Claw Machines: a category of gambling?

[uneng]

Nowadays you can find these claw machines in many stores, restaurants and malls. They are popular among young people, and are always shining captivating colours to the eyes. Most of them reward soft toy or cuddly toy and electronic gadgets, while there are also few versions where you can grab paper money available. You just have to be skilled enough to manage collecting the prize with the claw, dropping it into the collect box right after.

In order to play, you have to risk money from your pocket for a single or few attempts with the claw. In most attempts, however, it's like the prize will slip from the claw or you won't even achieve collecting anything with it, since it's made of a slippy metal.

Do you consider this a category of gambling game? What are the chances on long run? Skills matter, or do you have to be lucky, nevertheless?

 

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[Davidvictorson]

Do you consider this a category of gambling game? What are the chances on long run? Skills matter, or do you have to be lucky, nevertheless?

I don't consider this to be gambling. It can't be. In gambling there is a stake for win. This is just some kind of game. It doesn't require any skill. You just need to be smart enough to gather as much money as you can.
There are no odds. And compared to real gambling, you are told to gamble responsibly. In this case everyone is just catching fun. I've seen kids play this game. Nothing but fun. And when you lose, you move one because other people are waiting in line.

[iv4n]

In order to play, you have to risk money from your pocket...
Do you consider this a category of gambling game? What are the chances on long run? Skills matter, or do you have to be lucky, nevertheless?

To me this is gambling, my definition of gambling is that if we put something in and risk what we have in trying to win more (or any reward that is greater than the stake itself) that is gambling. I don't think winning these games has anything to do with skill, these machines are rigged and you just have to be lucky enough to hit the right time to play. Simply said, the claw opens up for a second when gets fully up in most cases, just sometimes it stays closed and brings a prize.

And sadly we see them everywhere around... wherever kids hang out we can see these machines, and kids ask their parents just for a few tries, I have that "problem", in most cases I talk them out of it, but sometimes I give up and I play together with my kids.

[Sunderland]

Clam machines with doll as the prize like this cannot be categorized as gambling because there is no motive to seek economic gain, but is only for entertainment.
Some people are definitely addicted to playing this game again and again but they only do that for fun.

But if the claw machine is like in the last screenshot (real money?), it can be categorized as gambling because there is cash involved there.
Im still not sure whether its real money or play money that can be exchanged for gifts? If its play money, I dont think it can be categorized as gambling.

This game require a skill too, because if we have played several times on the same machine, we already know the advantages and disadvantages of that machine.
And machines like this are prone to cheating, such as weak claws and unresponsive levers.

[Juse14]

There is indeed a similarity between claw machines and gambling, but I cannot say that this is a form of gambling, considering that there are no bets made with unpredictable results like gambling in general, although it does require a little luck to play it. gets its reward because it can easily slip from your grasp. Even so, some skill is also a factor because how well a person operates their claws can influence whether we will be rewarded.

Claw machines may appear to have gambling characteristics, such as relying on chance, but they are essentially games of skill and not a form of gambling in general. Nonetheless, for individuals who indulge in excessive participation and spend large amounts of money in it, this can cause concern and lead to problematic gambling behavior.

[SUPERSAIAN]

It is for entertainment purposes, those who play generally know that they will lose, there is a low probability of being able to take a bear out of there. I say this as someone who has never won before. These Claw Machines are very popular in the Far East, they can sit and wake up for hours like a slot machine, I think it may be a very old gambling in their culture.

Although in some countries it is loved very little, in some countries it has many fans, as I said.

[acroman08]

Do you consider this a category of gambling game? What are the chances on long run? Skills matter, or do you have to be lucky, nevertheless?

Kind of, I mean you are staking "money" to play it. while majority of claw machines I see gives out stuff toys or candies there are some that gives out money or other valuable or expensive prizes.

anyway, claw machines are notoriously rigged, I've read articles talking about how the claw on claw machines are programed to grab tight only after certain amount of plays.

[Potato Chips]

IMO, yes as I consider this a game you win through luck and there is a money at stake although, most of the time, I wonder if it's rigged LOL.

But we could also say it's in the gray lines because I believe in most countries, they are not considered as gambling otherwise, they wouldn't be on arcades which a lot of kids go. Probably toning down the prizes and completely excluding cash are ways to go around it. In our place, arcades also have their own currency (for the lack of better word!) in the form of physical tickets.

[summonerrk]

Hmm... I strongly believe that playing a claw machine is not gambling at all. Unlike traditional forms of gambling where luck plays a major role, the claw machine requires skill and strategy to win. It's all about timing, precision, and hand-eye coordination. You have to carefully assess the position of the prize, calculate the strength of the claw, and make a calculated move to grab it. It's more like a test of skill rather than a game of chance.
Sure, luck can come into play sometimes, but ultimately, it's your skill that determines whether you walk away with a prize or not.

