After dinner at Union Square Shopping Centre last night, we stumbled upon a small arcade tucked near the parking lot — BINGGO Claw Machine. Bright lights, cute plush toys, and a row of glittering machines instantly caught my son’s eye. Of course, he begged to play “just once.”
The place looked almost empty, but I noticed it had many five-star Google reviews. That made me curious — maybe it was a hidden gem? So, I decided to give it a try.
An early glimpse into life’s complexities
I exchanged $20 for 17 tokens, figuring it’d be a quick bit of family fun. We tried 17 times.
Each time, the claw picked up a plush toy, lifted it… and right before reaching the top, it suddenly popped open — dropping the toy every single time.
It wasn’t slipping or shaking loose — it looked deliberate, almost like the claw was programmed to release once it hit a certain height.
I’ve played these machines at many arcades before, spent hundreds over the years, but I’ve never seen claws behave quite like this.
A Heartbreaking Ending for a Five-Year-Old
By the 10th try, my son’s excitement had turned to confusion, and by the 17th, his eyes were watery and his little fists clenched around the last token.
When even that final claw popped open, he burst into tears, yelling through his sobs:
“It’s not nice to me!!!”
It’s hard to explain fairness and probability to a five-year-old, especially when the game feels rigged against him. Watching him cry over something that was supposed to bring joy was genuinely heartbreaking.
I knelt beside him, trying to comfort him with a hug, saying, “Maybe next time we’ll find a better one.” But the disappointment lingered all the way home.
Final Thoughts
I’m not here to accuse anyone of anything — I didn’t test every machine, and I understand there are rules around making such claims. But I can share my real experience:
At BINGGO Claw Machine in Richmond, every single claw we tried auto-opened before the toy could drop into the prize chute.
It’s a shame — what could have been a fun little arcade moment turned into a lesson on frustration, luck, and maybe the first taste of “life isn’t always fair” for a young child.
Hopefully, sharing this helps other parents set the right expectations, or maybe skip this one altogether.
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