Central Bank Coinage Cost Increased due to Claw Machine Craze

The governor of Taiwan’s Central Bank told the legislature that an increase in coinage costs in this year’s budget was due to the popularity of claw machines.

Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-Long was responding to a question by Legislative Yuan member Chiang Yung-Chang who noted that according to the bank’s 2019 budget, the cost of issuing coins is nearly NT$1.7 billion, of which NT$1 billion, more than 60% is devoted to NT$10 coins.

Governor Yang responded that because claw machines are so popular and society has the demand, the central bank will try to meet the market demand.

Since last year, the bank has attempted to reduce the cost of issuing coins by requesting the public to empty their piggy banks: “kill the pigs, the pigs are full.”

However, claw machine shops have continued to increase in number nationwide. Yang told the legislature not to underestimate the social phenomena of the claw machine. There are 3,335 doll machine companies in Taiwan and more than 10,000 claw machine stores. This is more than the total of 7-11 and Family Mart convenience stores combined.

Asked whether the governor had played the machines, Yang responded, “I have seen them, but not played.”

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