A central pen acts as a battle arena for dueling mole rats and has ample standing room for spectators. A spectator sitting area is to the north, along with a desk that Jackpot Jane takes bets from. Further away, chain link cages temporarily hold mole rats that aren't currently fighting. Jackpot Jane's home is further to the south.
Mole rat matches[]
Everyday between noon and 5pm,[2] mole rats bloodily fight to the death in front of spectators.[3] Each match is a duel between two mole rats and each match takes place over several rounds. Jackpot Jane excitedly commentates on the bloodshed while mole rats fight. Several matches occur per day. 54 named mole rats can fight.[4]
Gambling[]
The player can place a $100 bet on each fight's outcome with Jackpot Jane, the manager of Molerat Mambo. The player doubles their money if their chosen mole rat wins the match or triples their money if their chosen mole rat wins in the first round.[5] Each mole rat has a 50% to win and the player's gambling skill has no effect on the outcome.
If the Chosen One has an intelligence of less than four, Jackpot Jane only offers the Chosen One a "special bet". However, this "special bet" is only a ploy to take advantage of the dimwitted since Jackpot Jane will always tell the Chosen One that they lost.[6]
Molerat Mambo most likely refers to the Latin dance of the same name. An intense ballroom dance between two people matches the tone of two mole rats dueling inside an arena.
↑Jackpot Jane: "{137}{}{Look at all that blood, and they're still going at it. What a fight!}" "{139}{}{Yeah, raked him right across the jowls! That's gonna be a bleeder-wound too!}" "{140}{}{Did you see how far that blood spattered on that one?! Wow, what power!}" "{141}{}{Moving like greased lightning! Look at the all the torn flesh comin' off of there!}" "{142}{}{Just look at the scraps of flyin' flesh everywhere! These two have what it takes!}" "{156}{}{Beware splattering blood and viscera. The management assumes no responsibility for stains.}" (Jackpot Jane's dialogue)
↑
The Chosen One: "{171}{}{Uh, I'm in. I guess.}" Jackpot Jane: "{173}{}{The sportin' part is the bet on the outcome of the fight. Here's how it works. You come up to me and say you want to place a bet. I tell you which two critters are fightin' next and you tell me which one you're putting your money on.}" The Chosen One: "{174}{}{Then what?}" Jackpot Jane: "{175}{}{Simple, if your critter wins you double your money. TRIPLE in the event of a first-round takedown! If your critter loses, then your money belongs to me. There are usually several fights each day. Until the stock of critters runs low, you can bet on all of 'em. But just one bet per fight. Oh, yeah, just to keep things nice an' easy, all bets are $100.}" (Jackpot Jane's dialogue)
↑Jackpot Jane: {103}{}{Hello there, friend. Come to see the critter contests?}
Chosen One: {105}{}{Pretty fur.}
Jackpot Jane: {106}{}{Ah, I see. You must be new in town. Well, I tell you what. I'll make a special bet for you during tomorrow's fights. Would you like me to do that for you?}
Chosen One: {107}{}{(You nod) Ook, ook. (and hold out your purse).}
Jackpot Jane: {110}{}{OK, good move. I'll make sure you get a real special bet with that. See you later.}
Chosen One: {111}{}{Win?}
Jackpot Jane: {113}{}{No, I'm afraid not. But I've got a real good feeling about the next time. Want to place another special bet?}
Chosen One: {114}{}{Okay. Danku. (you nod and hold out your purse).}
(Jackpot Jane's dialogue)
Non-game
↑Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p.182: "16. Mole Rat Mambo or Deathclaw Deathmatch. This arena is where trained Mole Rats are pitted against one another with money riding on the outcome. You can become a part of the action by betting on your favorite. Eventually, the crowd will tire of Mole Rats duking it out, and some other type of creature will be used instead." (See here)