Arcade machine placement route

Players pay per game. Venue owners get a share of the takings, so they pay you nothing up front for the machine.

A split of coin revenue with each venue, often agreed as a percentage. You can also lease machines to venues for a flat monthly fee.

• Basic electrical and mechanical repair
• Negotiating with venue owners
• Keeping simple records of cash and visits

• Check your provincial gaming regulator's rules. Machines that pay cash or have gambling-style features are often tightly regulated or restricted
• Check whether your municipality requires a business licence or an amusement device licence
• Commercial general liability insurance and cover for the machines themselves against theft and damage
• Check that imported machines meet Canadian electrical safety certification requirements for your province
• Check that multi-game cabinets use properly licensed game software
• Cash handling and theft risk. Vary your collection times and keep good records
• Venues may close or change owners, and winter weather can affect bar traffic and moving heavy machines

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many machines you buy, whether they are new or used, and any repair parts. A small starting number of machines helps keep costs near the lower end.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many machines you place, the venues you choose, and how busy they are. Venue owners take a share of takings, and winter weather can affect bar traffic.

Check your provincial gaming regulator's rules, as machines that pay cash or have gambling-style features are often restricted. Also check for a municipal business or amusement device licence, electrical safety certification for imported machines, and game software licensing.