Mini claw machine repurposed for poker game? (1 Viewer)

[DNV]

So my buddy has a mini claw machine collecting dust and figured why not use it in my poker room. Been thinking about this concept instead of a bad beat jackpot. The idea is to load the machine with capsules you can’t see through containing chips of different denominations. Whatever chip someone pulls goes straight into their stack and the dealer drops the cash equivalent into the cash box (from separate claw machine bank) so everything reconciles at cashout. Some balls are empty so nobody can just farm it all night, and the claw difficulty is adjustable just in case as well. I’m thinking around 60ish balls mostly fracs and $1 chips with some $5s/$25s and one $100 buried in there. The goal is eventually building it up to where I can load multiple $100 chips or even a $500 jackpot ball. Kind of like a progressive but more “gamified” lol.

Has anyone done anything like this before? Any feedback on the concept or anything I might be missing would be appreciated!

P.S. Talked it over with my group and they said they’d be interested!

 

[RadicusScout]

P.S. Talked it over with my group and they said they’d be interested!

I agree with your crew. This sounds amazing.

- More machines/accessories to buy for poker night - CHECK
- More shenanigans to add to poker night - CHECK

If/when you ever get this idea rolling, please post pics/vids. The one thing I'd monitor is how players will feel if they had a bad beat, played the machine and got nothing. Might sour the experience.

Could you make it so the claw will pick up 100% of the time? I guess that'd make this more of a gumball machine type experience.

Hm...

 

[DNV]

Could you make it so the claw will pick up 100% of the time? I guess that'd make this more of a gumball machine type experience.

This part i’m not too sure about as it’s machine specific. I’d have to get my hands on the machine to know 100%. I should know soon, will update you once I do!

I wanted to avoid the gum ball experience as I want players to be able to go for whatever specific capsule they pick out.

I looked into regular capsule vending machines but that sucks all the fun out of it in my opinion.

Would probably still need to workshop ratios as far as hit rate and chip variations, just seeing if I could get some feedback for this project before I move forward!

 

[RadicusScout]

I wanted to avoid the gum ball experience as I want players to be able to go for whatever specific capsule they pick out.

Are your players ok with getting nothing (from an empty capsule) and also perhaps the claw not grabbing 100%? Maybe that's the thrill you're looking for?

 

[DNV]

Are your players ok with getting nothing (from an empty capsule) and also perhaps the claw not grabbing 100%? Maybe that's the thrill you're looking for?

I believe so, assuming this part helps us build up to those bigger prizes quicker.

 

[DNV]

100%? Maybe that's the thrill you're looking for?

yes an extra layer of gambling lol, only what players lose goes directly back to them over time.

 

[Machine]

Player perception is they would have a chance to win, but the cost to operate plus adding a 100 chip, seems like you would have to have at least a $5 per play fee to break even on 1 out of 20 on the hundo, that’s without the cost of ownership, if it is illegal you are taking a risk what is that worth? Then if you have a bunch of $1 prizes that has to be covered so increasing the house edge on the 100 to at least 1 in 25. I think it will be good for the first 5 minutes but after someone figures out you’re not just giving away money, and it’s for profit it’ll sit unused.

I’d shortcut The Who thing and just ask everyone for the $15 per person you’d make off it and call it a day

 

[DNV]

I think it will be good for the first 5 minutes but after someone figures out you’re not just giving away money, and it’s for profit it’ll sit unused.

It’s not for profit. Every thing that the machine makes would go back into the machine in the form of bigger prizes for the players. I, as the host, am not trying to make any money off of this at all.

For example, let’s say over the course of 2-3 poker nights the machine generates $100. I would add that $100 into the machine in the form of a chip. Now we’re at 2x $100 chips for bigger prizes.

Over time the prizes would increase and have no choice but to pay out.

Again, I am making no money or profit from this at all. It’s simply another way for players to gamble. Only over time, prizes get bigger

 

[TheRealStephen12]

Why not have everybody put up some amount for the night, and when you win a hand you get a chance to play it? If you play, say, 8-handed with each person putting in $10 for the machine, you could put a $25 chip, a a few $5s and $1s, and some quarters? Whatever doesn't get won can be put into a bomb pot at the end of the night.

 

[doublebooyah85]

Each capsule should say something unique. Play a bomb pot. Deuces are wild next hand. Every player must give you five big blinds. Pay every player two big blinds. Get to see the flop for free. I don’t know. Just come up with a bunch of random ideas and everyone gets to pull the claw when you play the nit game and you win a button u get a shot at the claw game, etc. etc..

 

[DNV]

Why not have everybody put up some amount for the night, and when you win a hand you get a chance to play it? If you play, say, 8-handed with each person putting in $10 for the machine, you could put a $25 chip, a a few $5s and $1s, and some quarters? Whatever doesn't get won can be put into a bomb pot at the end of the night.

I like this idea!

 

[DNV]

Play a bomb pot

I did play with the idea of adding bomb pot dice or some extra rubber ducks were using for the stand up game. Get another ducky you’re back in lol. Gotta get rid of 2 instead of 1

this would decrease payout rates while simultaneously encouraging more gambling at the table

 

[Rakrul]

Replace some of the empty ones with "Show'em!" and "$x bounty" chips in there as well. I.e. you don't get money (Show'em) and once in a blue moon you get someting negative-ish (Bounty).

PS! Show'em can only be used against a muck, not a live hand.

 

[DNV]

Replace some of the empty ones with "Show'em!" and "$x bounty" chips in there as well. I.e. you don't get money (Show'em) and once in a blue moon you get someting negative-ish (Bounty).

PS! Show'em can only be used against a muck, not a live hand.

Now this is something i’ll be incorporating for sure! Great idea!!!