Pachinko, Pachinko

Macau will earn US$6.8 billion in gambling revenues next year, the BBC reports, in awed tones.

But BoI is not so impressed after what we read in Friday's WSJ review of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling. This new book says Japanese Pachinko parlors gross about US$300 billion annually. Yes, "b"illion.




What does $300 billion equal?

Laos' GDP (PPP) - 24.7 times




The total market capitalization of the Stock Exchange of Thailand - 2.1 times




And, apparently 150 million durians, in London, at 10 pounds apiece. That's 2.5 durians for everyone in the UK.