Updated September 2026 — current as of first publication.
You are opening a new family entertainment center, and the redemption bank is where the tickets, and most of the repeat visits, come from. One supplier’s headline reads “redemption machines from under $2,000,” another shows a near-identical cabinet at close to double, and neither number includes the freight sitting between a Guangzhou factory and your floor. Before you sign, it helps to know what actually moves a redemption machine price, and how to turn a factory figure into a payback you can plan around.
This guide breaks down price by machine type and size, gives a plain earnback method you can run on your own numbers, and flags the costs that hide below the sticker. It sits alongside our guide to choosing redemption arcade games and our comparison of ten redemption game machine manufacturers; this one is about what they cost and how they pay back.
Key takeaways
- Redemption machine price runs from roughly US$1,950 EXW for a compact skill-and-ticket game up to about US$2,950 for a full ticket-eater cabinet, with linked and custom builds quoted per configuration.
- Those are indicative factory (EXW) prices from Arcade Craft Studio, not quotes. They exclude freight, import duty and payment hardware.
- Format and footprint set the price band: compact skill games are cheapest, single ticket and air-hockey cabinets sit mid-range, multi-player and big-screen ticket games sit highest.
- Earnback = delivered cost divided by net daily revenue. The redemption-specific lever is your prize-payout percentage.
- Prize-payout rules and how a game is classified vary by country, so confirm them with your local licensing authority, not your supplier.
How much does a redemption machine cost?
A commercial redemption machine typically runs from about US$1,950 EXW for a compact skill-and-ticket game up to about US$2,950 for a full ticket-eater cabinet, with linked, multi-player and custom formats quoted per configuration. These are indicative Arcade Craft Studio factory prices, not quotes, and they exclude sea or air freight, import duty and payment hardware.
Two machines that look alike can carry very different prices once you compare screen size, build quality, ticket-dispenser reliability and the payment system fitted. A bare cabinet with a coin acceptor is not the same purchase as one with a bill acceptor and a Nayax card reader, and the gap widens further with linked or big-screen builds. For where those factory numbers land after shipping, see what freight, duty and delivery add on top of the factory price.
Redemption machine price by machine type and size
Redemption machine price tracks format and footprint. Compact skill-and-ticket games sit at the low end, single ticket-eater and air-hockey cabinets in the middle, and multi-player, linked or big-screen ticket games at the top or quoted per configuration. The table below lists Arcade Craft Studio’s indicative EXW anchors by type so you can size a budget before you request a quote.
| Redemption machine type | Typical footprint | Indicative EXW (first-party) | Best-fit venue | Revenue role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill-and-ticket game (block/stacker style) | Compact upright | ~US$1,950–$2,140 | Small FEC, arcade, mall kiosk | Low-cost steady earner |
| Ticket-eater / ticket redemption cabinet | Single cabinet | ~US$2,950 | FEC redemption bank | Core ticket driver |
| Air-hockey ticket redemption table | Mid-size table | ~US$2,200 | FEC, bar, bowling center | Group and competitive play |
| Active / sports redemption (punch-and-kick, hoops) | Single cabinet + play zone | ~US$2,250 | FEC, mixed floor | High-energy anchor |
| Multi-player / linked / big-screen ticket game | Large or linked row | Quoted per configuration | Large FEC, indoor park | Flagship footfall pull |
Indicative EXW factory prices for reference only, not quotes. They exclude sea or air freight, import duty and payment hardware (coin, bill or Nayax card readers). Large, linked and custom builds are quoted per configuration, and we do not extrapolate an upper price. Browse the machines behind these bands in our ticket redemption game machines or the full commercial redemption machine range.
How to work out redemption machine ROI and earnback
To estimate redemption machine ROI, divide the delivered cost of the machine by its net daily revenue to get a rough payback in days. Net daily revenue is coin and card income minus ticket and prize cost. Redemption adds one lever prize machines do not: your prize-payout percentage, the share of income you hand back as prizes.
- Delivered cost = EXW price + freight + import duty + payment hardware + install and setup.
- Net daily revenue = gross coin and card income − ticket and prize (redemption-counter) cost − card-processing fees.
- Payback days = delivered cost ÷ net daily revenue.
- Tune the payout: set a target prize-payout percentage and adjust machine settings and prize mix to hold it. This is the biggest redemption-specific control on margin.
Fill this with your own floor data rather than a supplier’s projection; we do not promise a revenue or payback figure. For a fully worked version of this math on a single machine, see a worked example of what a coin-op machine actually earns back, and for how each type fits a floor, planning your full FEC games mix.
Evidence checklist, red flags and common mistakes
Before you commit to a redemption machine price, confirm what the number includes and what it leaves out. The usual traps are hidden costs like freight, duty and card readers, payout settings that quietly erode margin, and after-sales gaps that turn a cheap cabinet into idle floor space.
Evidence to ask for
- The Incoterm behind the price (EXW, FOB or DDP) and exactly what it covers.
- A video of your specific machine running before shipment, not a catalog clip.
- Payment hardware fitted: coin acceptor, bill acceptor and card reader are often priced separately.
- Warranty terms and after-sales response time across your time zone.
Red flags
- A headline price with no Incoterm and no payment-hardware line.
- A quote that will not name the ticket-dispenser or screen used.
- Any promise of a guaranteed daily revenue or payback figure.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting the EXW price and being surprised by landed cost. Model freight and duty up front.
- Chasing the lowest sticker and paying for it later in downtime and prize-payout drift.
- Ordering a big linked flagship before a compact skill game has proven the location.
Redemption machine price FAQ
How much does a redemption machine cost?
A commercial redemption machine typically costs from about US$1,950 EXW for a compact skill-and-ticket game up to around US$2,950 for a full ticket-eater cabinet, with linked and custom builds quoted per configuration. These are indicative Arcade Craft Studio factory prices, not quotes, and they exclude freight, duty and payment hardware.
What is the cheapest type of redemption arcade machine?
Compact skill-and-ticket games, such as block-stacker cabinets, are usually the lowest-priced redemption machines, with indicative EXW figures from about US$1,950. They take little floor space and make a low-risk first machine to prove a location before you add larger ticket-eater or linked formats.
Does redemption machine price include shipping and duty?
Not at the EXW (factory) price. An EXW figure is the machine at our factory door and excludes freight, import duty and payment hardware. Ask for the Incoterm behind any quote so you know whether shipping and customs are included, and model landed cost before you compare suppliers.
How do I calculate ROI on a ticket redemption machine?
Divide the delivered cost of the machine by its net daily revenue to get a rough payback in days. Delivered cost is the EXW price plus freight, duty, payment hardware and install. Net daily revenue is coin and card income minus ticket and prize cost and processing fees. Your prize-payout percentage is the main lever.
What warranty comes with a redemption machine?
Arcade Craft Studio covers main hardware for one year from shipment; consumable parts such as cables and joysticks are not included. After-sales support runs 7 days a week across time zones, on a multi-shift team. Electrical compliance such as CE or RoHS can be coordinated for your market, and should be confirmed with your own customs broker or authority.
Turn these figures into an exact quote
Indicative prices size a budget; a quote needs your details. Send us your venue type, the machine types you are weighing, the payment hardware you want fitted, and your destination port and Incoterm, and we will turn these bands into a firm number. You can request an exact redemption machine quote with those details and we will match models to your floor and market.