Pachinko operator plans smartphone game

Aug 06, 2014 Newsdesk Japan, Latest News, Trends & Tech, World  

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A company that in July said it plans to open a pachinko parlour in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the U.S., on Tuesday announced it has asked a software provider to produce a digital pachinko game for smartphones and tablets.

CMK Gaming International Inc (CMKI) is working with U.K.-based game developer and publisher Route 1 Games.

According to a May filing by CMKI to OTC Markets, a New York-based exchange for over-the-counter securities, CMKI recently bought 100 percent of a Nevada corporation called CMK Nevada that “owns and operates three retail gaming centres, commonly called ‘pachinko parlours,’ in Japan”.

Players of CMKI’s digital game have the chance to win points and rewards that can be redeemed in its pachinko parlour being developed in its Salt Lake City, and expected to open this year, said the firm in a statement.

Shana Weiner, described as CMKI’s chief executive in its latest announcement, said: “…we hope this mobile app will provide customers a taste of what is in store when we open our pachinko parlour in Salt Lake City.”

CMKI believes that its mobile game will help drive customers to its planned U.S. parlour and introduce players to some of the modern versions of pachinko that are available in Japan.

The company aims to own and operate pachinko parlours “throughout the United States” according to Tuesday’s statement.

In Japan, pachinko (pictured) – a game where players pay up front for steel balls fed into pinball-style upright cabinets, with winning balls redeemed for prizes – is designated and regulated as a speculative pastime, and not as gambling.

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