These are the saddest photos you’ll see all week

In the Shunqing District of Nanchong City, China, the police have confiscated around 1000 gambling machines and set them ablaze. I understand the need to crack down on illegal gambling, but couldn’t the machines have been repurposed? This can’t be good for the environment.

While these may be machines may have been used for shady means, you can’t help but notice their similarity to your average arcade cabinet — almost like a metaphor for the vanishing arcade business. Sure, there are rare spots where arcade gaming is making a comeback, but we all know the real deal. And such imagery only forces those disheartening emotions to the forefront.

Wired Aperture In focus: Confiscated gambling machine bonfire [Wired via Tiny Cartridge]