yen on the horses with the funniest names. You can bet as much as you want but the chances of winning are very slim.

JRA has three race categories: G1, G2 or G3, with G1 being the highest level of competition. The levels are ranked by many factors to include best horses, trainers and jockeys. That also means more prize money!

WINNING A BET

If you win, the payout method is back to the same method you used to place a bet. If you bet using a Japanese debit card, the prize money is deposited into that account. Without a debit card, you need to go to any JRA facility to pick up your winnings.

Unfortunately, like in all gambling situations, there are charges and, in many cases, taxes to be paid, even as a foreigner. Depending on the betting format, around 20-30% is automatically deducted from the prize money. This only applies if you win under 500,000 yen. If you win more, you must report your winnings, minus total bets, to the National Tax Agency to pay a special income tax.

JUST FOR FUN

One thing I truly appreciate about JRA bets is that I can bet the minimum just for fun and not empty my wallet. The adrenaline of watching the horse race live on TV to see if my horse wins is exhilarating. Although I have yet to win any money, it is fun to participate.

Horse races are surprisingly very popular in Japan, so if you’re interested, there are many tracks around the country to catch a race live. For more information on horse racing in Japan, check out Mr. Takahiro-sensei’s story: Horsing around at a Japanese racetrack | Stripes Japan

Gamble responsibly.

Stripes Japan writer Takahiro Takiguchi contributed to this story.

Website: https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/go_racing/jra_howtobet.html (English version)

Japan Racing Association (JRA) Racetracks