Hmmm, I wouldn't equate that with every game persay.
It's namely the ones where you either get a large sum of tickets (e.g. hit the impossible target for 500 tickets) or games such as the claw machine. They are actually pre-programmed so that regardless of if you hit something spot on it will purposefully not let you win. So in the end, it's simply a game of probability, not skill - similar to a slot machine. Those I equate with gambling, especially because you win physical items. What really occurs is when you play that claw machine you put the claw either right on or right next to it - and it gives the kid that shot of dopamine that makes them crave it with the "OH MY GOD I WAS SO CLOSE! Let me play just one more time and I'll get it!" that is gambling, of all things.
If you disagree and think that the above is perfectly suitable for a kid but a scratch-off isn't you're simply butt-fucking retarded.
I would put something like, say, a racing game in a different division - because with that you don't expect any physical prize - you're simply playing the game for fun - such as if you were to rent an actual go-cart and do a race.
You are absolutely right about some of those games being pre-programmed to always lose. My wife and I met while teens working in the games and attractions department of a Six Flags theme park. She went on to manage in Six Flags parks for almost 25 years.
Games of skill are not gambling (games of chance) because when set up correctly it is the player's skill and only the players skill that determines a win or loss. Six Flags and other large skill games operators are monitored by law enforcement to ensure their games aren't rigged. I had my share of visits from the Los Angeles Police Vice Division back when I worked there. Smaller operators don't get nearly as much LE attention and can and often do get away with rigging their games like the impossible shot type games you mention.
Games like claw machines, Stacker, Spin Cycle, and others can all be programmed to disallow any win until the machine has taken in a predetermined amount of money. Only after the machine steals it's $$$ quota will it turn off the always lose mode and is winning even possible. Once it vends a prize to a sufficiently skilled player it's back into impossible mode until it steals enough $$$ to allow another win.
Legit operators hate games set this way. It's illegal, unethical and downright bad for business. We want enough players to win so that people keep playing, but no so many that we lose money. We accomplish this by balancing the difficulty of the game with the value of the prize, but always it is the skill of the player that determines if they win or not.
Tip: if you want to know how hard a game of skill is to win just look at the value of the prize. Pro-Tip: Unless it's a reputable games operator and you see players regularly winning just walk away.
At the other end of the spectrum is gambling or games of chance like scratcher or lottery tickets. The prize is so huge because so many folks play and so few win. And no amount of skill will every improve your odds of winning.
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