Category: Guides

If you’re thinking about adding arcade machines to your pub, café or family venue, you might be wondering whether you need a licence. The short answer: it depends on the type of machine and whether it offers prizes. This guide explains the basics in plain English.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, and your local licensing authority has the final say on what applies to your venue.

The quick answer

Machines that don’t pay out prizes

Machines where you play for fun or for a score, with no money or prizes to win, are generally not gaming machines under the Gambling Act 2005. You’d normally be able to have these without any gambling permission, though the usual rules about safety, electrics and your premises still apply.

Machines where you can win something

Machines where you pay to play and can win money or a prize, and where the result depends at least partly on chance, are gaming machines. The Gambling Commission says this includes most crane grabbers and many prize machines. These machines are put into categories, and the lowest, Category D, has the smallest stakes and prizes and is the kind usually found in family venues. To have one, your venue needs the right permission, and what that looks like depends on the type of venue.

What applies to your venue

Where to check

• Your local council’s licensing team
• The Gambling Commission’s guide to gaming machine categories
• The Gambling Commission’s guidance on machines in pubs (automatic entitlement)

How we can help

When we visit, we’ll talk through which machines suit your venue and what permissions might be involved, so there are no surprises. Many of our most popular machines, including boxers and video games, don’t offer prizes at all.

Boxing machines are one of the most popular machines we put into pubs and clubs. They’re simple, competitive and fun to watch, which is exactly what makes them work. But are they right for your pub? Here’s what to think about.

Why boxing machines work so well in pubs

Space and power

You’ll need a clear area in front of the machine so people can swing safely, plus a standard power socket nearby. We’ll measure up on our site visit and recommend the best spot, usually somewhere visible but away from walkways, doors and tables.

Safety

We position machines so that players and passers-by are kept apart, check them regularly and keep them well maintained. As with anything in a pub, staff keeping an eye on things helps, especially later in the evening.

Contactless and maintenance

Our boxing machines can take card and phone payments, so customers don’t need coins. We look after servicing and repairs, so if anything goes wrong, you call us and we sort it.

What does it cost?

Do you need a licence?

Boxing machines that only show a score, with no cash or prizes to win, are generally not treated as gaming machines. If a machine offers prizes, different rules can apply. Our guide Do you need a licence for arcade machines in your venue? explains more, and your local licensing authority can confirm what applies to you.

So, are they worth it?

For most pubs with a bit of space and a sociable crowd, yes. They’re one of the easiest ways to add extra income and atmosphere without any cost or hassle on your side.

It’s the first question almost every venue owner asks us: what will a machine actually make? The honest answer is that it depends on your venue. But the things that drive earnings are predictable, and once you know them you can get a good idea of what to expect before anything is installed.

How profit share works

With our profit-share model you don’t buy the machine. We supply, install, maintain and insure it, and the takings are split between you and us. So the question isn’t “will it pay for itself?” but “how much extra income will it bring in each month?”

What affects how much a machine earns

Typical earnings

How to get the most from your machines

We look at your space, footfall and customers before recommending anything, and we keep an eye on performance after installation. If a machine isn’t earning as it should, we’ll move it, swap it or try something different, at no cost to you.