Nintendo casino tables (early 1970s)

In the early 1970s, Nintendo set up a subsidiary called Nintendo Leisure System (任天堂レジャーシステム). This part of Nintendo's business focussed on developing entertainment equipment, including a range of arcade games (like Computer Othello) and the Laser Clay shooting gallery, which was based on the light beam technology started with the Kôsenjû SP series.

The pictures shown here are taken from four leaflets by Nintendo Leisure System, advertising luxurious gambling tables.

Although far removed from the innovative electronic games you would expect from Nintendo, they show that Nintendo was interested to cater to a broad range of entertainment interests, closely following trends.

Nintendo Extra 4 (エクストラ４, 1972)

Nintendo's products have long been associated with gambling. During the first fifty years of the company's existence, their hanafuda cards were frequently used for (illegal) gambling practices by the Yakuza.

When Nintendo started producing family games and party games in the 1960s, gambling remained a popular theme - but now as activity for an innocent domestic setting, involving make-believe money.

Some examples of this are the Las Vegas and Casino board games and various standard Roulette games. Another interesting gambling game is Extra 4, shown here.

Nintendo Magic Roulette (マジック ルーレット, ca 1966)

In the 1960s and 70s, Nintendo released many different Roulette sets.

Some of the many Roulette sets released by Nintendo

Most of these were traditional roulette games, with a standard spinning wheel and a single white ball.

Besides these, Nintendo also designed a couple of original games that are more loosely based on roulette. One example of this is Magic Roulette, shown here.

Nintendo Magic Roulette (ca 1966)

Nintendo aimed these games at an adult audience.