Lite-a-Line

Introduction

Lite-a-Line combines elements of pinball and bingo. It resembles pinball because players use a plunger to launch a ball onto the playing surface, while it shares bingo's objective of marking five spots in a row for a win. As the ball travels through 25 openings on the board, corresponding squares on a five-by-five scorecard light up. Players often stake $1, with the winner taking home $15.

The sole place globally where this game can be enjoyed is at Looff's Lite-a-Line in Long Beach, California.

Update (10/18/24): Unfortunately, Looff's permanently closed on November 28, 2022.

Rules

Below are the rules for the popular games, which make up roughly 90% of those played at Looff's.

1. Players wager $1 each.
2. A designated caller initiates the game. During my visit, players could trigger the start just a moment before the announcer shouted 'start,' which was indicated by a click sound from the plunger.
3. As in pinball , the player pulls back a plunger and releases it, sending the ball up the sloped board.
4. If the launching force isn't sufficient, the ball may not reach a critical drop point and roll back down to the plunger, effectively wasting time.
5. Conversely, if the player uses excessive force, the ball could overshoot the drop point, bounce off a rubber peg, and return to the plunger, wasting even more time.
6. Successful release of the ball using just the right amount of force—what I refer to as the 'sweet spot'—enables it to fall towards the 25 openings on the board.
7. These openings are organized into five colors, each color having five openings numbered from one to five.
8. In around 90% of cases, the ball will enter one of these holes. When the ball does so, it lights up the corresponding location on the scoreboard, provided it wasn't illuminated already.
9. The center square, marked as red-3, is already designated before the game commences.
10. The first player who completes five spots in a row (either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) on their card will ring a bell, causing all plungers in every game room to lock.
11. If any ball is still rolling on the board when the game locks, it can continue until it reaches the end, which might lead to another win if it passes through a hole to form five in a row.
12. The $15 prize is distributed among all winners, with the majority of games resulting in only a single winner.
13. An additional $2 bonus is awarded for a win with no other marks on the card, considered a 'perfect game.'

While the common games mentioned above usually have a lower cost, some offer larger jackpots for a higher price. Other variations split the prize: $3 for the first to get four in a row (which does not lock the game) and $12 for the first to achieve five in a row.

History

Charles Looff was the mastermind behind Lite-a-Line. If the name rings a bell, it's because he was also the creator of the very first carousel. While working as a furniture maker, he carved wooden horses and other creatures, thereby inventing the world's inaugural carousel, located at the Coney Island amusement park. His success in this endeavor led him to create additional carousels, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, and various other amusement attractions. He ended up developing and selling amusement parks across California and New York.

Eventually, he settled in Long Beach, California, where he established an amusement park named The Pike . Although it initially thrived, it faced fierce competition from Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, which led to its decline and closure in 1979. The only remnant of The Pike that remains operational is the Lite-a-Line game, now situated further inland near the intersection of Willow and Long Beach Boulevards.

Presently, patrons can experience Lite-a-Line at Looff's while enjoying a nostalgic atmosphere inspired by the memorabilia of the former Long Beach Pike. Entry is complimentary, but players must be at least 21 years old to participate.

Personal Note : I was raised adjacent to Long Beach, in Seal Beach, where my parents currently reside. As mentioned, Looff's is located near Willow Boulevard in Long Beach, however, the street name changes to Katella Avenue once you cross the Orange County Line into Los Alamitos. I traversed Katella each day on my way to junior high and high school and once worked at the Rossmoor Car Wash on the corner of Katella and Los Alamitos Boulevard. Despite living close to Looff's for a significant portion of my life, I only learned about it in 2013.

Amenities

Looff's mainly offers vending machines for food and beverages. I've heard that they occasionally serve hot dogs or pizza during major events, and they do feature a large-screen television for viewing. One of the aspects I appreciate about Looff's is its strict no-smoking policy!

Odds

Calculating odds is fairly straightforward. Assuming every player has the same level of skill, the expected win per game is determined by dividing the prize by the total number of players. Most games award $15 to the victor. For instance, during my visit, the player count fluctuated between 20 and 25. With 20 players, the expected win per game would be $15/20 = 75 cents. In this scenario, the house edge would be approximately 25%.

As previously mentioned, there is a $2 extra reward for winning with exactly five marks on the card. I estimate that the odds of achieving this are about 1 in 5,313, provided the player won initially. Consequently, this bonus marginally reduces the house edge by around 0.04%.

