Authorities clear the air on boardwalk cheaters

State authorities are calling foul balls over a Jersey Shore boardwalk amusement operator who was caught rigging basketball games with overinflated balls and displaying prizes one could never win, NJ.com reported.

As a result of an inspection of several game locations, owner Christine Strothers has been banned from the business for 10 years and fined $15,500 for violating New Jersey’s boardwalk licensing law, according to the news outlet.

“Every person who plays an amusement game in the State of New Jersey deserves a fair shot at winning a prize,” state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement.

“The Jersey Shore is one of the biggest draws in the State for families looking for fun and recreation and we are making sure those families are not being scammed out of their hard-earned money.”

A crackdown on games of chance on the boardwalk began last year when authorities sent out letters warning license holders that they would be conducting inspections of overinflated balls, in particular, according to the news report.