Slot Machine Cost – Main Components Breakdown
Ever since Charles Fey – the inventor of the slot gave birth to his creation in 1894, it has evolved quite significantly over the years, as has the slot machine cost. The simplicity of the very first slot is long gone, and the modern-day devices have evolved into sophisticated and digitalised money-making entertainment tools.
Regardless if you find yourself in one of the largest casinos in the world or a small local casino, you would instantly notice that albeit simple-looking, they pack a lot of hardware, which costs money. Check out the following table, where we have outlined the main external and internal slot components that greatly influence the answer to the question “How much does it cost to buy a slot machine?”.
| Key Slot Cost Parts | Price |
|---|---|
| 🎰 Slot Housing: | ~ $2000 |
| 📱 LCD Display: | ~ $500 |
| 💵 Cash/Coin Dispenser: | ~ $400 |
| ☑️ Embedded Game Board: | ~ $1000 |
| 🕹️ Game Software: | ~ $5000 |
| 🔌 VGA Converter: | ~ $100 |
| 🔐 Security Mechanisms: | ~ $500 |
| 🌐 Connection and Transferring: | ~ $100 |
Why Are the Main Slot Cost Parts Expensive?
It’s important to stress the fact that we don’t have a definitive answer when it comes to determining how much does it cost to buy a slot machine because the prices can vary greatly. Why exactly do they differ? Because of the components that are used. Just think of the reel machine as an Apple product. You can have an older generation of games in the face of an iPhone 8 Plus, while also having brand new ones represented by iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The best casino apps for iPhone require different degrees of investment in order to run on all devices which drives up the prices. The same goes for the components that go into the production of one slot, which dictates how much do slot machines cost as well. Now, let’s run a quick in-depth look into the key slot parts and figure out why some are as expensive as the previous table suggested.
- Slot Housing – The slot housing is usually the entire exterior box you see. It combines numerous components, such as lighting, buttons, power sources, card readers, and the sound system. All of these come at a different cost, and if the casino wants to have brand logos and splashy paint jobs on it, this will drive its price even more. That’s why some venues pay upwards of $2000 just for it, increasing the slot machine cost.
- LCD Display – LCDs are expensive, as we all know, and their worth depends on several factors. For once, the size and quality of the output are crucial because most slot screens range between 19″ and 23″. Moreover, does it require touch-screen technology? That’s another aspect that determines the LCD price and how much does a slot machine cost when all is said and done.
- Cash/Coin Dispenser – The cash-handling device is the mechanism that spills out rewards in the form of coins, cash, or both. Generally speaking, it comes in a standardised form, and its functions work the same, regardless of how advanced the slot’s housing and display are. Casinos won’t need to shell out for it. Nevertheless, it will still put an extra $200 to $400 on the slot cost, depending on the brand, of course.
- Embedded Game Board – The embedded game board is part of the inner workings of a reel machine, and it takes care of installing the already created game software. The price effect it will have on the slot machine cost ranges between $100 and $1000, if you want to handle multi-game boards capable of processing numerous applications on a single machine.
- Game Software – Easily one of the most expensive aspects, the game software is what really influences the equation when calculating how much does a slot machine cost. Casinos should be prepared to pitch in with at least $3000, while extra perks such as onsite installation shoot it up even more.
- VGA Converter – The VGA converter/adaptor is an integral part of every LCD slot. It’s short for Video Graphics Array, and it not only enhances the visuals on display but allows you to establish a connection between multiple devices, especially in cases where the reel machine has more than one screen. It doesn’t cost more than $100, and while important, it doesn’t influence how much do slot machines cost that much.
- Security Mechanisms – Slot machine cheats used to be a common practice once. However, the most recent reel machines feature extremely advanced security mechanisms and programmes that prevent hackers from doing their thing. Have your cash ready for several key security mechanisms, including chassis intrusion detection, security chip and buttons protections, the random number generator, and more. These are must-haves, regardless of the slot machine cost and your willingness to pay for it.
