9 replies to this topic

[Bencrest]

It's a bit late, and I'm a bit drunk, but I still think I should get a bit of debate going here.

Dad and I went car shopping earlier, a place called Stebbings, near Kings Lynn. We decided to stop off at a quite place he recommended, which had some £5 machines in. A place called Heacham. It's close to Hunstanton, but is a small place with 'olde worlde' attributes.

Anyway we went to the arcade, and had a bit of a session on the £5 machines.

I was playing one machine, he was playing a machine 2 places away from mine. We were having a chat about the machines we were each playing, letting each other know which features were worth taking for example.

Whilst doing this, a young boy (I'm guessing 8 or thereabouts, either way he was about 4ft tall and an ignorant bastard) barges between us and plays the machine in the middle. He is playing it pretty ridiculously. Let me explain :

When I play machines, I tend to use my left hand to hover over the hold buttons, and hold stuff as necessary, and also for cancel button opportunities, and collect. I use my right hand to press the start button and insert coins.

Well, this kid, he was 'smacking' the buttons, rapid fire style. He was playing about 3x the speed I was, and I play quickly. I then realised that all the other kids in there were the same - I play (when I do, which is pretty rare these days) in a fairly relaxed manner, they were PURELY playing to make money as quickly as possible.

It then became apparent that their parents (sorry, did I say parents? I mean the pair of ignorant teens that couldn't be arsed with birth control) were using the place as a 'creche' - that is - they can dump their kids in these places, as the machines are not 18+ specifically, and can go to the pub, while the kids will try and take as much of the 'normal' customers cash out of the machines as possible.

Seeing the attitude of the kids in there, and from my personal experience, I am still amazed that *anyone* under the age of 18 is allowed to play a machine.

For example, I showed dad what a Party Time was all about. Being 'pub' players, he had never seen nor played a 3 player machine before. I was about £10 in with bugger all, when I got a top game for £5 and 3 x Astra rolled in on the bottom game shortly after, for my tenner back. Knowing how these play, I wasn't surprised, after all I know my own £5 machines at home can be VERY tight to save up for streaks.

This makes me a bit confused. Kids are not allowed to play machines over £5 (I believe it's now £5+ rather than the old 10p+ stake rule) - YET many of the recent machines are not an obvious £5. Many of them, especially the Lo Tech machines, save up for flashholds, streaks, e.t.c. on £5, often awarding £10>£25 and even beyond that within 5 or 6 spins.

Kids clearly know this. Thats why they are playing them - they are doing it to make money, NOT for entertainment. I know thats probably obvious for most of us but I felt like stating it again. When I get spotted, it's often a kid. Why? Because they will try to get my money out after. They don't care about what little 'amusement' is on offer these days, they are playing to make my money out.

Knowing what I do about machines now - I can GENUINELY say I wish I'd never played one, and to that end, I want to know why the hell kids are allowed to play machines full stop.

I don't want this to turn into a 'nanny state' thread. I want people to GENUINELY tell me why it is that I went to an arcade earlier where there was a plastic box infront of a Genesis cabinet so that a child could stand on it to reach the buttons.

Lets have some sense about this. Noone can surely tell me it is right that a 5 year old can walk into an arcade, and play money through a fruit machine?

I'd ask for an 18+ blanket age restriction on ALL machines, Amusement and Skill with prizes. Anyone else agree, or disagree?

PS I'm not bitter about kids either my or my dad's money out of the machines, as that didn't happen

[DildoDez]

I'd ask for an 18+ blanket age restriction on ALL machines, Amusement and Skill with prizes. Anyone else agree, or disagree?machines, as that didn't happen

I agree. I did it when i was younger myself occasionally, admittedly, but gambling is gambling, and gambling is illegal for under 18's!

I don't see why fruit machine sshould be any different.

