For me, I think it can be considered as gambling. Claw machines seem innocent fun and many people of different ages play the game, but, as you have mentioned, it involves risking money or a chance to win a prize. Like in gambling, it involves skills, odds, and luck. Skills on how you are going to maneuver the claw and position it correctly to get the price. Since the game is random, even skilled players struggle to win consistently. Then Odds, often stacked against players, making it difficult to win consistently. And Luck, whether the outcome of getting the prize is successful or not.