HOW do you place your 10p piece in a seaside coin pusher?
Do you rub the edge back and forth on the metal frame before popping it in with a flick of the wrist?
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Or do you time the drop - sending it rolling just as the metal shelf reverses?
Well, we're sorry to ruin your rose-tinted childhood memories - but no matter what your method is, it's all been in VAIN.
It turns out that many people's gut instinct is correct: coin pushers are rigged.
As the Great British summer grinds on, we want the public to know exactly what they're signing up for when they enter the chaotic world of seaside amusem*nts.
Our probe into the summertime entertainment industry has found that often the only difference between pub favourites like fruit machines and games targeted at kids is the way they look - not the mechanics behind them.
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Technically, you aren't handing your kids cash to gamble - but there's very little difference.
We want to give kids, families and seasoned seaside resort-lovers the tools they need to make an informed choice when it comes to coin pushers, crane machines and retro race horse racing.
To avoid tears and tantrums, be warned that these games are not down to skill, but a percentage chance set by the operators.
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A recent crackdown on the industry means that these retro favourites are regulated by BACTA, the British Amusem*nt Catering Trade Association.
The watchdog has made sure that it's clear players know that the odds of winning have already been set.
To spot one of these games, you just need to look for a very small square label on the front with the letters "Cat D".
We've spoken to experts to reveal which games really do require skills - and which are just a gamble.
Games of chance:
Coin pusher
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It’s arguably the most popular game across piers and fun-houses along the land.
But did you know that every single coin pusher is fixed to let out a certain amount of cash or a small prize?
Despite that, it’s a great option for young kids as you can get several games for a pound and most operators will tweak its odds setting so thechance of winning is quite high - drawing attention to the machines and making people pump more cash into them.
The Claw
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There’s a very small element of skill in the claw, but the machine is actually set to randomly grip harder at certain times.
That means you’ll need to direct the claw to the right spot - but whether it picks your prize up or not is all down to the operators’ mechanics.
Trevor Sutton, general manager of Namco Funscape in London, explains that "these games are all about the entertainment factor".
If you’re looking at value for money - there’s always a slim chance your kid (or date) will nab a teddy but what you're paying for is the experience.
Digital Claw
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You guessed it, the digital claws - claws controlled using buttons instead of a joystick - are also fixed, but there's a trick that might help you.
It's fairly easy to work out whether you have a chance of winning based on how the prize rests behind the glass screen.
Digital claws give the feeling of being more in control, but it's not really down to your skill.
Take London’s Namco Funscape’s fidget spinner Clenaflex, pictured above.
If, as you can see, a fidget spinnerbox is teetering on the edge, it’s likely that a few people have been trying it out ahead of you.
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The more players that have attempted to win but have failed, the more likely you are to be in line to get the temporary tighter grip that is programmed into the system.
This is turn will give you a better chance of winning - as well as the fact that the fidget spinner is balancing on the brink anyway.
Be wary: all Category D machines often appear at the front of an arcade to lure tots entranced by the bright flashing lights.
Games of skill
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The gaming industry - which contributes £2billion to the UK economy every year - is packed full of family run businesses, often rooted in the travelling show and entertainment world.
But it was hit particularly hard by the console, iPhone and iPad revolution.
So along with new regulations, it's had to step up its game and offer families more for their cash.
Namco's Sutton explains: “Gone are the days where a family will walk in with £20 and walk out with nothing."
And that means lots and lots of tickets - which are won from games and then swapped for prizes.
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They'll typically be behind the Category D games - to lure those who plan to spend a bit more time in the arcade.
Sutton said that Namco entertains regulars who come once a week to hone their skills on ticket games like Fishbowl Frenzy, basketball hoops, Skee ball and the Kung Fu Panda drums.
Retro horse racing is one of these - so surprisingly, it's actually down to skill.
These games don’t have to be regulated - so if there’s no sticker they are based on how well you play.
Arcade machines based on classic mobile phone games like Flappy Bird and Candy Crush aren't fixed either.
Most resorts or arcades will let you stock up your winning tickets - and in some cases might offer PlayStations or other expensive gadgets as a prize - so they could be a worthwhile investment.
Video and dance games
Arcade owners have little reason to keep powering noughties favourites like dance machines and Sega video games - but they’re a great marketing ploy.
“These dance games aren’t there because they make the business money - but they draw crowds,” Sutton explains.
So if you want to feel like you're not being swindled - having a laugh on a dance-mat is a good option.
Should I still take my kids to the arcade?
If you really want to beat the machines you need to stop worrying about prizes.
Sutton says: “You’re not playing for the 2p win, it’s not about that - it’s the theatre of winning stacks of tickets and playing for fun”.
John White, BACTA's chief executive says: “Machines will carry a statement about percentage payout.
“If you look at the fruit machine in your local pub you will see it near the coin slot and it will saying something like 'This machine is designed to pay out a minimum percentage payout of 78 per cent'.
That means on average, you get back 78p for every £1. Over time, they will take a lot more than they give out because the percentage is set over the lifetime of the machine.
“Many will have average percentage payouts in excess of this depending on the machine. And while they are random, best strategies on the features can improve your chances of winning.
All games of chance will carry a sticker telling the player it is a gaming machine and what category of machine it falls into.”
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