A method is disclosed for initiating game play on a pay-for-play parlor game, such as a pool table having a playing surface, rails, pockets, a ball holding rack that retains pool balls, and an internal activation-sensing unit. The method includes depositing a game play fee into a remote activation assembly, remotely transmitting an activation signal once the game play fee is deposited, receiving the activation signal at the internal activation-sensing unit, and providing access to the pool balls upon said receiving step. A method is also disclosed for automatically scoring a pool-based game including detecting detectable devices embedded within the pool balls.