Here’s your pinball history lesson for the day: In 1942, pinball machines were deemed gambling devices and made illegal in New York City, prompting police to seize and destroy some 3000 machines. That law was reversed, according to the NYT, “in 1976, when a 26-year old pinball wizard named Roger Sharpe predicted – and made – a predetermined shot in a courtroom, thus proving that pinball was not, in fact, a game of chance.” [NYT via The Awl]
josh
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 11:32 AM“thus proving that pinball was not, in fact, a game of chance”
should that be
“thus proving that pinball was, in fact, a game of chance”
MrTaco
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 2:29 PMNo it should not. The whole “problem” with pinball machines was that they were considered a form of gambling, which was why they were outlawed. They got this man in to prove that it was actually a game of skill rather than chance, and despite being landed with a machine he was unfamiliar with rather than his usual chosen table (and playing pretty badly because of it), he pointed out the shot he was going to make and, thankfully, made it.
Stew
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 6:46 PMThe article’s wording is correct.
Pinball is not a game of chance.
They thought it was back in 1942 so banned it as gambling until some guy in 1976 proved to them that it wasn’t. He likely said “I’m going to hit this ball up that ramp. Boom.” – therefore proving that pinball is a game of skill, not chance.
Jonny O
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 8:54 PMNo, in 1942, Pinball WAS basically a game of chance and it was very often used for gambling. The flipper was not invented until 1947, so outside of nudging, after you plunge the ball it goes where it goes. You could potentially earn a lot of replays on those old games, and you would “redeem” them with the attendant for cash. That was why pinball was banned. However, it still had the stigma of a game of chance even after flippers(and due to other reasons, such as “bingo” pinball games, which were used for gambling and resembled pinball).
Scott
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 9:53 PMNo. Pinball isn’t a game of chance.
Jamie Krisanski
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 10:03 PMno mate, he proved that pinball was not a game of chance. it’s correct.
Ian
Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 2:54 AMNo, that it wasn’t a game of chance.
Games of chance were deemed illegal and classed as gambling… games of skill no. Hence he proved it was a game of skill, not a game of chance.
Sorry Josh, but you’re wrong.
Simon
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 12:31 PMNO josh, the article says exactly what it means. Games of chance are gambling, games of skill are not.