Little Tommy tosses the rings towards the bottles, attempting in desperation to land one so he could hold that giant fluffy teddy bear in his arms. With every toss his father cringes, knowing that slowly but surely his money is wasting away.

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Games are a staple money maker for the State Fair. They are a sneaky and crafty way to get people’s money fast. The Texas State Fair runs for about 26 days each year and in that brief period of time it makes upwards of $42,004,540 and a majority of the money they make comes from the games.

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In a recent interview a student mentioned, “I have never played the games because they are a waste of money, you can’t win and in all honesty it’s the only bad thing about the State Fair.” Clearly the scam that is the games at the State Fair is something that takes away from the amazing experience.

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Children and parents deserve a fun filled experience that doesn’t break their bank accounts. The games should either cost less or at least be winnable. Many games have tricks that fool the players into loosing so that they receive no prize and have only accomplished emptying their pockets.

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If you are going to the State Fair this year, I suggest that you watch out for these scams and spend your money elsewhere. The State Fair is an amazing experience and offers a lot of free fun to all and can be affordable if you use your time and resources wisely.  10/14/16