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Arcade Machine Finance

Arcade machines cost from around £2,000 for a single standup cabinet to £150,000+ for a full arcade floor package, and being freestanding, plug-in equipment they are among the most straightforward leisure assets to finance.

Can you finance a arcade machine?

Yes, arcade machines are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £2,000 to £150,000, and most deals are written over 12-60 months with a deposit of around 10-20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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Typical Cost

£2k – £150k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for < £30k

Rates From

5.2% APR

What would a arcade machine cost per month?

£20,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical arcade machine price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
5.5% - 9.5% per annum
Term
12-60 months
Deposit
10-20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Businesses that want to own the arcade machines outright

Finance Lease

Rate
5.0% - 8.9% per annum
Term
12-60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax efficient route where payments are usually deductible as an operating expense

Operating Lease

Rate
5.8% - 9.9% per annum
Term
24-48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Businesses that want to refresh arcade machines regularly and keep it off balance sheet

Representative example

On a purchase price of £20,000: a 10% deposit of £2,000, then 48 monthly payments of £422 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £22,256, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Single Standup Arcade Cabinet £2,000 - £5,000 Standup Cabinet
Redemption or Ticket Machine £4,000 - £9,000 Redemption Machine
Multi-Game VR or Simulator Pod £10,000 - £30,000 Simulator Pod
Full Arcade Floor Package (20+ machines) £60,000 - £150,000 Full Floor Package

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Tax benefits

An arcade machine is treated as plant and machinery for tax purposes, so it qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting a business deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the current £1,000,000 annual limit. Companies buying new, unused equipment may also qualify for full expensing, a 100% first-year deduction against Corporation Tax. These allowances apply where you own the asset, so they are available under a Hire Purchase agreement. Under a Finance Lease or Operating Lease you do not own the an arcade machine outright, so allowances are not claimed directly; instead the payments are generally deducted as a business expense against profits. Always confirm treatment with your accountant before committing to a structure.

Market context

Arcade machines are bought by amusement arcades, family entertainment centres, bowling alleys, cinemas and hospitality venues adding a games floor to an existing offering. Because a machine is a freestanding, plug-in cabinet that can be moved, sold on or swapped out without any building work, it is one of the more straightforward leisure assets to finance, and operators commonly finance a whole floor of machines together rather than piece by piece when opening or refreshing a venue. Replacement is driven far more by changing player tastes and the appeal of newer titles and formats, including VR and simulator-style machines, than by mechanical failure, since an outdated game earns less than a current one even when it still works perfectly. A well-established secondhand market exists through specialist amusement equipment dealers, since machines that have fallen out of fashion at one venue can still perform well at another with a different customer base.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a full arcade floor in one agreement?
Yes. Most lenders will bundle a full range of standup cabinets, redemption machines and simulator pods into a single agreement, which is the usual approach when opening a new venue or refreshing an existing floor. This is simpler to manage than several agreements running on different dates, and a single supplier invoice covering the whole floor is generally sufficient for a lender to quote against.
Can I finance used arcade machines?
Yes. A well-established secondhand market exists through specialist amusement equipment dealers, and used machines are commonly financed, particularly for venues wanting to fill out a floor without the full cost of buying new. Machines that have fallen out of fashion at a larger venue often still perform well in a different setting, so age is less important than whether the game still draws players.
How often should arcade machines be refreshed to keep a floor performing?
This varies by venue and audience, but operators generally rotate a portion of their floor regularly to keep the mix current, since player interest in a specific title fades well before the cabinet itself wears out. Some operators use an Operating Lease specifically so the machine fleet can be refreshed on a set cycle without a large capital outlay each time, keeping the floor feeling current to repeat visitors.
What deposit do I need for arcade machine finance?
Hire Purchase typically asks for a 10-20% deposit, while a Finance Lease or Operating Lease more often requires none. Because individual machines are relatively low value, operators financing a full floor together can often negotiate deposit terms across the combined purchase rather than machine by machine. Your broker can confirm the exact figure a specific lender will ask for once they know the arcade machine's age, condition and your business's trading history, since these are the main factors that move the deposit up or down from the typical range quoted here.
How quickly can arcade machine finance be approved?
Most applications are approved within 24 to 48 hours, with same-day decisions common for smaller orders under roughly £30,000. A full floor package covering twenty or more machines will generally take a little longer while the lender reviews the complete specification and quote. Having your last set of accounts, bank statements and a clear supplier quote ready before you apply is the single biggest thing you can do to keep a arcade machine application moving at that pace, since most delays come from a lender waiting on paperwork rather than from the credit decision itself.

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