When we were kids in the 1960s and 1970s, my neighbor and friend had a pinball machine in his basement that was free to use. A bowling machine, too.
One of my high school crew went to the university of South Carolina……loved the state enough to retire there, but got into a lot of fist fights in college, defending himself from anti Catholicism. Fortunately for hm, he was an incredible street fighter.
I remember when I first moved to Arizona when there still was a Mormon majority population of sorts, and there was no State Lottery. There was a heated debate about government endorsing, promoting, capitalizing from gambling.
Now the sell $50 dollar scratcher tickets and raised the Pick 6 tickets from $1 to $2 to buy.
It never fails to amaze me, that when a topic is brought up, many people’s only response is reciting lyrics. Anyway, back in the 80’s I was subcribed to Play Meter (a coin-op industry magazine). South Carolina was often staunch against pinball establishments, for good reason: Delinquents, crime and gambling.
Like prostitution, the same people opposing it now make money off it, an unending circle of greed and corruption.
Only a handfull of true mechanical pinballs remain, and cost a fortune to maintain.