Those of you who have ever gone to the Jersey Shore no doubt at one time or another played one of those “skill” games where you had to pop a balloon with a dart, make a basket, keep a softball within a bushel basket or get a beach ball to land in a colored hole that resulted in a big prize like a stuffed panda.

Of course, I am dating myself, because when my wife and I took our three children to Wildwood for our annual weeklong summer vacations, the macho in me came front and center to show my kids that I could beat these con guys at their own game.

For one glorious moment in 1979, I did just that and won coveted record albums for our two teen-age sons. In fact, the younger of the two, 13-year-old Mike, still reflects on the fact that dad’s prowess was responsible for his choosing the Bruce Springsteen album “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” which converted him into a lifetime fan of “the Boss.”

Aside from that improbable day, however, I was doling out serious cash just like thousands of other suckers who try to defy the near-impossible odds. I remember watching heart-broken teen-age girls whose dates promised them a big stuffed teddy bear but instead found only frustration and a thinner wallet for their troubles.

I am reminded about all of this because earlier this month a Boardwalk game operator in Wildwood was banned from operating amusement games for the next 10 years and fined $15,500 after she was charged with overinflating basketballs that resulted in rigged games.

The state attorney general’s office said Christine Strothers’ use of these balls made them bounce erratically when they hit the rim or backboard of the basket, which is smaller than a regulation basket to begin with.

During an unannounced spot check of Boardwalk games last year by the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission, agents found several basketballs inflated to nearly three times the recommended pounds per square inch of air.

Strothers also is accused of displaying enticing prizes that could not be won. How well I remember this ruse, especially in the yellow ducky race where the top three finishers won prizes. The top prize was pretty decent, but the other two were worth maybe a dime, if that.

“Investigators are always on the lookout to ensure a safe and fair experience for everyone who plays an amusement game on the Boardwalk,” said Cari Fais, acting director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. “Amusement game operators who aren’t playing by the rules spoil the fun for everyone, and they will be held accountable.”

Last year, investigators conducted nearly 7,000 inspections resulting in about $35,000 in penalties and violations.

To avoid spending $50 or more to win a stuffed purple Godzilla, give these Boardwalk games wide berth:

• The previously mentioned basketball game. You say you were a whiz in high school and made three-pointers look easy, well don’t expect the same result at the carny games at the Shore. The line for a three-point shot in high school is about 20 feet from the basket, and the basket is 10 feet high. A carnival game is likely to make you stand about 24 feet from a basket that’s 11 feet high, and, oh, yes, don’t forget that smaller opening to shoot at.

• The softball toss - what can be easier than throwing a ball into a bushel basket just feet in front of you. Well, if you have spent as many dollars as I have convincing myself that “I’ve got this,” you know that this is anything but a piece of cake; it is really difficult because of the way the basket is angled and springy.

• Dart that balloon - I have to smirk when I see dart experts who clean up their opponents at coal region bars and who think they can easily handle this game. The darts are dull, and the balloons are underinflated, so even if the dart hits the balloon it is unlikely to burst.

• The milk bottle game is one of the scam standards. Knock the milk bottles completely off the stand to win the big prize. The milk bottles are much heavier than they appear so it requires a harder throw, which most times affects your accuracy.

“Every person who plays an amusement game in New Jersey deserves a fair shot at winning a prize,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “The Jersey Shore is one of the biggest draws for families looking for fun and recreation, and we are making sure those families are not being scammed out of their hard-earned money.”

Anyone who believes that an amusement game is violating the Amusement Games Licensing Law can call 1-800-242-5846, he said.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.