The number of claw machine shops in Hong Kong has been steadily increasing, with many of them showcasing popular prizes such as Labubu and Disney plushes to attract customers to try their luck. Yet, many have reflected that the shops in Hong Kong were “rigged” after spending big for nothing, and have called on people to head north to Shenzhen for better fun.
Shenzhen has been attracting Hongkongers in droves in recent years with its superior entertainment options at a fraction of the cost. The same applies to claw machine shops.
In order to find out which place is best for claw machine experiences, Sing Tao Probe has dispatched two reporters to investigate.
During visits to the claw machine shops in Hong Kong, many customers expressed frustration over encountering obstacles set by the shop owners at the claw and chute positions, making the games extremely challenging.
Reporter Sammi visited a claw machine shop in Whampoa, exchanging HK$100 Hong Kong dollars for 20 tokens to challenge the claw machines in the store, with each game costing HK$5.
Sammi first tried her luck with the popular Labubu plush, but luck was obviously not with her after spending nearly half of her tokens.
Sammi said she noted several issues with the machines in the shop, including shrunk chutes and obstacles above the chute that prevented the plushes from being successfully grabbed.
She then decided to try her luck with other claw machines, targeting prizes that were relatively cheaper (not popular IP ones).
She eventually walked away with four small keychains for HK$100.
On the other hand, reporter Rachel, who conducted her test in Shenzhen, had a much more successful experience. With just 100 yuan, she managed to win a total of 15 toys!
Comparing the pricing in both locations, Shenzhen’s claw machine stores offer 1,000 electronic tokens for 99.99 yuan. Each play costs 10 tokens, translating to only one-fifth of the cost for 100 plays compared to Hong Kong.
In addition, the claw openings of many claw machines in Hong Kong are frequently altered to increase the difficulty of winning toys. Conversely, in Shenzhen, the claw machine openings adhere to standard dimensions, with lengths and widths of about 25 centimeters. Opting for smaller toys increases the chances of successful grabs.
Speaking to Rachel at the Shenzhen shop, Hong Kong resident Sherry said the success rate of winning toys in Shenzhen is higher, with her family spending only 100 yuan to win 12 toys – a more budget-friendly option compared to Hong Kong where “success is often elusive”.
Another customer, Koji, shared that she spent 100 yuan in Shenzhen and won 5 toys, while Nicole also told Rachel that she successfully won 11 toys in about twenty minutes in Shenzhen.
According to Hong Kong Customs, there has been a significant increase in reports of claw machines in Hong Kong allegedly violating the “Trade Descriptions Ordinance,” rising from 16 cases in 2022 to 158 cases last year, marking an increase of over 8.5 times in just two years.
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog also reminded members of the public to “play” within their means and avoid becoming addicted to playing the claw machine games.