[CrAzYbAr]

I think it's fine right now and the government should keep it how it is
Well I guess I'm OK. I play like Ben, Left hand over hold buttons, no smacking, respecting space of others. I'm not too excessive and I play for enjoyment or how else would I have saved £50+ up that has not seen a fruity?
I say it's our responsibility as youngsters to part with our cash... If kids cant gamble with responsibility and they blow their bank account then they only have themselves to blame and nothing can be done

[schnook]

The arcades in liverpool certainly dont allow that, but goto the likes of southport.new brighton they seem to allow the kids to go into the OVER 18,S only sections with no problems at all.
i hate the little brats and they should all banned from adult only entertainment areas.

[Bencrest]

I don't reckon I made much sense last night because I'd had a fair bit to drink and was knackered... but heres what I'm getting at.

Fruit Machines = Gambling, whether it's £5, £25, or £500.
Kids are playing machines NOT for entertainment, but to MAKE MONEY. Thats why they play them. Thats why they tend to play so quickly, and impress people with how quickly they can randomly hit buttons and stuff. Thats why when you go to a fast food place (thank god they are losing their machines soon) and lose £2 in a machine, theres normally a queue of kids waiting to go on after you.

So... you have rules at the moment which allow a child to walk into a place full of gambling devices with the intention of making money out of them. What kind of habit is that for a child to get into?

Maybe 18+ for all machines is pushing it, but I'd like to see 16+ at a minimum for ANY coin operated fruit / slot machine, and above £5 to be kept at 18+

Thoughts?

[strid]

Ben,

I totally agree with you.

Fot those of you who don't know where I live (quite a lot of you I imagine!), I live about 35-40 mins away from Rhyl, which, if you have been there, will know its a tacky seaside town full of arcades on the sea front.

I agree that children shouldn't play bandits. Most of us on here will have had some sort of mild or indeed strong addiction to them - and although most of us on here also enjoy the other aspect to them (How they play, emulation, sound fx, artwork - or whatever it is you specifically like about them) it's a bad thing for kids to get into. They are addictive if you have access to them, and I don't see that they should be able to play them because they have a £5 JP. It's no different to £15 or £25 or £500 etc. etc. you still gamble on them and you are playing to win money.

My sister has just had a baby boy, and when he get's a little older, Rhyl... or any gambling arcades (I don't say the bowling alley arcades etc. etc.) would be the LAST place I would take him. It's different someone like me going, a 23 year old male who can look after himself and indeed keep a tab on how much I was spending - but a child or young teen???
An arcade full of gambling machines is no place for them...... It should all be 18+ no matter how big or small the Jackpot.

[skabaz]

thats why we changed our arcade from over 12's (when we had video's and pinball tables)to over 18's (all fruit machines)

the arcade ended up as a meeting place and was full of kids with bad attitudes.

now its more relaxed with jusrt adults.

baz

[jamesb99_1999]

about no under 18s as it's exploitation... etc.. Although I would say that Casinos and arcades are the same and I would suggest that arcades should have to have a 21 or 25 minimum age limit. Nothing to do with a nanny state, just protecting vulnerable people!!! Todays casual players=tomorrow addicts.

[Jamesbond_007838]

I agree partly with Ben although don't think a blanket ban is the answer (obviously a little bias here )

One question though, why can I work for a living, paying Tax & NI to the Government at 16 but cant legally piss it away gambling? (apart from £5 machines, etc).

[Bencrest]

I agree partly with Ben although don't think a blanket ban is the answer (obviously a little bias here )

One question though, why can I work for a living, paying Tax & NI to the Government at 16 but cant legally piss it away gambling? (apart from £5 machines, etc).

... because working for a living isn't necessarily harmful / detrimental, neither is paying tax (although you may not appreciate it), whereas gambling (in terms of fruit machines) is made to be as addictive to younger people as possible while providing no 'good'.

I'm not saying I am against gambling. I missed one of the local stables horses yesterday, came 2nd at 16/1 (which on my normal E/W would have been nice), but encouraging children to play a gambling machine under the front of 'amusement' is pretty shocking, especially when I've played £5 machines which have taken £15 with nothing out.