Amusement Arcade - Claw Crane

ShootersHillGuru

Prompted by a comment, believe it or not on the takeover thread I wondered if anyone has actually succeeded in winning a prize or seen someone winning ? My personal view is that it’s actually rigged to be impossible and at what is these days probably a pound a pop it’s something trading standards should be more proactive with. Agree or do I need to get out more.

SoundAsa£

I have seen lots of people ‘nearly’ win. 😲

PopIcon

Back in the 90s i'd regularly pull something fluffy out.

follett

In Japan, where arcades are everywhere, if staff see you struggling to win on the claw machines they'll come over and aid you by precariously placing the toy ready to fall through with a slight touch. I ended up winning 3 or 4 times in the same amount of time I'd have won nothing here. Not convinced I've ever won one in the UK actually. I think it's rigged so the claw only properly grasps once every 10 goes or something so you have to get that 1 in 10 go perfect or you'll wait another 10 goes for a proper chance

DaveMehmet

I've won a couple of times when my daughter was younger. I might be wrong but believe they're set to win after a certain amount of tries.

MuttleyCAFC

ShootersHillGuru said:

Prompted by a comment, believe it or not on the takeover thread I wondered if anyone has actually succeeded in winning a prize or seen someone winning ? My personal view is that it’s actually rigged to be impossible and at what is these days probably a pound a pop it’s something trading standards should be more proactive with. Agree or do I need to get out more.

I was told that the owner of the machine programmes the intervals when more voltage is sent to the grabber so the greedier they are the longer it takes. It can be possible to win a prize with a weak grabber if the prize is close and some machines then increase that interval to compensate. It is a rigged game but I think you had more chance a few years ago than today based solely on observations.

Algarveaddick

My mate Angie is a dab hand, she wins all the time. No idea how she does it. 

Valiantphil

I was disappointed when I found out these machines have a setting which makes the claw “strong” at a frequency set by the owner - 1 in 10, 1 in 20 etc. 
So you never know if it’s the “right time” and even then, you still have to aim and deliver correctly. 

Conclusion - avoid. 

Mendonca In Asdas

For anyone struggling to win, you could always try getting these lads in, I’ve heard they are good!

Croydon

I've won on them a couple of times. Scooped a knock off Toothless dragon on Brighton Pier on the coronation weekend 

CAFCTrev

You have to be lucky enough to play when the crane is ready to pay-out, and even then you need to get a decent grip on the item you're going for. 

ShootersHillGuru

Valiantphil said:

I was disappointed when I found out these machines have a setting which makes the claw “strong” at a frequency set by the owner - 1 in 10, 1 in 20 etc. 
So you never know if it’s the “right time” and even then, you still have to aim and deliver correctly. 

Conclusion - avoid. 

This has to be illegal doesn’t it ? It’s rigged and is therefore a game of complete chance rather than anything using skill ? I always thought it was rigged so not surprised.

paulbaconsarnie

https://youtu.be/MjKhncUwh7w

DaveMehmet

The feeling if you ever do win though is great. Handing the prize over to your child and the look on their face makes you feel like Superdad.

JohnBoyUK

North Lower Neil

DaveMehmet said:

I've won a couple of times when my daughter was younger. I might be wrong but believe they're set to win after a certain amount of tries.

This - I won quite a few for the kids when they were younger just by waiting until someone else had put a few quid in and it was 'ready' to craw properly.

That and going for the available/right shape type ones not trying to get one near the back or whatever.

Basically just like a fruit machine I think they're programmed to 'pay out' once a while but leave a good profit margin.

JiMMy 85

I somehow won a cuddly toy on Brighton beach about ten years ago. It was so easy I was confused. Never been able to do it since so I assume it was a total fluke. 

North Lower Neil

Also they rely on people chucking a few more quid in when they nearly get something before they give up, and presumably get the teddies dirt cheap on wholesale!

JiMMy 85

This is worth a watch! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk_ZlWJ3qJI

MrOneLung

of course, won loads.
Have also lost loads

as others have said, they are programmed to have a set pay out just like fruit machines

If it is not ready to pay out, it doesn't matter how 'perfectly' you have grabbed, it will release it once in the air

johnnybev1987

I used to win all the time at butlins, now i hardly win. I always seem to be pretty bang on with my placement (not really a brag imo) but the amount of times its not ready, it does feel a lot harder to win. 

They should advertise similar to fruit machines, although there is a doubt they are full of shite.

One of my mates who has a gambling problem a few years back was trying to justify these grabbers as not gambling, think over the weekend he probably put about £50 + minimum and didn't win a thing. 

North Lower Neil

MrOneLung said:

of course, won loads.
Have also lost loads

as others have said, they are programmed to have a set pay out just like fruit machines

If it is not ready to pay out, it doesn't matter how 'perfectly' you have grabbed, it will release it once in the air

I've got a mate who just doesn't get this - gets the proper hump about it if it's still loose.

"I had that!!  F***ing scam these" while he puts another quid in.

He has generally got more money than sense though!

ShootersHillGuru

Reading the posts above I can’t understand why anybody would try these at all. 

Clem_Snide

Won quite a few. They are programmed to "pay out" after a certain number of tries. If you watch the claw on the "failed" attempts, it releases just slightly so that even if you have the thing clamped in you drop it. Key is to watch someone else burn a load of money and then chuck a couple of quid in yourself.

fadgadget

Back in the 80`s i won so many down Southend i was giving them away ........... AHHH THE 80`S  

R0TW

I always found turning them upside down improved your odds.

MrOneLung

R0TW said:

I always found turning them upside down improved your odds.

So the slot the prize comes out of is at the top? Are you also turning off gravity ? 

R0TW

Admittedly I never really gave it that much thought.
Perhaps on its side?

cafcfan

I worked with a guy who was a specialist at these machines. We were on the road a lot and forever taking breaks in service stations. He always played a machine and rarely failed. Our whole office was stuffed full of silly fluorescent animals.

Stig

My wife won two in a row in Great Yarmouth (Tigger and Eyeore if I remember correctly). She got one and was thinking, how do I split this between two kids? when another one came out the very next go. It sounds great, but the kids got the impression that you win every time, it cost quite a bit of money before they were disabused of that notion.

ValleyGary

ShootersHillGuru said:

Reading the posts above I can’t understand why anybody would try these at all. 

Cos it’s a bit of fun. Everyone knows the chances of winning are slim, but if you do for your kid the reaction is priceless. Don’t win, it’s a fiver gone but the excitement was there. It really ain’t that deep.