Fascination

Fascination. . Geneva-on-the-Lake is one of the few places in the world where the Fascination game is still available using the vintage equipment. , The game is played using a wooden ball tossed toward a horizontal matrix of 25 holes in a table; the center hole is a "free" space. An electronic display board whose layout corresponds to the holes into which a ball was successfully tossed, shows which spaces have been won by the player. The goal is to be the first player to get a Bingo horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Because the tables are electrically interlocked, all boards in the parlor shut down as soon as there is a winner. , The winner receives a coupon redeemable for a prize, but many players prefer to accumulate their coupons for a larger prize. Coupons don't expire, and a grand prize, such as a cruise, may be offered by the house to encourage frequent play. , Less than a dozen Fascination parlors remain in the U.S. The GOTL parlor is owned by PJ Macchia. , Operators Keep Things Rolling , A Fascination parlor requires at least one employee who has to "bark" customers into the building, watch the games, collect the game fees and pay out the prizes/coupons. The high personnel costs, and frequent repairs required, contributed to the game's demise at many locations., Captions: , Fascination came to The Strip in the 1940s as part of the Olympic Midway complex. Herb Thomas installed the game, which cost 10 cents per play. , The back of a Fascination game panel is a maze of hand-wired switches, sockets and relays. The relays are the same that were used in obsolete telephone switching equipment. , Fun Facts, A "budget" Fascination game stood across the street, in the Pera Family's casino/arcade, which burned to the ground in 1979., The Fascination parlor was the first GOTL building with air conditioning. Patrons played more games when they were comfortable.