8 replies to this topic

[Cloud]

Okay, I've done a lot of reading concerning this subject, but I still have some questions that don't seem to be answered easily on the Internet - particularly concerning the "after" effects of the gambling bill that's going through parliament at the minute.

A) With the current proposals, will it be legal for myself to open up a new arcade with 10p/£5 AWP's in "general access", mixed with various arcade games?

If I open such premises, under the new proposals, what would be the minimum age for individuals to play the AWP's? I understand the age limit will rise to 18, but is this correct?

C) I understand a licence must be opened from the local council, but is any licences required for the 10p/£5 AWP's from Customs and Excise? If so, what is the cost per licence?

D) Any ideas on a rough figure per machine to rent - I'm not bothered about the "latest" machines, so say, what would be the cost of renting machines that were a couple of years old?

Thank you for any advice.

[shaun2097]

i can help u with "d" why rent at say £30 p/w when u can buy machines from as little as £50? i used to own an arcade "cashino royale amusements" in falmouth, cornwall (got burgled in my first year with no insurance, so had to close)

i know a place near london where you can buy the type of machines youre looking for @ £50 each, or £100 for £25ukp jackpot. all machines are 1yr old, as they are ment to be scrapped as they have been "finished" with by the local brewery/operator (claremont leisue if i remember correcty)

do wat i did, hire a small lorry for £150 for a day and take a grand with you, and buy buy buy. cash only sales.
if ur interested ill give you the guys phone number. we managed to fit 20 machines in a luton lorry. he sells vids and pool tables as well.
Pm me if interested of hotmail me.. shaun2097@hotmail.com
add me to ur contacts list.

will check messages tonite to see if uve responded.

[Cloud]

Sadly, London isn't much use, I'm almost 500 miles away in Aberdeen, so it would cost me a considerable amount to do that. It would be ideal if I was within any sort of reasonable distance, but at £300 for a lorry plus fuel, I'd be looking at what, £500 or so? Way too much expense to justify - particularly considering that I could get a pool table for the same price as the transport to there.

Part of the reason I'm seeking to rent is that I don't know anything about how the actual machines work, so maintaining my own machines blind could end up a particularly costly affair - it would make more sense to be renting machines to begin with, with an aim to eventually purchase machines if the first arcade proves viable.

Incidentally, does anyone know of a good Scottish supplier of video and fruit machines who can do rental? Contract length isn't an issue compared to the ability of the supplier to be able to supply more machines on demand - and most importantly, it requires the supplier to be flexible.

[Bencrest]

Part of the reason I'm seeking to rent is that I don't know anything about how the actual machines work, so maintaining my own machines blind could end up a particularly costly affair - it would make more sense to be renting machines to begin with, with an aim to eventually purchase machines if the first arcade proves viable.

You could buy the machines and then get a maintenance scheme set up with a local rental company - you own the machines, take 100% from the cashbox, but pay them for repairs and stuff. To be honest, theres not a great deal that goes wrong on the bandits

[skabaz]

we are from perth in scotland and own a successful arcade in perth.

hers what we have found over the last 5 years.

the main part of your income from an arcade is from adults over the age of 18 so dont try to cater for under 18's(too much hassle with licensing,kids using the arcade as a meeting place and not spending money)

video games,pinball are a no no for a town centre arcade plus they dont make much money unless you are getting brand new 3000-7000 quid videos,and even then you have to have them on £1.00 a play which also incurs a license.

pool tables dont work in city arcades as they end up needing recovered every 2-3 months which would set you back about 200-250 quid per table.

for you to make any serious money from an arcade you need casino style domed machines,regular pub £25 machines and a few 10p £5 or 10p £8.00 jackpot machines.

my advice would be look on the internet for used fruit machine distibuters,(i recommend deith leisure,fml machines,herondata.

most good companies deliver up north as well.

when it comes to servicing then i would personally try to strike a deal with a local company.i think grampian leisure and northeast leisure are up your way.
we service machines in aberdeen but we are based in perth,dundee and edinburgh.

hope some of this helps.

baz

[skabaz]

also rental machines at about 25 to 35 quid a week will be quite old machines.

most arcade players in our experience want a mixture of old and nearly new machines.

baz

[nails]

Buy your own machines m8, there is no taxation on machines that are low jackpots. on the flip side ofthe coin, there is also no tax on video machines that offer £25 jackpot (the new true skill machines) therefore you could have a whole arcade of video style fruit machines, and not pay a penny.

[Bencrest]

I noticed some machines on eBay a while back, some rebuilds in Genesis 1 cabinets. Something to do with Snooker balls, on £25. Apparently as they were True Skill [ala SWP], they didn't need a license?

[bmx_kid1123]

I own a v.succesfull arcade in norfolk (which has a restaurant built in with it) and i only have ONE pool table, the rest are machines. The £5 Jackpot machines may not sound like big profit, but simply have a Under 18's Section
and a large amount of kids come along. If you are thinking along those lines, alot of kids will use the place as somewhere for meeting up, but i find that they often stick a fiva in the machines EACH before they leave.

As for renting machines, i wouldn't bother. Buy second-hand one's from the ad-trader (freeads) from £20, so do that instead, then move on to biger and better machines.