EDITORIAL
BONNIE THEARD
Editor
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you about any of the
articles in this issue or
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(editorial@playmeter.net)
PLAY METER
e have started a new year full of promise. It’s also time for Play Meter’s State
of the Industry Report, which has delivered industry statistics and perspective
since 1976. This 39th report covers general business as well as category-specif-
ic information on 2015 with charts and graphs to illustrate the findings.
Comments are invited and provide a look at what the operating community is
experiencing in the field. One comment was especially telling: “The state of the
street operator is not good. We used to have the bulk of the entertainment dollar in
the bars. Now we just have a small slice due to other technologies available to the
customer. We used to get 50 percent of the dollars spent on video games in kids’
locations. Now we get 33 percent on prize games with the same or lower gross
income.
“Most redemption games are geared for card swipe systems in order to get some
plays of $2 or more. There’s no way a street operator can get a customer to put
eight or more quarters/tokens into a game to play it. There’s nothing new for the
street operator that justifies prices of $8,000 or more. I buy what I need at auc-
tions for a fraction of new game costs.”
There were comments of a more positive note, with operators saying they are
adapting to new technology, rotating equipment more often, changing out older
games for newer ones, charging minimums where machines don’t generate enough
income, rotating prize merchandise more often, adding more ATMs, and advertis-
ing on the Internet for home sales.
Comments on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ran hot and cold, for example: “It
made healthcare more affordable for my employees,” and “I cannot afford to pay
insurance for my staff anymore.” For each positive comment there was a negative
one. Call it a break-even.
The question on attending major trade shows generated these responses: “I am
a small business and I have no time,” “We have three companies and someone
always goes. I haven’t gone in seven to 10 years while my kids were growing up,”
“I have been in business for 45 years and I rely on word of mouth.”
When it comes to adding a cashless payment system, one operator said, “I don’t
want the start-up expense and I do not like ticketless,” while another said, “I am not
there yet. My goal is to go cashless in 2016.”
Operators who responded to the State of the Industry Survey also took the time
to vote for their favorite games in eight categories: videos, redemption games, juke-
boxes, bulk vending, table games, pinball machines, boxers, and photo booths. Win-
ners will be announced at the Amusement Expo International.
This February issue also features previews of the Amusement Expo Internation-
al, the National Bulk Vendors Association Convention, the Laser Tag Convention,
the Nightclub & Bar Show, and the International Pizza Expo, all coming in March.
Each of these trade events will showcase new equipment and services, as well as
provide valuable education programs and social gatherings where you can network
with your peers. Take advantage of the opportunities. ▲
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FEBRUARY 2016