Arcade Games: Innocent Fun or the New Micro-Gambling?

Have you ever gone to an arcade in Singapore? I am sure many of us have done that and it has been our childhood and something many of us enjoy. Personally, I love the arcade and have spent a lot of money on it. However, many of us might play without realising that arcade games can be linked to micro-gambling, which can bring us serious consequences in our lives.

Is arcade gambling?

Arcade games include claw machines, addictive games that give you tickets. Every single time you catch a toy, your brain feels a sense of adrenaline and makes you want to continue. When you get it, you will want more. When you do not get it, you will want to play until you get it. Sounds familiar? This mirrors the gambler's mindset—constantly chasing a high or recovery from loss, leading us to continuously top up tokens or add more money.

Not only that, arcades even put in blind boxes as prizes to change for tickets. This just makes people want to change more of it because they might not be able to get the design they want. Many of us have probably felt the urge to get "just one more" to finally win the design we want.

Attempts at Regulation and Their Limits

The Singapore government has recognized the addictive nature of arcade games and has taken steps to mitigate harm by capping prize values at under two hundred dollars. While well-intentioned, this measure hasn’t been fully effective. The addictive cycle remains strong, as promotions and new games continue to lure players back.

In an interview with a fellow arcade-goer, they shared: “I’ve tried to stop playing at Cow Play Cow Moo many times, but I always go back, even when the promotions aren’t that good.” This highlights just how difficult it can be to break free from the cycle the moment you get addicted to arcade games.

Current trends in arcade

Recently, the Labubu hype has attracted many claw machines to put these blind boxes inside the machines. These boxes, part of the PopMart collectible craze, have become a major draw for arcade-goers. Due to limited restocks from Pop Mart, many fans are willing to spend significantly more than the original price to get these plushies. This has significantly driven up arcade profits.

Labubu claw machines

Arcade games also prey on our psychological bias called loss aversion, which is the pain of losing something is much stronger than the pleasure of gaining something. When there is a queue or you know that people are waiting for you, you will feel pressured to not give up as you think it is a waste and giving your “win” to others.

People queuing for Labubu

Psychological impact

Arcade operators also used this to make us not get bored of the games no matter how repetitive it is. Instead of getting bored, players get caught up in the suspense, wondering if the next token will be the prize. We will then spend more money than we wanted to.

More retirees and adults in the arcade?

Personally, I have also realised more working adults and retirees go to the arcade. From interviews, the retirees shared that going to an arcade is a form of leisure that makes them less bored. Meanwhile, working adults often see arcades as a stress-reliever, offering a fun and easy escape from the pressures of their jobs. This shift in demographic highlights how arcades are evolving and catering to a wider age range.

How to Prevent Arcade Addiction

For many people, we may start on a few dollars on arcade games. However, this will quickly escalate to a larger amount. This is especially dangerous for teenagers and children, who may not have the financial ability to handle this but constantly feel the urge to top up, leading to financial strains.

Firstly, we should start by monitoring how often you go to the arcade and how much you spend. Personally, I go to the arcade every time I am free. Now, in order to cure the addiction, I spend my time on Netflix.

Secondly, before you even step into an arcade, decide how many tokens or how much money you are willing to spend. Stick to that limit and avoid topping up once you hit your set amount. Do not top up more than what you set even if you do not get the prize you want.

Lastly, arcades should also take responsibility by limiting how much an individual can top up in a day. Implementing stricter limits could help players avoid getting addicted.

Personal experiences

Personally, I feel that my experiences at the arcade may come from revenge spending. Revenge playing happens when people, especially young adults or even older players, feel like they are "making up for lost time." I did not come from a well-to-do family and did not have many chances to play arcade games. When I grew up and started earning my own money from tutoring, I started over spending on my own budget and slowly getting addicted to arcade.

One of my favourite games

As I work long hours for tutoring, I always think that “”I deserve this” as a reward after a long day of work. This made it even harder to jump out of that cycle as I made playing arcade my only entertainment. I will then persuade myself that it is okay to do this as I am just treating myself to things I have always wanted as a child.

I have tried to stop playing arcade many times but it has been a really tough journey. They have promotions almost every single day or at least once a month. Although it has been a really fun journey, it is very important to know when to stop. I spend most of my earnings on it and I really feel guilty every time i think about it even though it may be fun at that moment.

Arcades have long been a source of nostalgia and enjoyment for many of us, especially in Singapore. However, as we’ve explored, arcade games can easily blur into something more problematic—micro-gambling. While government regulations can help to reduce the negative impact, we should be aware of the psychological traps of such games.

Ultimately, arcades can still be a fun pastime, but it is important to play it in moderation. By staying mindful of how much we spend and how often we play, we can enjoy arcades responsibly and avoid falling into the pitfall of micro-gambling.