$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)
on Oct 07 in General by DanOn Friday Kerry, Amy, Evan and I went to Blackpool for the day. Some people call Blackpool the Las Vegas of the North of England but to be honest the comparison is rather weak. Vegas has its neon lit strip of mega casinos whereas Blackpool has the golden mile of crumbling bed and breakfasts. Vegas plays host to giant shows such as the Blue Man Group and the Producers, and Blackpool boasts has-beens such as Cannon and Ball and Bobby Davro. And of course there is the gambling. Vegas has high stakes poker and glamorous blackjack tables. And Blackpool? Blackpool has 2p penny falls machines.Â
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For the uninitiated, these machines have two shelves covered in 2 pence coins that constantly slide back and forth. The intrepid gambler inserts their own 2p into a slot, it rolls down and, to cut a long story short, will hopefully push some other coins which will then push some other coins which will fall out into a collecting tray. You then gather them up and insert them straight back into the machine again. Repeat until you run out of cash.
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The machines frequently also have “prizes†resting on top of the coins which often defy the laws of physics in their steadfast refusal to drop off the edge.
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All I can say is that I’m glad that Blackpool doesn’t have easily accessible high stakes poker games as, judging by Kerry addiction to the penny falls machine, we would be bankrupt within a week. What’s more she has corrupted my daughter with her evil gambling ways. They both spent over an hour feeding coins into the damn machines while Evan and I looked forlornly on.Â
You can see a full set of our Blackpool photos here.
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I say if Kerry has ‘a system’ then maybe you should indeed stop worrying and encourage her, foster this ability in Amy and live off the sweet monetary rewards.
What type of corner store would be unwilling to trade pink dice for milk and bread? I mean really?
Didn’t I see those glittering prizes in a Chinese toy recall news photo?!?
I remember when I moved Oop North with my parents. The shining jewel in the move away from the civilisation of the South was the fact that we would be a mere 9 miles from Blackpool. Two shorts days after we arrived I dragged the reluctant parents to the town or shining lights and donkeys and nearly had them killed for causing me that much pain in disappointment. This was 20 years ago, before the new lights were put on the Tower so you could just see the rust spots and before Soft Drink rides hit the Pleasure Beach.
They tricked me you see… And I will make them pay.
Now, I live a 16 miles away but it’s just not far enough.
You went there voluntarily? Brave brave man,..
We have these machines at the Dave and Buster’s near us…a local adult gaming facility…really the only chain of American restaurants where they mix drinking and video games! :)
But those coin falling games…I never win anything!
Bradley
The Egel Nest
Your photos make Blackpool look almost enticing, well done for that is a task which has so far eluded the wit of man, however I must warn you – enticing people to Blackpool is a treasonable offence.
Great photo set! Especially you as the Space Invader himself.
Any particular reason your daughter is eating a shoe?
I must take issue with your description of the comedy greats Cannon and Ball and Bobby Davro as ‘has-beens’ – au contraire rarely have our screens and end of piers been graced with such comedic greats. Their routines have entertained literally hundreds, though of course their work pales into insignificance when compared to the Dostoyevsky of the comedy world – The Chuckle Brothers.
I think those coins are superglued together.
Pandy and I once stayed at St Chads Hotel on the front, and in our room was every floral print ever made and it did have a sea view if you stood on the bed and looked out of the window.
You forget that they had 10p penny falls and I steered well clear of them. 2p is about as much risk as I’m willing to take – £1.20 for an hour of fun and 7 plastic goodies seems a good return to me.
I am in the fetal position, listening to Morrissey.
“Every day is like Sunday… Every day is silent and grey…”
*rocks back and forth*
We have those machines here (quarters not 2 pence) in kids’ arcades. So I doubt it’s even considered gambling.
We also have the world’s largest casino (if not still, it used to be) here in Connecticut. Maybe Kerry would like to visit.
By the way, I love that “new pair of Dora slippers” line.
You should tie all that swag in your head and hit the love parade.