"\"Gambling May Help Prevent Dementia\""
A senior day care facility modeled after casinos in Japan is attracting attention.
On the 10th (local time), Bloomberg reported that Japan's gambling industry is seeking new opportunities by targeting recently retired seniors as a new customer base.
Senior Life, headquartered in Tokyo, operates 22 senior care facilities nationwide called "Day Service Las Vegas." Currently, about 7,000 users enjoy entertainment facilities such as pachinko (Japanese gambling machines), mahjong, and card games. Although designed like a casino, no real money is used; gambling is done with tokens purchased using fake money.
Kaoru Mori, CEO of Senior Life, explained, "We established this center to add interest to the concept of nursing homes, which were perceived as boring," adding, "The most important thing is that gambling brings joy to the elderly."
Pachinko machines are specially made to suit seniors. Pachinko machine manufacturer Toyomaru Sangyo is producing machines with large screens and integrated bicycle pedals after consulting with experts. The company explains that these products are designed to help seniors recover and improve their physical functions.
There are also expert opinions that gambling can have a positive effect on preventing dementia in the elderly. Professor Kikunori Shinohara of Suwa Tokyo Science University said, "People in their 70s who enjoy pachinko have higher cognitive abilities than those who do not," adding, "It is better to engage in activities they enjoy than to undergo boring treatments."
Japan's pachinko industry is in decline due to population decrease and government policies to curb gambling addiction. In 2022, Japan's total pachinko expenditure was 14.6 trillion yen (about 138.16 trillion won), less than half of what it was 20 years ago.
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