@Wertyla  
Life is full of gamble whether people like it or not…
 
For kids it might be a pure gamble.
 
Kicked Out Of Wal-Mart For Winning Too Much At The Claw Machine

@SeraphimDawn  
I guess I never really considered it gambling… I mean, little kids do it. Some machines actually do involve skill and not just luck, but it’s hard to tell until you spend all the coins you have on you and then realize how utterly you’ve failed at what looks like a simple game… but that’s how these things are designed to work.

@Wertyla  
If I ever see one of these machines at my area. I’d spend a coin in a heartbeat.  
Normally I’d avoid these prize machines as I’m not often the type who gambles.

…and then I proceed to waste all of the money I have with me trying to get one of these. I actually did win a prize from a claw machine once, and now I refuse to accept that they’re impossible to win.

Just like last time. I need to move that junk to look like that diagram there. (crane machine sound effect)

We machines like this everywhere!

get me a screw driver :]

@lonewolf  
Nice!

Today’s claw machines are nothing more than slot machines. I miss the ones I played in the 80’s. They were all mechanical and the only thing that could be adjusted was the grip of the claw so, it really was about skill. The only other thing the machine owner could do was try to pack the toys in tightly so they couldn’t be pulled out. As soon as a couple were though it pretty much unlocked all of them. Did succeed in cleaning one out once. Still have 2 or 3 trash bags of plushies I pulled out of claw machines back then, plus this cup that was kind of a trophy:  

 
I’d like to get one of those 80’s vintage ones just for the hell of it. For now I’ve got a mini one that works perfectly with blind bag ponies.

@40kponyguy  
My brother lucked out on a machine when he accidentally prematurely grabbed onto a toy with one coin.

@EndlessWire94
 
I’ve always wanted to draw some giant display basket of Lyra plushies chanting “The hhhaaannnddd” as someone reached to pick one up.

Best stocked one of these I’ve seen.
 
Still, it’s well known these things are rigged.  
They normally won’t grip properly until there’s enough cash gone in to the machine for it to be profitable. So it is possible to win something out of these machines, you’ve just got catch it at the right time.  
That’s why you’ll see some people walking about with a plushie they’ve won.
 
I’ve won… 4 I think plushies out of grab machines.  
A giant Whinnie The Pooh teddy, although it’s coat was rather sun-bleached. My missus got that, and now it’s in our daughter’s room.  
A Hello Kitty in a purple dress. Again, my daughter has that.  
A ‘Bolt’ teddy. The dog from the Disney film.  
And a Garfield, which my missus kept. That one’s on top of our wardrobe.

@Joey  
so close yet so far

This his how such games normally work out for me:
 
https://youtu.be/Mm1EYb13lz0?t=3m36s

@pootisgumball256  
I’m sorry to disappoint you Dave

FIIIIIIIIRST!

Claw games=Impossible