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Prediction Markets Emerge in Japan, With Shopping Vouchers

Prediction Markets Emerge in Japan, With Shopping Vouchers
Bloomberg Technology Monday 29 June 2026, 02:00 UTC By Maho Nambu, Alice French 1 min read
Key Points

Prediction Markets Emerge in Japan, With Shopping Vouchers Homegrown platforms, banned from real-money gambling, are tapping the country’s loyalty-point culture to build an alternative to Polymarket. Even as prediction platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi surged into the global mainstream in recent years, Japan — like its Asian neighbors China and South Korea — remained a no-go zone due to strict anti-gambling regulations. That may be starting to change, thanks to enterprising new startups...

Prediction Markets Emerge in Japan, With Shopping Vouchers Homegrown platforms, banned from real-money gambling, are tapping the country’s loyalty-point culture to build an alternative to Polymarket. Even as prediction platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi surged into the global mainstream in recent years, Japan — like its Asian neighbors China and South Korea — remained a no-go zone due to strict anti-gambling regulations. That may be starting to change, thanks to enterprising new startups that are finding ways to skirt regulations. Leading the charge are homegrown platforms launched by Gen Z entrepreneurs. Spearheaded by seven-month-old Miraima, the apps allow users to wager on real-world events and win points that can be converted into monetary rewards such as gift cards — an indirect payout system that’s similar to the workaround employed by pachinko, the country’s $100 billion pinball gaming industry, to remain legal. “It’s a bit addictive,” said Ryoga Kamei, an IT engineer in his twenties who says he’s earned more than 10,000 yen a month in points on Miraima and similar apps. A soccer fan, he mostly bets on sports matches. “I find myself opening the apps whenever I have a spare moment, or when there’s news that might move the odds,” he said. [Image text:] Cancel X Q Miraima 05- GET News #10 News Masentic Inc *797 ** C $3 19753 F9/01
Japan (LOCATION) Polymarket (PERSON) Kalshi (PERSON) Asian (ORG) China (LOCATION) South Korea (LOCATION) Gen Z (ORG) Miraima (LOCATION) Ryoga Kamei (PERSON)
Originally published by Bloomberg Technology Read original →

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