Eshan Maitra
Remember the countless times that you have failed to get the stuffed toy from that cruel claw machine. Those who never tried, you missed on the first childhood gambling ecstasy! Also, saved quite some pocket money. But to the tireless failures, it was not your fault. The claw machines are manufactured that way, to give you high hopes then crush your dreams! The ones who ever got lucky to cash in one toy from there, you are a very lucky person.
You still wish you won something from that machine once, don’t you? But before you do that, read a Claw Machine’s manual. The core features of it includes, profit level and dropping skill! Nuts! Why would claws have dropping skill? Then, where is its use? Well, that is to make the game shops gain fixed profits. It is programmed to earn average 50% profit on the items put into it. Say the stuffed animals worth 50tk each and it took 5tk for each trial. You will have to try 15 times. But the 15th grab is not always winning grab. Since, the winning turn is alwaysbeing randomized.
Amusements machines like these were created mostly in the Economic Depression Era of the 30s’. J.F. Meyer patented this on 18 Jan 1932. It said, “Highly Profitable”, for the owners. Pipe,pocket-knife, flasketc items were put into the claw machines then. It was so addictive, US classified claw machines as gambling and put regulations on it in 1950. Though still this day, there is only regulation is for the limit of winning prizes. The claw machines are still unfair to the players! There isn’t any regulation how little no chance of winning it may assure! Well, casinos follow about the same strategies.