Arcade and pool table placement route
Place pool tables, arcade games and claw machines in local venues and share the takings.
- A$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
You buy or lease amusement machines such as pool tables, arcade cabinets, pinball and claw machines. You place them in pubs, cafes, bowling alleys and leisure venues, then collect the takings and keep them working. This is for skill and entertainment machines only, not gambling machines.
Your first three steps
- Visit local pubs, cafes and leisure venues to see which lack games, and ask about a revenue share
- Price a few used or new machines and work out how long each would take to pay back
- Register an ABN, get public liability insurance and write a simple placement agreement for venues
Who pays
Players pay per game through the machines. Venue owners share in the takings in return for giving you floor space.
How it makes money
You keep a share of the coin or card takings, usually agreed with each venue. Some venues instead pay a fixed monthly lease fee for a machine.
Skills that help
- Approaching venue owners and negotiating
- Basic mechanical and electrical fault finding
- Keeping simple records of machines and takings
Watch out for
- Gaming machines (pokies) are heavily regulated in each state and territory, so stick to non-gambling amusement machines and check with your state's gaming regulator where a game offers prizes
- Check whether your state or council requires any permit for placing coin-operated machines
- Electrical safety: have machines tested and tagged, and use a licensed electrician for any wiring work
- Theft, vandalism and slow-earning machines, so check each venue's foot traffic before placing one
- Machines are heavy, so plan for a van or ute and safe lifting
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: arcade and pool table placement route
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 an arcade machine placement route?
Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how many machines you buy or lease and the vehicle you use to move them. These are estimates, so check venue potential before buying.
How much can an amusement machine route earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the machines you place and each venue's foot traffic. Estimates start from about 8 hours a week. Theft, vandalism and slow-earning machines can reduce returns.
What rules should I check before placing machines in venues?
Stick to non-gambling amusement machines, as pokies are heavily regulated in each state and territory. Check with your state's gaming regulator where a game offers prizes, whether a permit is needed for coin-operated machines, and use a licensed electrician for wiring.
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