Pamco Parlay

The Pamco Parlay, an electro-mechanical pinball machine from October 1935, is a notable piece of early pinball history. Manufactured by Pacific Amusement Manufacturing Company (PAMCO) and designed by Bon MacDougall, this one-ball payout machine was built around a horse racing theme, popular for gambling-style pinball games of the period.

What sets the Pamco Parlay apart is its innovative "Parlay" dial, which automatically rotates when a coin is inserted to set the payout odds anywhere from 2:1 to 40:1. This feature added an element of chance and made the game more dynamic and engaging for players. The Jack-Pot Hole, worth between 50 cents and five dollars, was another notable aspect of the gameplay. Measuring 40 inches long by 20 inches wide, the Pamco Parlay is a compact yet impressive machine. According to Marketplace Pictorial History, its changing-odds feature is considered to mark the beginning of what would become known as bingo pinball machines.

From an artistic perspective, the Pamco Parlay's design and theme are reflective of its era, with a horse racing motif typical of gambling machines of the time. This first version of the game notably lacks a backbox, distinguishing it from the two later variants, Pamco Parlay Senior and Pamco Parlay Junior, that followed.