CLAIMS TO FAME
- Largest individual shareholder of Japan’s second largest pachinko operator
With Japan’s pachinko industry in the midst of a long decline, pachinko hall operator Dynam Holdings has been actively looking for ways to attract a fresh, young audience. This has required a substantially updated business model through which the company has been gradually converting high playing cost halls to low playing cost halls and targeting entertainment over volatility.
The strategy appears to be enjoying some success. In FY24, Dynam reported a 9% increase in revenue from pachinko and for the first time in years saw the number of halls it operates actually increase – closing down three unprofitable halls but acquiring seven by way of M&A activity.
In its annual report, the company explained that such activity by major operators is resulting in a realignment of the industry, while the introduction in November 2022 of “smart” machines – which use a carded system without the need to physically touch medals or balls – has resulted in greater installation of new machines. Dynam says smart pachinko machines now comprise 30% of its inventory.
For all this, Dynam remains a family-owned business and, according to sources, Yoji Sato is still the company’s key decision maker courtesy of the personal 34% stake he holds in the company his father founded in 1967.
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