Peruvian authorities destroy 1,000 illegal Peruvian pinball machines.

Dang those blasted video games and pinball machines, corrupting our youth more than jazz music ever could. Such an attitude is the case in Peru where authorities as part of the National Tourist Board (or DNT) have confiscated thousands of pinball machines that “create unhealthy addictions among young people like addiction to gambling. Kids are affected by the prolonged use of these machines and they are found everywhere in Peru” or so says the quoted government official (and they always know best, right?). I’m not sure what people that are supposed to be dealing with tourism in the country are doing confiscating these sort of games since it appears that the games are made for the local people to play more than a tourist. Of course from the appearance of these games they do look like slot machines more than pinballs so I wouldn’t condone that especially when it comes to kids but sometimes authorities exaggerate the situation to justify what they do so I like to remain a little skeptical.

This isn’t the first time pinball and gambling devices have been associated together but before anyone panics, these pinball machines are a bit different than what we’re used to seeing from Stern and from the looks of it they do resemble slot machines a little bit so you can see why they are being targeted. There are no Bally, Williams or Gottlieb classic games in the mix but perhaps this is a phase in Peru that was seen in the US back in the 50’s when pinball machines were associated as gambling devices and were subsequently banned in most places so perhaps after this standard pinball games will be able to find a place in the culture there.

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