Arcade, Pinball & Coin-Op Reselling Guide

Market Overview

The arcade and pinball market is driven by nostalgia, collectors, home game rooms, and commercial operators (bars, arcades, barcades). Prices have risen dramatically since 2015 as millennials with disposable income seek childhood favorites.

Why This Niche?

High profit margins: $500-$5,000+ profit per machine common
Low competition: Most resellers avoid due to size/complexity
Passionate buyers: Collectors pay premium for right machines
Barrier to entry: Need truck, space, some technical knowledge
Multiple exit strategies: Sell whole, part out, or operate for income

Market Segments

Segment	Price Range	Buyer Type
Pinball (Modern)	$5,000-$15,000+	Collectors, home game rooms
Pinball (Classic)	$1,500-$8,000	Collectors, operators
Arcade (Golden Age)	$800-$5,000+	Collectors, barcades
Arcade (90s-2000s)	$300-$2,000	Home users, operators
Jukeboxes	$500-$10,000+	Decorators, collectors
Slot Machines	$200-$2,000	Home bars, collectors

Pinball Machines

Pinball is the crown jewel of coin-op collecting. Mechanical complexity, artwork, and nostalgia drive strong demand.

Pinball Eras

Era	Years	Characteristics	Value
Electro-Mechanical	1947-1977	Chimes, score reels, no electronics	$500-$3,000
Early Solid State	1977-1985	First electronic displays, simpler rules	$800-$3,500
System 11/WPC	1985-1999	Alphanumeric/DMD displays, complex rules	$2,000-$8,000+
Modern (Stern)	1999-Present	LCD displays, licensed themes	$4,000-$15,000+
Boutique	2013-Present	Jersey Jack, Spooky, American Pinball	$6,000-$12,000+

Most Valuable Pinball Machines

The Addams Family (1992): $6,000-$10,000+ - Best selling pin ever
Medieval Madness (1997): $8,000-$15,000+ - Holy grail for many
Twilight Zone (1993): $6,000-$12,000+ - Complex, sought after
Monster Bash (1998): $7,000-$12,000+ - Fun theme, great gameplay
Attack From Mars (1995): $5,000-$9,000+ - Classic Williams
Theatre of Magic (1995): $5,000-$9,000+ - Beautiful artwork
Scared Stiff (1996): $4,000-$7,000 - Elvira themed

Major Manufacturers

Bally: 1931-1988 (merged with Williams)
Williams: 1943-1999 (made some of the best)
Gottlieb: 1927-1996 (oldest manufacturer)
Stern: 1977-Present (only major manufacturer today)
Data East: 1987-1994 (some gems)
Jersey Jack: 2011-Present (boutique, high-end)

💡 Pinball Pro Tip: Williams/Bally WPC-era games (1990-1999) are the sweet spot—complex enough to be interesting, old enough to be affordable, and parts are still available.

Video Arcade Games

Arcade Eras

Era	Years	Examples	Value Range
Golden Age	1978-1983	Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Defender	$800-$5,000+
Silver Age	1984-1991	Double Dragon, TMNT, Final Fight	$600-$3,000
Fighting Era	1991-1998	Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct	$500-$2,500
Modern	1998-2010	DDR, Racing games, Ticket redemption	$300-$3,000

Most Valuable Arcade Games

Donkey Kong (1981): $2,000-$5,000+ - Nintendo classic
Pac-Man (1980): $1,500-$4,000 - Icon, many produced
Ms. Pac-Man (1982): $1,500-$3,500 - Even more popular
Galaga (1981): $1,500-$3,500 - Shooter classic
Street Fighter II (1991): $1,000-$2,500 - Fighting legend
TMNT (1989): $1,500-$3,500 - 4-player classic
NBA Jam (1993): $1,000-$2,500 - Boomshakalaka!

Cabinet Types

Upright: Standard standing cabinet - most common
Cocktail: Table-style, sit-down - less common, collectors love
Cabaret: Smaller upright - space-saver
Dedicated: Built for one game - most valuable
Conversion: Cabinet with different game installed - less valuable
JAMMA: Standardized wiring for swapping games - versatile

⚠️ Beware Conversions: A Pac-Man cabinet converted to play Galaga is worth less than either original. Collectors want dedicated cabinets with original art.

Other Coin-Operated Equipment

Jukeboxes

Wurlitzer (1940s-50s): $3,000-$15,000+ - Art deco styling
Seeburg (1950s): $2,000-$8,000 - Popular, reliable
Rock-Ola (1935-1992): $1,000-$5,000 - Quality craftsmanship
Modern CD/Digital: $300-$2,000 - Commercial use mainly

Slot Machines

Antique mechanical (pre-1970): $1,000-$5,000+ - Collectible
Electromechanical (1970s-80s): $300-$1,500
Video slots (1990s+): $200-$800 - Commercial surplus

Legal Note: Slot machine laws vary by state. Some require machines be 25+ years old. Research your state before buying.

Other Coin-Op

Pool tables (coin-op): $500-$2,500
Air hockey: $500-$2,000
Foosball: $300-$1,500
Crane/claw machines: $500-$3,000
Skill stop games: $200-$800
Driving simulators: $1,000-$5,000+ (sit-down)
Gun games: $500-$2,500

Where to Buy

Best Sources

Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace: Best deals from non-collectors wanting machines gone
Estate sales: Often underpriced, sellers don't know values
Arcade/bar closings: Bulk deals, negotiate hard
Operator routes: Commercial operators selling off machines
Auctions: Estate auctions, specialty coin-op auctions
Pinball/arcade shows: Network, find deals, learn
Online forums: Pinside, KLOV, rec.games.pinball

Pricing Research

Pinside.com: Pinball price guide, sales history
KLOV (Killer List of Videogames): Arcade database
Facebook groups: "Pinball Machines For Sale" etc.
eBay sold listings: For parts and some machines

💡 Sourcing Pro Tip: Post "WANTED" ads for specific machines. Serious sellers will contact you, and you often get better deals than competing with buyers on active listings.