[darkangel11]

Clam machines with doll as the prize like this cannot be categorized as gambling because there is no motive to seek economic gain, but is only for entertainment.
Some people are definitely addicted to playing this game again and again but they only do that for fun.

But if the claw machine is like in the last screenshot (real money?), it can be categorized as gambling because there is cash involved there.
Im still not sure whether its real money or play money that can be exchanged for gifts? If its play money, I dont think it can be categorized as gambling.

This game require a skill too, because if we have played several times on the same machine, we already know the advantages and disadvantages of that machine.
And machines like this are prone to cheating, such as weak claws and unresponsive levers.

Most people will not play these to get stuffed animals, these are kids versions of this game. The ones I've seen have real items inside, like plastic boxes with money, watches, phones and similar stuff. You put in a few coins and can potentially win an item worth 5 times more, but if you fail to grab it a few times you'll end up losing money.
I think that this is gambling, but I don't play them because most of them are rigged. I've seen how it's done because people on youtube open these machines up. You can set the force with which the claw closes and the speed it moves back and sometimes these machines are set so that the claw moves back fast and even if you grab an item it will fall back when the claw goes up and starts moving towards you.

[PX-Z]

There's an existing thread about this too asking of if claw machine is gambling too, but it looks like it was moved. Well, you can't call it gambling for too many reasons. It's more like games to entertain kids and adults.
I search why it is not gambling, it its because, of lesser valuable price which is reasonable.

anyway, claw machines are notoriously rigged, I've read articles talking about how the claw on claw machines are programed to grab tight only after certain amount of plays.

Yes, i know someone who work under a company with these claw machines and it is really set like it needed X numbers of plays before the claw hold tight, but it's different somewhere in Japan. I saw videos that it's much easier to play there.

[cabron]

Its a game but seems not a gambling game though. But you certainly have the chance to get more than the coins you insert into these machines so there is an incentive to win a bigger prize which somehow falls into a gambling category.

The games are for kids however so its sort of between the lines where you may not consider it gambling but because the prizes are just stuffed toys, gadgets, and so forth the regulators won't mind the business.

[serjent05]

For me, claw machine has an element of gambling because we need to risk money in order to get a reward.  With that I also think that claw machines should be included in the gambling category.  Remember to get a prize on the claw machine, a person needs to risk his money and oftentimes the player loses and does not get any items on the machine.  While many think it is not a gambling game since skill is involved in the game, it can be refuted by giving sports betting along with poker as an example where skill-based games can be considered gambling.

So for me Claw machines should be included in gambling category because there is an element of gambling on that game.

Hmm... I strongly believe that playing a claw machine is not gambling at all. Unlike traditional forms of gambling where luck plays a major role, the claw machine requires skill and strategy to win. It's all about timing, precision, and hand-eye coordination. You have to carefully assess the position of the prize, calculate the strength of the claw, and make a calculated move to grab it. It's more like a test of skill rather than a game of chance.
Sure, luck can come into play sometimes, but ultimately, it's your skill that determines whether you walk away with a prize or not.

And what about the money involved?  If the claw machines is exempted to be included in gambling category because skill is required for the game, then what about poker and sports betting?  As long as there is an element of gambling, I believe it should be included in the gambling category.

[Hispo]

I have seen those machines before here in my city and I have only tried them once or twice when I was youger. My family in general has always assumed those machines to be some kind of soft scam or something like it. 
I don't think those crane games and machines are completely related to gambling, actually, because of the luring prizes somethimes are put puporsely in them I would dare to say it would be better to wager money on sport bets or in probably fair games. Crane games are purposely too attractive to ignore (cash, high tech video consoles, expensive games and watches, etc).
It would seem to me the mechanism behind the crane is conceived on purpose so it will open a bit right before lifting the prize most of the times, to it would become very unlikely for anyone to actually pick up something good.
It is about comon sense, I think. If the owners of those machines are willing to risk literal packs of cash, still they need to guarantee the machine to be profitable, so it is likely thay are rigged somehow for someone to have almost no chances to win.
Not even keeping in mind the owners of those machines could also shield themselves behind the fact the player is the onw who decides who to manouver the claw, so there is less likely for the tricky mechanism to be spotted.

I would rather to stick to dices and a bit of plinko, it sounds fairer. 

[AmoreJaz]

Its a game but seems not a gambling game though. But you certainly have the chance to get more than the coins you insert into these machines so there is an incentive to win a bigger prize which somehow falls into a gambling category.

The games are for kids however so its sort of between the lines where you may not consider it gambling but because the prizes are just stuffed toys, gadgets, and so forth the regulators won't mind the business.

It can be under the gambling category because people are gambling their money just to get these stuffed toys. But tell you what, very rare that a person can grab those stuffed toys. Yeah, I tried that several times before just for the sake of trying it. But the chance of getting that is slim in my opinion, given the fact that the time frame is very short. Thus, these claw machines are literally just eating your tokens.

