Halls’ Preference for Low Prices and Restraint on Capital Investment

「Against this backdrop, the gaming industry showed a cautious stance toward capital investment because of higher utility and personnel costs. Although the spread of smart pachislot machines remained firm, the spread of smart pachinko machines was weaker than expected.」

「遊技業界においては、光熱費や人件費の上昇などにより設備投資に慎重な姿勢が見られ、スマートパチスロの普及は底堅く推移したものの、スマートパチンコの普及は想定よりも低調に推移いたしました。」

「In the gaming industry, the business environment became increasingly challenging because of higher personnel expenses and increased capital investment in gaming machines and other equipment, in addition to the反動 from the previous year’s banknote redesign measures, while」

「Against this backdrop, revenue increased on sales of smart gaming machines and demand associated with the July 2024 banknote redesign. However, profit declined because the banknote validators and standard units sold to address the redesign had low profit margins.」

「Against this backdrop, replacement with smart units continued to progress well in the gaming industry, and demand associated with the July 2024 banknote redesign also contributed to higher revenue. However, operating profit declined slightly as sales of low-margin products, including banknote validators and standard units, increased.」

「Against this backdrop, replacement with smart pachinko machines progressed very slowly in the gaming industry, but demand for replacing machines with smart slots remained strong, resulting in increases in both revenue and profit.」

「Against this backdrop, demand for replacing pachislot machines with smart slots continued in the gaming industry, supported by high pachislot utilization. Inquiries for smart units also progressed steadily, resulting in increases in both revenue and profit.」

「In addition to the introduction of major smart pachislot titles beginning in April, the introduction of smart pachinko also began. Inquiries for smart units continued to progress steadily, resulting in substantial increases in both revenue and profit.」

「The introduction of smart pachislot machines began in November at pachinko halls, and inquiries for smart units progressed steadily.」

「Against this backdrop, pachinko halls, the Group’s main customers, have continued to take a cautious stance toward capital investment with the introduction of smart pachinko and smart pachislot machines approaching.」

「With a view to the timing of the introduction of smart pachinko and smart pachislot machines, a cautious stance toward capital investment has continued.」

「With a view to the timing of the introduction of smart pachinko and smart slots, a cautious stance toward capital investment has continued.」

「Although pachinko halls, the Group’s main customers, have continued to take a cautious stance toward capital investment, equipment sales increased substantially as store renovations associated with gaming-machine replacements continued to trend upward.」

「Pachinko halls, the Group’s main customers, have begun to hold back on capital investment in addition to the uncertain outlook, following the announcement in August that smart pachinko was scheduled to be introduced to the market from April next year.」

「Pachinko halls, the Group’s main customers, have continued to take a cautious stance toward capital investment amid ongoing uncertainty about the outlook, although」

「In addition, as there is still no clear prospect of bringing the COVID-19 pandemic under control, pachinko halls have suffered substantial economic losses, and a full-fledged recovery in their diminished appetite for capital investment is expected to take considerable time.」

「We expect the decline in appetite for capital investment to continue due to uncertainty over the outlook resulting from the removal of machines subject to the former regulations following regulatory amendments and the spread of infectious diseases, and anticipate that a full-fledged recovery will take time.」

「At pachinko halls, which are our group's main customers, we expect the decline in appetite for capital investment to continue due to uncertainty over the outlook resulting from the spread of COVID-19 and other factors, and anticipate that a full-fledged recovery will take time.」

「The decline in appetite for capital investment is expected to continue due to uncertainty over the outlook, and a full-fledged recovery is expected to take time. While business activities were restricted by the spread of infection, our group promoted the conversion to per-machine counting and replacement of older equipment to help rationalize pachinko hall operations and maintain and improve its share of member stores. However, due to pachinko halls' voluntary business suspensions based on declarations of a state of emergency, business performance, including equipment sales and system usage fees, fell significantly below the previous fiscal year.」

「Furthermore, pachinko halls suffered substantial economic losses due to the spread of COVID-19 and the impact of declarations of a state of emergency. We expect their appetite for capital investment to continue declining and anticipate that a full-fledged recovery in investment appetite will take time.」

「Restraint on purchases of peripheral equipment continued due to uncertainty over the outlook.」

「Restraint on purchases of peripheral equipment continued due to uncertainty over the outlook.」

「Pachinko halls continued to focus on reducing costs and maintained a cautious stance toward capital investment, including new openings and renovations. Investment in the peripheral equipment handled by our group was particularly weak, and the challenging market environment continued.」

「Against this backdrop, pachinko halls strengthened their efforts toward low-cost operations and adopted a cautious stance toward capital investment, including new openings and renovations. Investment in the peripheral equipment handled by our group was particularly weak, making the market environment increasingly challenging.」

「Against this backdrop, pachinko halls strengthened their efforts toward low-cost operations and adopted a cautious stance toward capital investment, including new openings and renovations. Investment in the peripheral equipment handled by our group was weak, making the market environment increasingly challenging.」

「Against this backdrop, pachinko halls strengthened their efforts toward low-cost operations and adopted a cautious stance toward capital investment, including new openings and renovations. Investment in the peripheral equipment handled by our group was particularly weak, making the market environment increasingly challenging.」

「Pachinko halls are making stronger efforts to reduce costs and are increasingly favoring lower prices. Their cautious stance toward capital investment generally, including new openings and renovations, has continued, with investment particularly weak in peripheral equipment, making the market environment surrounding our group increasingly challenging.」