Addicted and Life in Ruins! The Dangerous Trap of "Yami-sulo"

Do you know about "Yami-slo"?

"Yami-slo" is short for "Yami Slot," referring to illegal pachislot parlors operating without a permit under the Amusement Business Act.

The machines are modified, there are no signs, and they are often located in back alleys or discreet areas. While the typical exchange rate for medals is 20 JPY per piece, Yami-slo establishments usually offer higher rates, with one medal costing 100 to 500 JPY.

As Yakuza or semi-criminal groups are often involved in backing these operations, the police frequently crack down on Yami-slo to cut off their revenue streams.

If caught, not only the owners and employees but also the customers can be arrested.

Playing at these establishments constitutes the crime of gambling, which carries a penalty of a fine of up to 500,000 JPY, and habitual gambling can result in up to three years of imprisonment.

This is a true story that I heard from an acquaintance.

After the Class Reunion

My name is "Imai Kazumi," and I'm a 29-year-old housewife.

Five years ago, I married "Imai Takashi," a bank employee whom I met at work, and we have a daughter who will soon turn two years old.

My husband is a serious and hardworking man who graduated from Tokyo University. Supporting him in his endeavors brings me great happiness.

One day, I received an invitation to a university circle reunion and immediately contacted my best friend, "Yoshikawa Minako," to ask if she would be attending.

She replied that she planned to go, so I talked to my husband about it and received his permission to participate.

I was thrilled about the upcoming gathering, as it had been a long time since I'd attended a drinking party.

The venue was a Japanese cuisine restaurant in Shinjuku.

As we had a private room, we were able to enjoy ourselves thoroughly.

Around 20 people attended, including my best friend Minako, and it was wonderful to reconnect with old friends.

Due to marriages, childbirths, and other life events, we hadn't been able to gather like this in several years, so I cherished the opportunity.

We shared updates on our lives and reminisced about old times.

Most of us were married with children, but there were also a few single attendees.

After the first party ended, everyone else headed to the second gathering at a karaoke place, but since I had left my child in my husband's care, I decided to head home.

Minako offered to accompany me, and as we were walking, a man who seemed to be a tout approached us.

"How about some entertainment, ladies? We also offer gambling."

I ignored him and kept walking, but Minako, perhaps influenced by the alcohol, stopped.

"Gambling? What kind?"

"How about slot machines?"

Minako was single, a brand-lover, and apparently had several boyfriends. She was also known to frequent pachislot parlors in her free time.

"Slots sound fun. Come on, Kazumi, please join me for just a little while."

"Huh? I don't know anything about slots."

"It's okay, I'll teach you. Please, just 30 minutes!"

"Fine, but only 30 minutes!"

"Great, it's decided then!"

And so, we followed the tout.

Arriving at the Yami-slo Parlor

"Please come in. This way."

We were led to a room on the second floor of a nondescript building. The door was thick and sturdy-looking.

Inside, there were about 30 slot machines.

There were five other customers, including a couple.

"Go ahead and play! Oh, but first, Kazumi, let me treat you. Please play with this 10,000 JPY worth of medals I'm giving you."

Minako kindly offered to teach me the basics.

"First, you choose a machine and the rate. This 'Juggler' machine is good for beginners; it's easy to play. There are various rates, but for this one, each medal is 100 JPY, so with 10,000 JPY, you get 100 medals. Insert your money into this upper right slot, and then press the loan button to receive the medals you'll use to play."

"I see."

"You insert the medals into this slot, three at a time. Pull the lever to start the reels spinning, and then press the stop button to stop them. When the pictures line up from left to middle to right, you win medals..."

"Hmm..."

"When the pictures match, you'll get more coins. Press this 'MAX BET' button, and the machine will automatically take out three coins to play with. Also, if the 'GOGO CHANCE' lights up, your bonus is guaranteed, so line up the pictures by stopping the reels at the right time."

"I understand."

"It's simple, right? First, try to line up the number 7. You can play with this machine until you've used up the 10,000 JPY worth of medals."

"Okay, thank you."

And so, Kazumi began her first-ever slot machine experience.

Beginner's Luck

As Kazumi played, the "GOGO CHANCE" lamp on the left side of the machine started to light up.

"Should I keep spinning?" she asked Minako, who was playing next to her.

"Wow, that's amazing! Keep going! As long as this lamp is lit, if you get over 50 medals, more will come out from below, so keep spinning!"

"Okay!"

The bonus wins were also indicated by a lamp!

"It's a near win! The bonus symbols are in a straight line! When you win, stop the reels to line up the symbols!"

"Like this?"

"There's a feature called 'slipping,' so stop the reels a little early to aim for the symbol you want. Nice job! You did it!"

With her successful stop, the bonus symbols lined up, and medals started pouring out of the machine.

(Wow, this is amazing...)

Using her winnings, she continued to play, triggering bonuses one after another, and her medal count increased rapidly.

Kazumi was on a roll, and the loud sounds from the slot machine stimulated her brain, making the experience thrilling!

