Translation guide
A person or business that accepts and pays off bets, especially on sporting events. In Japanese, the term is often borrowed directly from English, but native expressions exist for related roles and establishments.
To refer to a person or company that takes bets, calculates odds, and pays out winnings.
Direct loanword from English, widely understood in contexts of sports betting, especially online or international.
He bets with an online bookmaker.
Literally 'betting shop/operator'. A more native Japanese term, but less common than the loanword. Can sound slightly dated or informal.
That bookmaker is famous locally.
Slang term for an illegal bookmaker, especially one who takes bets on horse racing. Derived from 'nomu' (to drink/swallow), implying they 'swallow' bets. Use with caution as it implies illegality.
The police cracked down on an illegal bookmaker.
To refer to the physical or online shop where bets are placed.
To refer to the official system or operator for betting on horse races in Japan.
In Japan, horse race betting is legal and operated by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) and local authorities. There is no private 'bookmaker' in the Western sense; instead, use terms like 競馬 (horse racing) and 馬券 (betting ticket).
I bet on a horse race.
Off-track betting facility where you can buy horse race tickets. This is the closest physical equivalent to a bookmaker's shop.
Most forms of sports betting are illegal in Japan. Horse racing, bicycle racing, boat racing, and motorcycle racing are exceptions, operated under government control. Using terms like ノミ屋 implies illegal activity.
ブックメーカー is the standard modern term, especially for online betting. 賭け屋 is less common and may sound old-fashioned or refer to a small-scale local operator.
Various bets are placed at that gambling establishment.
He bought a betting ticket at the off-track betting facility.