It may not be seen as part of hard core gambling games, but in my opinion, it is considered as gambling. Just refresh your mind about the definition of gambling -

"Gambling is the wagering of something of value on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling

[Oilacris]

I have seen those machines before here in my city and I have only tried them once or twice when I was youger. My family in general has always assumed those machines to be some kind of soft scam or something like it. 
I don't think those crane games and machines are completely related to gambling, actually, because of the luring prizes somethimes are put puporsely in them I would dare to say it would be better to wager money on sport bets or in probably fair games. Crane games are purposely too attractive to ignore (cash, high tech video consoles, expensive games and watches, etc).
It would seem to me the mechanism behind the crane is conceived on purpose so it will open a bit right before lifting the prize most of the times, to it would become very unlikely for anyone to actually pick up something good.
It is about comon sense, I think. If the owners of those machines are willing to risk literal packs of cash, still they need to guarantee the machine to be profitable, so it is likely thay are rigged somehow for someone to have almost no chances to win.
Not even keeping in mind the owners of those machines could also shield themselves behind the fact the player is the onw who decides who to manouver the claw, so there is less likely for the tricky mechanism to be spotted.

I would rather to stick to dices and a bit of plinko, it sounds fairer. 

You would really be able to realize for yourself that those things are indeed that soft-scam. Never ever in my life and experience on getting a stuff toy or hitting up those gadgets or money
out of a claw machine and those shit claws are designed to be that too soft or having no force whenever it clips. You could try all you want but it would really be ending up on a none good result
but if course there would really be those people who do able to get some stuff if they were lucky, but in overall i dont see for it to be a gambling but rather to be an entertainment
of a certain user who would really be tending up to deal up with it. Staked money isnt really just that too big for you to consider that you are gambling out. You've been trying out your
shot on getting some prize out of that single coin you do put on but of course it would really be just that depending or basing up on someones approach and sentiments into their minds
if they would really be treating it up as some sort of gambling.

[Wexnident]

~

I'd much rather consider the one where you just put in coins and wait for it to fall gambling than this one. Rather than gambling, I'd most likely assume that machines only allow a set % of players to actually win by manipulating say the claws grip or timer or something. It's just that there are so many things the machine owner can do to cheat the system that it doesn't seem like gambling or skill anymore, just random winners.

Though in hindsight I guess rigging it makes it more of a gamble than a skill.

[Assface16678]

Yes, if only the one you will get is also money, I mean when the prize inside the claw machine is also money, then I consider it gambling, because you will use money in order to play and also will get money when you grab something. But the thing is, a claw machine is a difficult game or machine. Even if you are skilled, you can't do anything if the machine is rigged or the machine has certain conditions or a certain number of attempts, like a probability, but I doubt a claw machine with money in the prize will let the players get or grab the prize easily. Anyway, if this claw machine with money in price becomes famous, then most likely it will only be played in physical casinos and not online because, for sure, gamblers will not play the online or virtual version of the claw machine as it can be suspicious or cannot be trusted.

[Yogee]

I haven't really thought much about it since it's usually kids who enjoys this but I guess you could consider it gambling but in a different form or "lighter version". I mean if there's no guarantee that you could get something in return after spending money then that's similar to casino games.

[Weawant]

Nowadays you can find these claw machines in many stores, restaurants and malls. They are popular among young people, and are always shining captivating colours to the eyes. Most of them reward soft toy or cuddly toy and electronic gadgets, while there are also few versions where you can grab paper money available. You just have to be skilled enough to manage collecting the prize with the claw, dropping it into the collect box right after.

In order to play, you have to risk money from your pocket for a single or few attempts with the claw. In most attempts, however, it's like the prize will slip from the claw or you won't even achieve collecting anything with it, since it's made of a slippy metal.

Do you consider this a category of gambling game? What are the chances on long run? Skills matter, or do you have to be lucky, nevertheless?

Gambling is any form of staking a fund and expecting a possible outcome in your favour, provided you are risking something to get another which isn't it's equivalent then there's every tendency of gambling in what you are doing so gambling doesn't have to be when you visit a casino and then you place a bet on a certain game and then you hope to win and if you don't you would then assume it wasn't a fair enough.

I will literally consider this to be gambling because it also has got some point of possible addiction,it can actually get to the point where it will become addictive to those who always goes to try and see if they will ever get lucky with it and just like t he casino game they may aswell lose their funds too and if they aren't disciplined enough to know when to stop, they would most likely end up loosing all their funds trying to get sometimes off their trials on the machine with several attempts so it's actually a gambling game but then this actually looks more fun and less serious.

I don't think any special Skil is required for this because the machine literally overwrite it's position at intervals so even if you think you have studied it well enough you may still be unlucky meanwhile someone who has just tried once or twice could turn out to be the lucky one and win so it doesn't look to me like a special skill is required to be able to play the game well and possibly get lucky enough to win something off it.