Pinball machine ban finally lifted in Oakland, CA

For many people in the 80s, pinball machines were part of the then-new era of the electronic entertainment experience. Unfortunately, people in Oakland, CA, have had already a ban on machines that were used for gambling. Though not really enforced in the last few years, the ban in the 1930s applied to the first pinball machines because of similarities with gambling machines: Both types of machines were then seen as games of chance with no skills required and offered cash payouts as prices. However, pinball machines changed throughout the years and were seen later as games with a required set of skills and no cash prices.

After so many years, it is nice to see progress in the city of Oakland about this issue and hope to see this apply in other cities with outdated laws. It is very easy to recognize a pinball machine from a gambling machine, after all.

[Source]: ArcadeHeroes.com: Oakland Pinball Ban Lifted; New Atari Arcade Prototype: Time Bomb; Name That Game #6 [https://arcadeheroes.com/2014/06/21/pinball-ban-name-game-6-new-atari-arcade-prototype-time-bomb/].