The recent boom in unmanned businesses has catapulted claw machine arcades into the spotlight. These shops, packed with dozens of machines, operate entirely without staff. With the rise of card payments and the easing of the 5,000 KRW prize cap, we are currently witnessing a second golden age for these venues.

Of course, not everyone walks away with a prize. Sometimes the claw lacks the grip strength, or a plushie slips away in a heart-stopping moment during transport. However, there are times when the claw barely closes at all—descending toward the target while remaining splayed, or simply going through the motions of a grab without actually closing. If you managed to at least snag something, you might feel less cheated, but when the claw is clearly lifeless, you can’t help but think, 'I've been scammed!'

So, is there a way to report a claw that refuses to close? The Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) oversees these crane games. They handle age rating classifications and post-release monitoring. A GRAC representative explained: 'When submitting these machines for rating, developers provide a game description manual. If the actual operation deviates from this, it could be a violation of Article 32, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Game Industry Promotion Act.'

This game description manual is a detailed document, and operating a machine differently than described is a legal breach. Offenders can face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

The crux of the matter is whether the manual submitted by the manufacturer accounts for a 'non-closing claw' mode. If grip angle, frequency, or probability settings are part of the core gameplay and were officially approved by the GRAC, then at least under current law, it's technically above board.

Gamemeca examined all game description manuals for crane machines that received age ratings from the GRAC in the fourth quarter of last year (October to December 2025). Thirty games were rated during this period, featuring diverse mechanics: from single-player to four-player setups, machines where you push prizes off a ledge, and compact models that allow two units to be stacked.

However, none of the recent manuals mention operating with 'permanently open claws' or 'artificial adjustments to closing angles.' Furthermore, the Q&A between the GRAC and manufacturers repeatedly asks: 'Is it possible for the user to reach a state where winning is impossible?' They screen for unwinnable difficulty spikes and gameplay methods not documented in the manual.

In short, since the core mechanic is using coins or cards to guide a crane to retrieve a prize, a claw that stays open and fails to grab falls squarely into the 'impossible to win' category.

In most games, such a defect would be an immediate trigger for a report. But for claw machines, most players are just passing by, trying their luck once. If the claw doesn't work, they simply move on or stop visiting that shop. Since new players constantly replace the old ones and information rarely spreads, these operators often get away with it because the individual losses are small.

All 30 machines that passed the GRAC review explicitly state that 'winning is always possible.' In fact, the manual for the 'RAINBOW CASTLE X3' crane machine, rated in October, even provides instructions on how to fix a claw that fails to act or hesitates. It allows for grip strength adjustments, but contains zero provisions for rendering the claw completely non-functional or immobile.

Furthermore, machines are required to display the gameplay method and difficulty settings (grip strength) on the front, often via stickers. If there is a difficulty setting, it must be clearly stated; if not, it must explicitly say 'no difficulty settings'.

Therefore, if a claw descends and fails to close or only makes a pathetic, twitching movement, it’s one of two things: a malfunction, or illegal tampering to make prizes impossible to win. In either case, if the owner doesn't fix it, they are operating in violation of the Game Industry Promotion Act because the machine no longer matches its approved description.

The manuals also include a warning from the GRAC that violating these terms can lead to penalties or the revocation of the age rating. If proven to be intentional, the owner or distributor faces up to two years in prison or a 20 million KRW fine.

If the issue isn't intentional but rather a breakdown, you are entitled to a refund for the game cost. As of 2026, with card payments becoming the standard and CCTV monitoring in place, it is easier to pinpoint the exact time of a malfunction and process mass refunds for affected players.

If you find a claw machine that refuses to close, the operator is breaking the law. For a smooth resolution, notify the owner and demand a refund or repair. If they refuse to budge, legal action is your next step.

Your best weapon is a video. Record the shop name, the signage, and the malfunctioning claw in action. Submit this evidence via the e-People (Kookmin Shinmungo) portal. The report will be forwarded to the GRAC, which will then coordinate with local police or municipal authorities for a crackdown. You can track the progress through the app, and you may even be eligible for compensation for your losses.

If you own a claw machine arcade, check your machines regularly. If something breaks, fix it immediately. If you’ve tampered with the claw to lower win rates, revert it to the original settings. In an age where everyone carries a smartphone, running an illegal operation is nothing more than a ticking time bomb.