Pokerino

Pokerino, manufactured by Scientific Machine Corporation in May 1947, is an electro-mechanical (EM) rolldown game with a playing-cards and poker theme. As an early product from this Brooklyn-based company (active 1932-1950), it offers a glimpse into the postwar boom of coin-operated skill games.

Pokerino's gameplay centers on five balls per game, with players rolling the ball toward scoring lanes rather than using flippers, consistent with the rolldown format. The machine's cabinet is advertised at approximately 5 feet long, 22 inches wide, and 67 inches high, a substantial footprint for a single-player game of its era.

Pokerino's design and artwork reflect its playing-card theme, incorporating suits and card ranks typical of poker-themed amusement games from the 1940s. No specific designer credit is documented for this title. As an example of the rolldown genre that flourished alongside flipper pinball in the postwar years, Pokerino remains an interesting piece for collectors researching this branch of coin-operated game history.