Comments on: How to Beat Popular Carnival Games

By: Lolz

Lolz — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:27:58 +0000

Last year at the carnival I tried the basketball one, which I never won at. I’m a really short person and have no skills at basketball, but somehow last year i got it in perfectly on the first try. Now that was a one in million chance. The guy’s jaw dropped (and wow he was missing teeth) and he wasn’t thrilled with giving me the 5 foot tall dolphin stuffed animal that I won.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:24:30 +0000

Also as an operator of carnival games, I can tell you the MAJORITY of the time the games are NOT rigged, at least in quality carnivals. If you want to play a game, I’d suggest first looking at the conditions of the rides and the midway in general. If a show looks like its not well taken care of, that’s a good indication to not play the game (or go on the rides for that matter).

That’s not to say some games can’t be adjusted for difficulty. That goes without saying. A business can’t afford to give a big piece of stock away every time someone plays a $2 game.

Modern carnival games operate more like a store, especially if they are “Prize Every Time”. That means we need to get a certain amount of cash for a certain size prize.

Skill games work basically the same way, but because the size of the prize is bigger, so is the amount you need for it. In fact, if a game on a midway is taking more money in than its kicking stock out, we give out some prizes so they are walking around the midway. Thats called a “floater” and is a great advertising tool. If nobody wins, nobody would play.

As for the value of the prize you get for the money you spend, that can vary, but the chances are games that offer bigger prizes for winning are more difficult to win. Mad you got a tiny stuff animal for playing a $2 game popping balloons? Of course you did, its a very easy game, and really, what did you expect for $2?

By: ben macken

ben macken — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:08:53 +0000

I think the games to watch are balloons and the milk carton toss the easist one to win a prize is the one where you toss a plastic whiffle ball on top of milk jugs

By: bill

bill — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:24:41 +0000

as an amateur operator of a game where the object is to hit a lever with a hammer, causing a puck to ring the bell, i tell you that i can make everyone win, or EVERYONE lose. there is a little adjusting screw under the lever that governs the distance it travels. long travel-all winners, shorter travel-few winners, very short travel-NO winners. we try to keep the adult version adjusted so that 1 in 3 win. on the kids version, all the kids win. we make 60-70 cents on every kid, and 20-30 on each adult. others may adjust theirs differently, but that’s our business model.

By: james

james — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:54:56 +0000

the tubs? plastic baskets or bushel/whicker basket? i worked em both . love that game

By: james

james — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:49:07 +0000

well i have been with a carnival forbout 6 years. you have a good grasp on most of it but not all of it. the dart game is simple has nothing to do with dull darts or underinflated balloons. i never charged a miss. do the math like this. $2 a dart or 3 darts for 5. trade up 3 smalls one medium. 5 dollars 3 mediums for a large 15$ 3 large for an xL $45 3 XL for a jumbo or choice $135 dollars for a $12 piece of stock

By: Mo

Mo — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:45:27 +0000

Hey does anyone know the actual name of that game .. where you have try to get metal ring around a bent, rotating, metal rod without it touching…?

Like what would I put in google in order to find this game?

By: bill

bill — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:29:52 +0000

as the former operator of a hy-stryker game (swing the hammer, ring the bell on the pole) i can tell you that i can make it as easy or as hard as i want for you to win. we gave all children a prize, one costing from 16-38 cents. we tried to adjust the adult game so 1 in 3 won a prize costing from 40-65 cents. so, we won every time, even if you rang the bell. try not to pay over $2 to play. still a lot of fun, especially if you can get some girls to play with you.

By: Revrj

Revrj — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:06:59 +0000

The person who is buying the stuffed animals must be an idiot they only cost a few bucks wholesale. When I worked the shows they were only $10.00 for the huge ones.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:47:32 +0000

That was a fun read! I’ve heard a couple of the ways to win but not all of them. I’ll still stay away from carnival games, though.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:34:43 +0000

Great post. It’s so hard to win those games at the carnivals. What makes it worse is that usually your date is the one that puts pressure on your to win the games along with most guys being ultra-competitive.

By: MLDina

MLDina — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:19:22 +0000

Thanks for the fun post! I’m from Long Island, and definitely remember the carnivals.

Most of the time I’m just going to the carnival for fun, the prizes really aren’t too exciting once you’re over the age of 10, but it’s still fun to win. I’ll have to try your tips.

By: Adam (golferadam)

Adam (golferadam) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:39:31 +0000

I was just thinking about this the other day…how to get the best of it on the carny games. Unbelievable that this became a post. Very informative.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:47:16 +0000

I play sometimes for fun, just like how I eat funnel cake even though I know it’s horrible for me… a little in moderation is OK. Life is about living, not about picking the mathematically favorable games to play.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:00:02 +0000

LOL. This is hilarious yet interesting. I stay away from the games since I know we’re the ones at a disadvantage. Fun tips anyways.