The medals accumulated in the lower tray, and when it was full, she transferred them to a medal box.

(This is incredible! I'm so excited! I'm winning big!)

When she checked the time, she realized she had been playing for an hour already.

(The lamp turned off, so I should stop now.)

She stopped the reels, confirmed that the win lamp was off, and transferred the remaining medals from the lower tray to the medal box. She then cashed out the remaining cash from the machine and had a staff member carry the medal box to the counter for her.

Her winnings? A whopping 130,000 JPY!

The 10,000 JPY Minako had given her had turned into 130,000 JPY.

"Since I played with the money Minako gave me, this money belongs to her."

"No, you won it, Kazumi, so you should keep it."

"In that case, I'll return the 10,000 JPY and split the rest with you."

"Are you sure? That's so generous of you."

"Thank you."

"It was truly amazing, beginner's luck for sure!"

"I'm still in shock!"

With 60,000 JPY in hand, Kazumi returned home with a beaming smile.

(I need to hide this membership card they gave me from my husband.)

Unable to Forget the Thrill

The next morning, Kazumi couldn't get the excitement of the previous night out of her head.

(It was so much fun... I want to go back... I still have the 60,000 JPY I won, so maybe I'll just go for a little while.)

She left her child in the care of her mother, who lived nearby, and headed to the Yami-slo parlor in the middle of the day.

(If 10,000 JPY turned into 130,000 JPY, then maybe 60,000 JPY could become 780,000 JPY! I'll give it a shot!)

Upon arriving at the parlor, she presented her membership card at the entrance and was let in, even though the tout who had initially brought them there was nowhere to be seen.

The machine she had played the day before was occupied by an elderly woman, so she chose a different one and started playing...

But...

(I'm not winning anything...)

The 60,000 JPY she had won the previous day was gone within just two hours.

She had no choice but to go home, but even as she prepared dinner that evening, she couldn't settle down.

(I need to win back the money I lost.)

And so, Kazumi found herself frequently leaving her child with her mother and returning to the Yami-slo parlor.

Yesterday, she lost 50,000 JPY. Today, it was 100,000 JPY...

She even dipped into their savings for a future house and her child's education fund. Unable to recover her losses, she resorted to borrowing money.

(I need to win back the money I lost... but what will I tell my husband?)

The Manager Recommends an Extremely High-Rate Machine

One day, the parlor's manager approached her.

"Thank you for your continued patronage. If you're interested, we can also offer a special machine with an extremely high rate of 500 JPY per medal. Would you like to try it?"

"500 JPY per medal?! Are you serious?"

"Yes, we can prepare it for you in the back room today."

(500 JPY per medal is an extremely high rate. If I'm lucky, I might be able to recoup all my previous losses.)

"Please do."

"This way..."

Kazumi was led to the back room and started playing on the 500-JPY-per-medal machine.

(I have to win... I've secretly taken out 200,000 JPY from our savings, and I also borrowed 100,000 JPY from a consumer finance company. I can't afford to lose it all...)

However, reality was harsh.

The parlor must have been manipulating the machine's settings remotely, ensuring that she wouldn't win.

The 100,000 JPY she had brought was gone in no time.

Even the usually mild-mannered Kazumi was furious.

"Manager! What's going on?! I've already spent 300,000 JPY in this place!"

"What do you mean, 'what's going on'?

"Why can't I win?!"

"Oh, that machine? The previous customer won quite a bit, so I think your chance will come soon."

"I see..."

(It's over... I'm ruined.)

That night, as she cooked dinner and ate with her family, Kazumi was in a daze.

"Kazumi, more food... Kazumi?!?"

"Oh, sorry."

"What's wrong? You look pale. Is something the matter?"

(I can't tell him... I can't admit that I lost 300,000 JPY at a Yami-slo parlor... If I do, he might divorce me, and I might never see my child again... But I can't let that parlor get away with this.)

"It's nothing."

"Okay, well, this horse mackerel fry is delicious!"

"Thank you..."

As she cleaned up after dinner, tears started to fall.

They were tears of anger and self-loathing.

(If only I could go back in time... With the 60,000 JPY I won, we could have enjoyed a luxurious dinner as a family.)

Taking Her Own Life

The next day, Kazumi retrieved a rope from the storage area in their home, put it in her bag, and headed to the Yami-slo parlor.

She showed her membership card at the entrance, and as always, the staff greeted her with a smile.

"Welcome..."

Kazumi didn't respond.

She made her way to the women's restroom in the back.

She locked the door from the inside and hanged herself with the rope.

That night, when her husband returned home, he found a suicide note on the table. It explained that she had spent all their money and that she had borrowed from consumer finance companies. In the end, she wrote, "I'm so, so sorry."

Conclusion

Once experienced, the thrill becomes a pleasure, and the brain craves it again and again. However, if one cannot control their desires with reason, life can become fragile and fleeting.

It's important to make decisions rationally, without being swayed by emotions, no matter the situation.