Telephone voting reduced to ARS and I-PAT methods; Soku PAT at 9 banks; JRA Direct at 10 card companies

Japan's telephone and internet betting system for public racing, known as denwa tohyo, now operates through two methods only. As of 1 July 2024, the available routes are ARS, an audio response system using a push-button telephone, and I-PAT, the internet-based system¹. The older CRT method, in which an operator took the bet over the phone, has been abolished and replaced by ARS¹.

The system has a long history in central racing (JRA), where it was first introduced in 1991¹. The PAT method, which used dedicated terminals and software, ended its service at the end of July 2015¹. I-PAT began in 2002 and has since become the main route, allowing betting from a computer, smartphone or tablet¹. Under the current rules, bets are placed in units of 100 yen for all bet types, and the cut-off is two minutes before the race for ARS and JRA Direct, and one minute before for I-PAT and PAT¹. JRA Direct requires a minimum purchase of 1,000 yen in 100 yen units¹.

Two linked services remain in place. JRA Direct is supported by ten credit card companies¹. Membership carries no joining fee or annual fee, and anyone aged 20 or over who is not barred under the relevant laws may take part¹.

The service covers all races held nationwide in central racing, regional racing, keirin, boat racing and auto racing¹. Bets can be placed from 7am on the day of the race for afternoon races, or from 7am the previous day for morning races, up to two minutes before the scheduled start¹. Frame quinella (wakuren) and WIN5 are not sold through this route¹. The maximum number of runners JRA can handle is 24¹.

What it means for players

For anyone betting on Japanese racing from inside the country, the practical effect is that the phone-based route now means ARS or I-PAT, and the older operator-assisted CRT calls are gone¹. Soku PAT remains the fast route for people who already hold an account at one of the nine partner banks, while JRA Direct runs through ten credit card companies¹. Joining is free, but the account arrangements differ by provider, and some banks do not handle evening or night race meetings, so the racing body or the bank's own notices are the place to check¹. Bets are in 100 yen units, with JRA Direct requiring at least 1,000 yen¹. Frame quinella and WIN5 cannot be bought this way¹.

What happens next

No further changes are reported.

For background on the sport and how betting works across the region, see Horse Racing and Betting in Asia, and for the wider legal picture in the country see Can I Gamble in Japan?.