I know, let's get kids into gambling (Casdon 537 Toy Push Penny Game)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Casdon 537 Toy Push Penny Game
Date:	22/06/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: few

Disadvantages: you don't win much

The penny falls is one of my number one games to play at any arcade or fair I go to. These days the minimum you play with is 2p, so the name could do with an update really!

The game presents you with two or three moving metal shelves. Each shelf is full to the brim with coins. The shelves move back and forward, with the lip of each one brushing up against the coins on the shelf below, but not knocking them forward.

The aim of the game if to put money into a slot at the top of the game, where it will fall onto the top shelf. When timed right, this will push into coins, making them fall onto shelf two, and those coins will push others forward, off the edge of the shelf and into the pot at the bottom where you can collect them.

So, it's a gambling game, where the tactics are when to put the money in and where to put it (you can normally put it in one of three different placed slots).

In practice, this is very hard to win at. The shelves are weighted, magnetic, and slightly sloping backwards, all of which fight the gravity which aims to help you. You end up spending a lot of money trying to win a little, and almost always end up at a loss.

There are two problems with this game. The first is that it encourages children to gamble, as it is played for such low stakes that it really wouldn't matter for an adult. The second is that you can never win anything decent. Even when you do win, it's only about 14p. For these two reasons alone, it's a waste of time.

Finally, you can buy small versions for the home, including the one on amazon (the casdon 537) for £10, but these are a waste of time. They are made of plastic, and you win far too often to make them worth playing competitively.

All in all, a fun game, but one that is flawed in its low stakes set-up.

Summary: don't bother