Like the little green aliens in Disney’s “Toy Story,” people — often kids — may find themselves obsessed with “the claw.” Claw machines, also known as crane machines, dot arcades, malls, even grocery ...

The mini golf course and ice cream shop announced a contest to select a name for the claw machine critter. Photo by Pennsylvania Game Commission A claw machine at a Pennsylvania mini golf course ...

In a crowded casino made for kids, stocked with rows upon rows of neon, chiming claw machines, I saw my 12-year-old son’s life flash before my eyes. He had already drained $20 into a single machine ...

We’ve all passed claw machine games and refused to give our kids money, telling them it’s impossible to win. But actually that’s not quite true. If a child is determined enough, and small enough, he ...

I love taking my son to the arcade, sharing with him the games I grew up playing and the workarounds that can help improve his odds of winning. On one such trip, we spent too much time and money ...