My Experience

I arrived at Looff's around 1:00 PM on a sunny September afternoon. Upon entering, I likely appeared confused since I had no prior knowledge of what to expect. All I knew was that the game was a unique blend of bingo and pinball. A friendly lady promptly approached me, offering assistance. I disclosed that it was my first visit and that I was unsure of how to proceed. She kindly explained the rules and allowed me to engage in a couple of practice games. During one practice game, she asked me to pause because I was only one number away from winning, and since it was practice, she wanted to ensure I didn't inadvertently claim a win that a paying player might have earned.

After my practice session, I eagerly prepared to play for real and approached the cashier. The charming girl there explained that every player receives a card featuring their photo. Cash is transformed into credits that are electronically loaded onto the card. As a new player, I could take advantage of a deal offering five games for the cost of one. There was also a special where purchasing $40 in credits granted me a free t-shirt. Although I had plenty of t-shirts, I couldn't resist adding another 'free' one to my collection. So, with $45 in credits and a new t-shirt in hand, I was more than ready to dive into the games!

From the 64 available Lite-a-Line units, I opted for number 11. I have a habit of selecting prime numbers whenever the option arises. After inserting my card into the reader, I patiently awaited the next game. There were no buttons to push or bets to place; having my card in the reader meant I was automatically in the game. With each new round, the cost, typically $1, would be deducted from my credits, and the plunger would engage. I have visited countless casinos worldwide, but I had never encountered such an effortless wagering process.

Despite my earlier practice, getting accustomed to the plunger took some time. Initially, I relied solely on instinct. Gradually, I developed a technique where I pulled the plunger about 1/8\" past a worn ring on the plunger's rod. However, I found that this approach did not yield consistent outcomes. I realized that the resultant force was not simply determined by how far I pulled back the plunger, but also by how long it remained compressed—the longer you hold it down, the less force is applied. Some attempts resulted in insufficient power because I didn't release quickly enough, causing the plunger handle to graze my fingertips as it snapped back.

Through approximately twenty games, I recognized that I was overcomplicating the physics of the game. This realization became evident with a notable pattern of ineffective shots, either too weak or too powerful for the ball to drop successfully. At this point, I decided to return to a more instinctual approach, and surprisingly, my performance improved.

During the 45 games I played, based on the number of participants fluctuating between 20 and 25, I anticipated winning nearly two of them. However, I only managed to win once. The likelihood of winning exactly once, given the expected two victories, is about 27.1%. Whether this outcome was a result of bad luck or deficient skills remains uncertain—likely a mix of both.

After concluding my session, I cashed out the remaining $13 from the $15 I had won. I then meandered around the room, admiring the nostalgic artifacts from the old Long Beach Pike. I also noticed a flyer detailing Looff's September promotions. Possibly seeking an excuse to strike up a conversation with the attractive cashier, I asked for a copy. She seemed puzzled by my request, so she called over the same friendly lady who had given me the two practice games. I clarified my inquiry, and she asked me to hold on while she searched for a copy.

A few minutes later, an older gentleman approached and inquired how he could assist me. I explained my request regarding the promotions. He was gracious enough to ask if I was a new player, where I was from, and how I had learned about Looff's. This led to an enjoyable and lengthy conversation about the establishment's history and many of the fascinating pieces within it. It turned out that I was speaking with the manager, Michael Cincola, who happens to be Charles Looff's son-in-law.

Being knowledgeable about classic amusement parks, Cincola was an ideal person to answer a question I had pondered for many years. I've frequently heard the phrase 'grab the brass ring.' As I've understood it, older carousels featured a dispenser of rings that was just out of reach as riders circled around. Most rings were made of steel, but a select few crafted from brass entitled the fortunate holder to some type of prize.

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Conclusion

Lite-a-Line merges pinball and bingo elements. It features pinball mechanics as players utilize a plunger to launch a ball onto a playing board, while resembling bingo since players aim for the ball to illuminate five consecutive spots to win. As the ball descends through 25 openings on the board, matching squares on a five-by-five scoring card light up. Participants typically bet $1, with the victor receiving $15.

Links

• Looff's official web site .
• YouTube video The sole place in the world where this game can be found is

Contact

• Update (10/18/24): Unfortunately, Loof's ceased operations on November 28, 2022.
• Phone: 562-436-2979
• These are the regulations that govern the typical games, which make up roughly 90% of those played at Looff's.

Update

A game starts with a caller. During my visit, I noticed that players could initiate their actions slightly before the announcer shouted 'start,' as indicated by a clicking sound made when the plunger was used. Players draw back a plunger and let it go to shoot the ball upwards along the sloping board. .

Written by: Michael Shackleford