Evaluating Machines

Pinball Inspection Checklist

Playfield condition: Wear, inserts lifting, ball trails
Cabinet condition: Scratches, fading, water damage
Backglass: Flaking, cracks (expensive to replace)
Plastics: Cracks, missing pieces
Rubbers: Cracked, dried out (cheap to replace)
All features work: Test every flipper, target, ramp, mode
DMD/display: Dead pixels, brightness
Sound: All speakers working, no distortion
Legs: Rust, bent, correct for machine

Arcade Inspection Checklist

Monitor: Burn-in, color issues, cap kit needed?
Cabinet art: Fading, peeling, scratches
Control panel: Buttons working, overlay condition
PCB (game board): Does game boot correctly?
Power supply: Original? Working?
Wiring: Original harness? Modified?
T-molding: Missing, cracked
Coin door: Mechanism works, lock present

Red Flags

Water damage (warped wood, rust, corrosion)
"I haven't turned it on in years"
Heavy smoke exposure (yellowed plastics, smell)
Missing parts (especially backglass, playfield plastics)
Incorrect/mismatched parts
Rodent damage (chewed wires, nests)

Restoration Basics

Skill Levels

Task	Difficulty	Cost
Clean playfield/cabinet	Easy	$20-50
Replace rubbers/bulbs	Easy	$30-80
Rebuild flippers	Easy-Medium	$30-60
Monitor cap kit (arcade)	Medium	$20-40 + labor
Replace switches	Medium	$5-20 each
Power supply repair	Medium-Hard	$50-200
Circuit board repair	Hard	$100-500+
Playfield restoration	Hard/Pro	$500-3000+
Cabinet refinish	Hard/Pro	$500-2000+

Essential Supplies

Novus plastics polish: 1, 2, 3 for playfield cleaning
Rubber kit: Specific to machine
LED kit: Modern LED replacements
Multimeter: Essential for diagnostics
Soldering iron: For repairs
DeoxIT: Contact cleaner for switches

Flip vs Restore

Quick flip: Clean, basic repairs, sell as-is for fast profit

Full restore: Higher investment, higher return, longer timeline

The math: A $1,500 machine that needs $500 in parts and 20 hours of work to sell for $4,000. Is that $2,000 profit worth 20+ hours? Often yes.

Pricing Guide

Condition Grades

Shopper/HUO (Home Use Only): 100% - Like new, minimal play
Excellent: 85-95% - Clean, fully working, minor wear
Good: 70-85% - Working, visible wear, needs some work
Fair: 50-70% - Works partially, significant wear
Project: 30-50% - Major work needed, parts value
Parts machine: 10-30% - Not worth restoring

Value Factors

Title/Theme: Popular themes command premiums
Rarity: Low production = higher value
Condition: HUO machines worth 20-40% more
Originality: Matching serials, original parts
Working status: Non-working = 40-60% discount
Regional demand: Prices vary by location

💡 Pricing Pro Tip: Use Pinside.com's price guide for pinball, but remember it skews toward collector/enthusiast sales. Local Craigslist prices are often 10-20% lower.

Where to Sell

Platform	Fees	Best For
Facebook Marketplace	Free (local)	Local sales, largest audience
Craigslist	Free	Local, older demographic
Pinside Classifieds	Free (members)	Serious pinball collectors
Facebook Groups	Free	Targeted collectors (pinball/arcade groups)
eBay	~13%	Parts, rare items, willing to ship
Specialty Auctions	10-20%	High-end collections
Route Operators	Negotiated	Working commercial machines

Photography Tips

Playfield lit up (game powered on)
Cabinet all sides
Backglass close-up
Any damage documented
Coin door area
Inside cabinet (clean first!)

Moving & Shipping

Weight Reference

Pinball machine: 250-350 lbs
Upright arcade: 200-350 lbs
Cocktail arcade: 150-250 lbs
Jukebox: 200-500 lbs

Moving Equipment

Appliance dolly: Essential for moving
Moving straps: Secure to dolly and truck
Moving blankets: Protect from scratches
Ramps: For loading into truck/trailer
At least 2 people: Never move alone

Shipping Long Distance

Professional shippers: Pinball Star, D&L Amusements
uShip: Get quotes from freight movers
LTL freight: Pallet + crate = $300-800+ depending on distance
Crating: Professional crating $100-300

⚠️ Moving Warning: ALWAYS remove the backglass and store it separately. It's the most fragile and expensive part. Lay pinball machines on the back, NOT face down.

Legal Considerations

Slot Machine Laws

Slot machine ownership laws vary widely by state:

Legal (any age): AZ, AK, AR, KY, ME, MN, OH, RI, TX, UT, VA, WV
Legal (25+ years old): CA, FL, NV, NJ, and many others
Restricted/Banned: AL, CT, HI, IN, NE, SC, TN, WI (check current laws)

Always research your specific state laws before buying or selling slot machines.

Operating for Profit

Many states require coin-op operator licenses
Revenue may need to be reported and taxed
Location agreements with bars/venues
Insurance considerations

Arcade, Pinball & Coin-Op Guide

📑 Table of Contents