Write down who does what
In a placement proposal, ask who owns the equipment and which tasks the operator takes on. The name ‘placement’ does not tell you whether there is an upfront cost, a fixed fee or a share of takings. It also does not establish who supplies prizes, handles refunds or responds when a machine stops working.
When you buy, the machine becomes part of your own equipment planning. You still need to establish the delivery, installation, support and warranty arrangements. Outsourced servicing may be an option, but it should be confirmed rather than treated as part of every sale.
| Responsibility | Ask in either arrangement |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Who owns it and approves changes? |
| Money and reporting | Who collects takings and how are totals checked? |
| Prizes and supplies | Who orders, pays for and replenishes them? |
| Faults and refunds | Who is contacted and what response is agreed? |
| Changes or removal | What happens if the layout or arrangement ends? |
Separate takings from the venue’s return
‘How much do arcade machines make?’ has no useful single answer without a location, equipment selection and operating arrangement. Foot traffic alone is not enough: people must notice the game, want to play it and have time to do so. A trial should record actual use rather than rely on a supplier’s best-case example.
For planning, start with paid plays multiplied by the price per play to estimate gross takings. Then apply the proposal’s agreed deductions and share calculation. Account for the costs your venue carries, such as power, staff time, prizes or servicing. The order of deductions matters, so ask whether any percentage is calculated before or after them.
For example, 300 paid plays at $2 would produce $600 in gross takings. That is a hypothetical arithmetic example, not a forecast or a statement of this business’s prices. The amount left for a venue would depend on its actual costs and written arrangement.
Give the machines a workable place in the venue
In a pub, club or RSL, consider the relationship between the games, seating, food service and staff visibility. For a cinema or play centre, think about when visitors arrive and how long they wait. In a shopping centre, clarify the proposed footprint and how it will interact with nearby businesses and pedestrian movement.
These are questions for the individual venue, not assumptions that a particular type of site will earn more. Take measurements and discuss noise, player space, nearby activities and the access needed for servicing. Make the games area part of the floor plan before ordering equipment.
Agree how you will review the arrangement
If a trial is offered, agree its length, reporting method and review date. Record machine availability, plays, takings, faults, staff involvement and customer feedback. Decide in advance what would justify keeping the layout, changing the machines or ending the trial.
Arcade Game Australia considers placement enquiries for pubs, clubs, RSLs, shopping centres, cinemas, play centres and other venues. Revenue shares, free-placement offers and service commitments are not standard promises on this site; they must be set out in the proposal for your venue.