The first night at the Tulsa State Fair and the Midway was packed.
Before the Midway opened Thursday night a certified Tulsa County Deputy and a Murphy Brothers Exposition ride consultant inspected the games to make sure they are fair and fairgoers don’t get cheated.
No one gets a deal unless signs are visibly posted.
“If you run a special, because you have special signs, it has to go up before you start the game,” said Murphy Brothers Ride consultant Bob Rohlfs.
There should be no verbal deals to entice players to hand over more money.
All rules must be posted on a sign that is visible for every player.
“If it’s not in writing, it’s not going to happen,” said Tulsa County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Darby.
He said it has to be a game of skill not chance.
Inspectors checked to make sure all footballs used in a game would make it through the wood cut out of a star.
“It depends how much air you put in them, is whether it can go through there,” said Darby. “It will go through there. It’s a skill.”
Deputies will be checking throughout the fair to make sure fairgoers are winning too.
“During the day I will walk through here and see how many prizes they have given away and to see if the game is too difficult if they want to adjust it,” said Darby.
Fairgoers have mixed feelings about the games.
“When I play I think they are fair because I usually win,” said JJ Hale.
Most of the stuffed animals cost carnival workers less than $2.00 and will charge that price or more to play.
“Fair? No. Too expensive,” said Katie Revis.
Carnival workers ensure inspectors they want everyone to equally win.
“If you give a prize every time make sure you do it for everyone,” Rohlfs.
Some of the carnival games you always win.
“We want this to be a fun fair and everyone walks away with a prize,” said Darby.
Last year, three workers were arrested for cheating players.
If you believe you were cheated on a game deputies recommend you report it to the nearest deputy.
They will have undercover deputies out at the fair to investigate.
