Zack Baker, a video game programmer, answered the question on Quora: Basically, most crane games are designed so the claw is randomly (and only once in many games) strong enough to let players win. Some even weaken in strength after a short time so players get close to victory only to see it slip from their grasp!

Is the key arcade game rigged?

"Nowhere on the Key Master Machine do Defendants inform consumers of the truth: that the machines are rigged so that players can only win prizes at certain times," lawyers for Muto said in the lawsuit. ... Players have to hit a button to move a key into a specific keyhole to win prizes like earbuds and video games.

Is it illegal to rig arcade machines?

The Bureau of Gambling Control has declared that machines including but not limited to claw machines are 'common types of illegal devices' under California Penal Code sections 330a, 330b, and 330.1," the complaint states.