Turnover of sports betting races in Japan 2021, by sport

The turnover registered from betting at Japan Racing Association (JRA) horse races held in Japan in 2021 amounted to close to 3.1 trillion Japanese yen. This was the betting sports discipline with the highest amount wagered among Japan’s four betting sports during that year. Other than horse racing, betting sports in Japan include motorboat racing, bicycle racing, and motorcycle racing.

Motorboat racing

Motorboat racing, often referred to as boat racing or kyotei in Japanese, is the second largest segment in the sports betting industry. The net sales of boat race betting in Japan are rapidly increasing. As is the case for the other three disciplines among the “public sports” in Japan, boat racing is administered by organizations affiliated with the government. Boat racing was introduced in the early 1950s and has gained considerable popularity since then, recording an increasingly high number of gambling participants throughout the year.

Bicycle racing

Bicycle racing, or keirin in Japanese, is the third largest segment in the sports betting industry. Bike racing betting turnover has increased considerably during the past few years, particularly since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, professional bicycle racing attendance at venues has decreased to a fraction of what it was in its heyday. The increasing digitalization of the sports betting industry has enabled gamblers to participate without being at the venue, which might be a reason for increased betting turnover.