In a crowded casino made for kids, stocked with rows upon rows of neon, chiming claw machines, I saw my 12-year-old son’s life flash before my eyes. He had already drained $20 into a single machine ...

The 8-year-old crouched in front of the claw machine to get eye level with the small toys behind the screen. With intense focus, she gingerly maneuvered the joystick until the claw was above a ...