Modified Claw Machines Offering Scratch-Off Tickets for Gambling: Prosecutors Indict Machine Owner in Keelung
The Keelung District Prosecutors Office indicted a man named Shao for modifying claw machines into gambling devices that offered scratch-off tickets, violating the Electronic Game Arcade Business Management Regulations and criminal gambling laws.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 13:17
- 🔍 Collected: April 26, 2026 at 13:31 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 26, 2026 at 16:39 (3h 8m after Collected)
Central News Agency reporter Wang Chao-yu, Keelung, April 26:
A man surnamed Shao modified the claws of "selection vending machines," commonly known as claw machines, into magnetic devices and added obstacles. He also provided customers with opportunities to exchange prizes for scratch-off tickets, causing the machines to lose their original characteristics and become gambling-related. After investigation, the Keelung District Prosecutors Office indicted Shao.
The Keelung District Prosecutors Office indictment stated that selection vending machines must comply with the concept of exchanging value for prizes, including guaranteed prize value being equivalent to the guaranteed amount, and not involving elements of chance. This includes not altering the machine's original operation to affect the clawing probability, and not involving situations where prize values differ. Otherwise, it is considered an electronic gaming machine.
The 50-plus-year-old Shao, starting from January last year, placed a total of 56 machines in three selection vending machine shops in Nuannuan District (Batu Road, Yuanyuan Road) and Ren'ai District (Xiaosan Road) in Keelung City. He modified the machine claws into magnetic devices and added obstacles or弹跳網 (bouncing nets) at the drop-off point.
Shao also altered the coin value per game, allowing unspecified individuals to insert cash ranging from NT$10 to NT$200 per game to try to grab surrogate items, providing them with the opportunity to win big with a small bet, thus possessing elements of chance. Furthermore, the guaranteed prize limit exceeded NT$990, violating regulations.
After investigation, prosecutors determined on the 16th that Shao violated the Electronic Game Arcade Business Management Regulations, which stipulate that businesses without an electronic game arcade business license are not allowed to operate electronic game arcades, as well as the Criminal Code's gambling property offense. Shao was indicted under the more severe Electronic Game Arcade Business Management Regulations.
A man surnamed Shao modified the claws of "selection vending machines," commonly known as claw machines, into magnetic devices and added obstacles. He also provided customers with opportunities to exchange prizes for scratch-off tickets, causing the machines to lose their original characteristics and become gambling-related. After investigation, the Keelung District Prosecutors Office indicted Shao.
The Keelung District Prosecutors Office indictment stated that selection vending machines must comply with the concept of exchanging value for prizes, including guaranteed prize value being equivalent to the guaranteed amount, and not involving elements of chance. This includes not altering the machine's original operation to affect the clawing probability, and not involving situations where prize values differ. Otherwise, it is considered an electronic gaming machine.
The 50-plus-year-old Shao, starting from January last year, placed a total of 56 machines in three selection vending machine shops in Nuannuan District (Batu Road, Yuanyuan Road) and Ren'ai District (Xiaosan Road) in Keelung City. He modified the machine claws into magnetic devices and added obstacles or弹跳網 (bouncing nets) at the drop-off point.
Shao also altered the coin value per game, allowing unspecified individuals to insert cash ranging from NT$10 to NT$200 per game to try to grab surrogate items, providing them with the opportunity to win big with a small bet, thus possessing elements of chance. Furthermore, the guaranteed prize limit exceeded NT$990, violating regulations.
After investigation, prosecutors determined on the 16th that Shao violated the Electronic Game Arcade Business Management Regulations, which stipulate that businesses without an electronic game arcade business license are not allowed to operate electronic game arcades, as well as the Criminal Code's gambling property offense. Shao was indicted under the more severe Electronic Game Arcade Business Management Regulations.