SEASIDE HEIGHTS – Just about every Jersey Shore visitor seems to have some skepticism about boardwalk games.
They think the basketball hoops are too small. The bottles are impossible to break. The football target somehow fails to register a winning throw. And perhaps the most common suspicion of all is that the crane machine is programmed to drop the prize just before it reaches the chute.
Those theories have become part of the Shore experience itself, passed from one generation to the next alongside memories of rides, arcades and saltwater taffy.
A group of state, county and local officials recently set out to answer those questions during New Jersey’s annual Safe Summer initiative in Seaside Heights. The program highlights the inspections that take place behind the scenes at boardwalks and businesses throughout the summer season.
Joining the event were Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs Jeremy E. Hollander, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Ocean County Commissioner Rob Arace, Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz, Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd, Ocean County Consumer Affairs Director Ron Heinzman and members of his staff, along with representatives from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and other state agencies.
While the purpose of the event wasn’t merely for entertainment, Billhimer, Davenport and Arace appeared to be having as much fun as anyone else. As inspectors moved from game to game, the three eagerly stepped up to test their own skills, taking shots, tossing footballs and trying their luck while learning how the games are regulated.
For Billhimer, the experience brought back memories from his teenage years. Long before becoming Ocean County’s chief law enforcement officer, he spent summers working one of the game stands on the Seaside Heights boardwalk.
“I used to work in these stands when I was a kid,” Billhimer said. “I don’t remember them ever being checked, but I’m sure they were fair.”
Davenport, who grew up in Cape May County enjoying summers in Wildwood, said preserving public confidence remains an important part of protecting one of New Jersey’s most beloved traditions.
“Not everybody’s going to win,” Davenport said. “But you know that you have a fair shot to win.”
Inspectors Put Games To The Test
The demonstrations revealed that boardwalk games undergo much more scrutiny than most visitors realize.
According to state officials, investigators conducted 17 inspections in Seaside Heights during the 2025 summer season and found no violations. The inspections were part of a larger statewide effort that includes both scheduled and surprise visits to amusement operators, arcades and businesses throughout the summer.
Every licensed amusement game location in New Jersey is inspected at least once each season, with inspectors reviewing rules, prizes, software, equipment and game mechanics.
One of the first stops at the special event involved football toss and basketball games. Inspectors demonstrated how they test electronic targets to ensure successful throws properly register as wins. They also reviewed prize displays and trade-up rules so players understand exactly what is required to earn prizes at each level.
The basketball games generated particular interest because of one of the boardwalk’s longest-running myths. Generations of visitors have walked away convinced the hoops are smaller than regulation size. Inspectors said that’s not the case. Basketballs are checked for proper inflation, and the equipment must comply with state standards.
The bottle-bust game offered another opportunity to explain the regulations. Inspectors measured the playing field and reviewed bottle placement requirements while explaining that even the type of bottle used matters.
Perhaps no game attracted more attention than the crane machine. Standing before rows of colorful plush toys, inspectors opened the cabinet and explained how they verify that the software has been approved for use in New Jersey. They also demonstrated how the claw mechanism is tested to ensure it can actually pick up and carry prizes.
A veteran inspector with more than two decades of experience even shared a tip: target prizes closest to the chute rather than those buried deep in the pile.
The Rules Behind The Fun
Many visitors might be surprised to learn just how detailed New Jersey’s amusement game regulations can be.
Inspectors not only review the operation of the games themselves but also check prize displays, licensing requirements and posted rules. Operators must clearly explain how games are played and what players need to do to win specific prizes. Trade-up policies must also be displayed so visitors understand how smaller prizes can be exchanged for larger ones.
State regulations even dictate pricing. According to inspectors, a boardwalk game cannot charge more than $20 for a single play package. Charging $20.01 would constitute a violation under state rules.
The regulations also govern prizes. Individual prizes can be worth as much as $10,000, but operators cannot award certain items, including alcohol, weapons, illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia or live animals. Toy prizes must be lead-free. The goal is to ensure games remain family friendly while giving players clear expectations about what they are trying to win.
More Than Games
Members of the Office of Weights and Measures demonstrated how they test scales used by candy stores, fudge shops and other businesses selling products by weight. Using certified test weights, inspectors verified that scales accurately measured products throughout their operating range.
“We’re here to protect the consumer, and we’re also here to protect the business,” explained Mike Dillard of the Office of Weights and Measures. “If it’s one pound, it is one pound. If it’s five pounds, it’s five pounds.”
Inspectors also review pricing displays, refund policies, credit card surcharge notices and consumer products sold by businesses along the boardwalk.
When Operators Break The Rules
Officials emphasized that the inspections are more than educational demonstrations.
Operators found violating state regulations can face fines of up to $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for second and subsequent violations. Violations can involve improperly posted rules, uncertified games, inaccurate scales, licensing issues or other consumer protection concerns.
While Seaside Heights recorded no violations during its 17 inspections last year, state officials reported that inspectors found dozens of violations elsewhere in New Jersey, resulting in more than $15,000 in penalties.
Officials said the enforcement effort helps protect both visitors and honest business owners by ensuring everyone operates under the same rules.
Watching More Than Games
The Safe Summer initiative also addresses another issue facing shore communities: social media-organized pop-up parties.
Davenport said the New Jersey State Police work closely with county prosecutors and local police departments to monitor online activity and identify gatherings that can quickly grow into public safety concerns. The effort helps communities prepare for large crowds before problems arise.
Billhimer praised the partnership among state, county and local agencies and then delivered what may have been the afternoon’s most memorable line.
“It’s a public safety concern. We stay on top of that all summer long,” Billhimer said. “So, if you’re going to have a pop-up party, do it somewhere other than Seaside Heights.”
The comment drew laughter from those gathered on the boardwalk.
As the demonstrations concluded and families continued strolling past games, rides and food stands, officials emphasized that winning still requires skill and luck. Thanks to the inspections taking place behind the scenes, however, visitors can feel confident the games themselves are being played fairly.