- Connection and Transferring – Internet connectivity is something without which modern-day fruit machines can’t operate. The same goes for the Bluetooth technology in some cases. WLAN modems are a must-have and while not expensive, especially compared to some of the other components, it still adds up on the slot machine cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Buy a Slot Machine for a Casino?
When you draw the line, a standard slot machine will cost you at least $10,000, which is onIn reality, casino resorts cough as much as $25,000 for a single device. Some hotels on the famous Las Vegas Strip accommodate close to 2000 slots, not to mention the Venetian in Macau that astounds with more than 3000. These are serious piles of cash that are spent on slots.
The truth is that most casinos do not care about how much does a slot machine cost because they are all competing for the coveted customer base. It’s easy to figure out why fruit machines are popular and preferred above all other gambling products. They are easy to play, exciting, and rewarding, above all else. The gamblers love them. Therefore, the casinos pay generously to supply the best and most exciting products, regardless of the slot machine cost.
Slot Machine Cost for Online Casinos
The online gambling sector has been steadily rising for the past couple of years and is projected to overtake its land-based form. Some of the best slot sites for 2022 offer an absurd amount of digital fruit machines for which you will need months just to try them all out individually. However, how much do slot machines cost for the online sector and is it cheaper to procure them digitally than their real-life counterparts?
Creating an online slot requires a totally different set of skills and workforce. Also, as there are many different types of digital reel machines with distinct designs and features, the price range could be quite big. This mostly attributes to the fact that if you want a top-tier product, you would need to hire and work with the best possible talent, and it doesn’t come cheap. Web and mobile developers, graphic and interface designers, and product managers are among the highest-paid jobs, making their effort quite costly.
On average, the slot machine cost for an online product could lie between $10,000 and $20,000. However, if we are talking about the best online casino software developers, expect for it to go even higher. Therefore, it won’t be outlandish to conclude that the average slot machine cost is about the same for the game’s tangible and non-tangible form.
Even from an online perspective, it is a price worth paying if the online operator wants to rank among the best gambling sites. If online pokies are your jam and you would like to see first-hand examples of why it costs so much to develop a slot game, check out the following list with some of the best software names in the industry:
The Slot Machine Cost Versus the Price for a Table Game
While we are here to figure out how much does it cost to buy a slot machine, it would be nice to put into perspective and compare it to the rest of the popular gambling products that players can find on any given casino floor. The most popular casino table games are attracting equally impressive numbers and are beloved by thousands from all corners of the planet. So, let’s examine the following table and see how the costs compare.
| 🎰 Slot Cost: | ~ $10,000 to $25,000+ |
| 🎲 Roulette Table Cost: | ~ $3500 to $7000+ |
| ❤️ Blackjack Table Cost: | ~ $2400 to $5000+ |
| ♠️ Poker Table Cost: | ~ $2000 to $5000+ |
| ♦️ Baccarat Table Cost: | ~ $4000 to $8000+ |
| ♣️ Craps Table Cost: | ~ $7000 to $12,000+ |
Excluding the extremely custom tables from the most exotic of woods with fancy ornaments, table games could cost you quite a few bucks from a professional point of view. However, even when you take into account the basic table layout, with extra additions, such as better materials and fancier add-ons, none of the table games can come close to the slot machine cost.
The reel machines do require more modern technology to operate. They need to stay on top of the game in every aspect, should they want to remain relevant, and this requires money. Speaking from a standard point of view, it isn’t surprising that resorts and casinos are shelling out more for them than table games. So, now that you know how much do slot machines cost read up on some practical and handy slot machine tips and head to the nearest casino to appreciate their inner and outer beauty.
Slot Machine Cost Q&A
As a final segment in our article about how much does a slot machine cost, we decided to include a brief and on-point FAQ section. It contains some of the most frequently asked questions from gamblers that are curious about the price tag of their favourite gambling product.