How to Win the Games at Arcades and Get Lots of Tickets

Having spent two years working at a large arcade, I can say I learned many of the tricks to winning a lot of tickets when you go to an arcade. During the time I learned which machines were easy to beat and which were near impossible. Once you get the hang of it, it's not too hard. Here are some tips to get you going.

First, and most obviously, make sure the game you're playing dispenses tickets. These games, called redemption games, usually do not involve video screens and accessories like guns and steering wheels. Redemption games are all about skill and timing. Video games like shooters and racing games will almost never dispense tickets.

Second, there are some games that are universally cheap. For instance, in almost any arcade you will visit, you'll notice that skee ball games will give you a maximum of around 15 tickets unless you get the high score which can be very difficult to do. Other cheap games include basketball games, football throwing games, competitive games (for example, games where four players squirt water guns into a target and race their horses on the track), and video games that do, in fact, give you tickets. If your goal is to win a lot of tickets, you'll want to avoid the preceding games.

Third, know that the arcade operators control the skill level and winning amounts on games. The owners of the games actually get to decide how difficult a game is to win and how many tickets you will get. Because of this, the same game can be very different in another arcade.

Fourth, avoid coin pushing games (the ones with all the tokens on the ramp and the pusher that goes back and forth) and claw machines completely. Coin pushers are very cheap and very deceiving. They are also unreliable and the machine that counts the coins can cheat you. Claw machines are notoriously rigged so you have a hard time winning. Much like other games, the skill level is set by the owner and often times you'll notice they have it set to very hard.

Fifth, scope out a game before you play it. See if it looks difficult and watch someone play and see how many tickets they get. Try to get a feel for the game before you play it. Avoid looking at a big flashy game that looks cool and running over to play right away. Read the directions and see if it looks doable.

Sixth, do not be afraid to ask an employee for help if you think a game malfunctioned on you. Arcade games can be very unreliable and unfortunately malfunction very often. Most arcades do not regularly and thoroughly inspect their games so if you think you were cheated, chances are you are correct. Also, do not worry about being accused of lying. Employees rarely have a way of telling if you are lying and have only your word to go by.

Finally, find a good game and stick with it. If you find a game that you enjoy playing and seems to give you a lot of tickets, keep playing. A lot of the games take some practice before you start winning big anyway. There was one man who traveled around the country playing the same game at different arcades winning huge amounts of tickets and selling the prizes he won on eBay. He had it down so that he could win thousands of tickets with just one token. He would use the one token to hit the 3 free games prize, then the 500 tickets prize, and just alternate back and forth when he needed more credits. You may not be that lucky but using my tips you should be able to have fun and get some good prizes.