Small retro arcade venue
Open a small shopfront arcade with classic cabinets, pinball and ticket games for families and groups.
- A$40k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A small shopfront arcade with refurbished arcade cabinets, pinball tables and prize or ticket games. You run it yourself or with a few casual staff, and may add snacks, party bookings and school holiday sessions.
Your first three steps
- Visit local arcades and shopping centres to see pricing, busy times and gaps in your area
- Price up a small mix of second-hand machines and shortlist 2 or 3 possible shopfronts, asking each landlord about permitted use
- Ask your local council what approvals a small arcade needs, then get quotes for public liability insurance
Who pays
Families, teenagers, birthday party hosts, retro gaming fans and groups looking for a night out.
How it makes money
Pay-per-play or card top-ups, timed free-play entry, birthday party packages, and small extras like drinks and snacks.
Skills that help
- Customer service and a friendly manner
- Basic machine repairs or the will to learn
- Managing casual staff and rosters
- Local marketing
Watch out for
- Council planning approval and permitted use for the premises, check with your local council
- Rules on games that give prizes or involve gambling differ by state, check your state's gaming regulator before choosing any prize games
- Gaming machines (pokies) are heavily regulated, so stick to amusement-only games unless you have specific advice
- A liquor licence is needed if you plan to sell alcohol, check your state's liquor authority
- Electrical safety, testing and tagging of machines, and fire safety requirements
- Public liability and property insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire
- Check any rules about children being unsupervised and school hours, and a working with children check if relevant for staff
- Machine repairs and downtime can eat into profit, and rent is a big fixed cost
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: small retro arcade venue
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a retro arcade in Australia?
Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on your premises, how many machines you buy and the fit-out. Treat this as an estimate and price machines and rent for your own area.
How much can a small arcade earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $25,000, depending on location, machine mix and party bookings. Rent is a big fixed cost, and machine repairs and downtime can eat into profit.
What rules should I check before opening an arcade?
Check council planning approval and permitted use for the premises. Check your state's gaming regulator before choosing any prize games, and stick to amusement-only games unless advised otherwise. Also check electrical safety, testing and tagging, fire safety and liquor licensing.
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