In Hong Kong’s neon-lit arcades, a maze of claw machines illuminates the prizes of the day: plushies, Labubu dolls and an array of Pokémon collectibles.
Across the city, claw machine shops have proliferated in recent years, now surpassing more than 2,500, many filling vacant spaces left by businesses that closed during the pandemic.
The venues, some of them open 24 hours a day, attract players of all ages.
“Visiting a claw machine shop is like escaping!” says Hiu-ching, a 28-year-old radiographer who became so enthralled with the game that she decided to rent a machine and operate her own small stall.
“I can’t resist playing the claw machine all the time. Because I lack skill, I usually play the claw machine with a lucky draw, which is similar to rolling dice.”
Some players are happy with any prize, while others are enticed by the possible resale value of some of the rare collectibles on offer.
Every month, friends Jerry and Parco meet to play claw machines together, something they have been doing since last year. Parco says he once spent more than HK$4,000 ($510) playing claw machines floor by floor at the Dragon Centre, a small arcade in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po.
To most, claw machines are a bit of fun but there are concerns about people spending too much time on them. In May, Hong Kong’s home and youth affairs bureau proposed stricter regulations, including displaying addiction risk warnings.
A 2022 court ruling exempted claw machines from public entertainment licences, leaving them unregulated in Hong Kong.
Some serious claw machine players have gripes with operators, claiming they use bamboo toothpicks, needles, as well as plastic and metal strips to narrow the hole and slow down the machine’s crane, making it harder for people to win.
“As someone who loves to play claw machines, I am quite unhappy about the current trend, as there are many ways to narrow or seal the hole,” says Parco.
In June, Hong Kong’s consumer council said complaints about claw machines surged from 16 in 2023 to 138 last year, with players alleging operators altered settings to lower winning odds.
But for many Hongkongers, claw machines are a cheap way to relieve stress.
Ming Lee, a 38-year-old school cleaner, plays claw machines to relax. Over the past two years she has collected around a hundred plush toys from playing the machines.
“It’s the thrill of successfully grabbing a prize that attracts me,” she says.
Ki Kwong, a 25-year-old kitchen worker and a claw machine owner, says playing the machines is “a joy”. A message placed on one of his machines filled with plush toys reads: “Remember to be happy”. He also gives away the plushies he wins to his customers, if they don’t win themselves.
“After playing claw machines for so long, I want to share with others … I want to let people experience that playing the claw machine is not a pressure but a joy.”
Kwong says he also sees claw machines as a way to connect with young people.
“They are under a lot of pressure, and this is a stress-relieving activity.”