Man sues San Francisco arcade after losing $50 to ‘rigged’ claw machines

A Millbrae man is suing arcade chain Round1 — specifically calling out its location at Stonestown Mall — after losing $50 to “rigged” claw machines.

“Defendant is running an unscrupulous and oppressive operation that is akin to a casino for children, and is developing the next generation of problem gamblers,” according to the suit, filed by perennial junk fee lawsuit filer (er, “avid consumer advocate," Millbrae City Council candidate, and Alexander Xue in San Francisco Superior Court Thursday.

In the suit, he claims that after spending $52 at Round1 ($50 in credits and $2 for the arcade swipe card), he blew all the money on faulty machines. 

“Plaintiff was very frustrated because after spending all $50.00 worth of his credits, he only won one stuffed animal,” Xue wrote, “even though he believed that he had impeccable aim and control of the claw’s positioning.”

Xue, who is representing himself, adds over the course of the 14-page lawsuit that he definitely would have won if the machines weren’t rigged. He alleges that the machines violate consumer protection laws and false advertising laws. 

He filed the suit a day after Hong Kong regulators announced that they would be looking into claw machines, due to an uptick in consumer complaints this year.