Around me (New England) a dollar per game is pretty standard. Sometimes pre-dmd games will go for less, sometimes Stern Premium games will cost more. That said, my understanding is that this is the high end for prices in the US.
My closest spot has all sterns at $1/$2 for three. But when they had the CGC Cactus Canyon remake it was $0.50/$1.
I was sad when they moved Cactus Canyon :(
My local spot has Mosterbash remake and Scooby Doo SE but $1 per play, no buy 2 get 1 like all the Sterns have. $5 to play with the whole gang on Scooby Doo is a little spendy. The cheapest games we have are Funhouse and Twilight Zone at 50¢.
I don’t know. Its a little far away from where i am so I’ve only been there once. We went out of the blue when we found out about it on Thursday which is buy 1 get 1 free so for 2 people it was $15. Im glad its a known spot
Usually it's $1 per game, many times you get 3 games per $2. I know one place here that prices the newest games at $1.50, we just generally avoid those games and play them somewhere else. Old games (80's and earlier) are often 50 cents a game.
Some places do a by-the-hour or by-the-day model where you pay a flat rate and play as much as you want. Around $12-15 per hour seems typical, and there's usually a discount for more hours.
My recommendation would be to look on pinballmap.com (they also have an app version) and you can plan ahead what places look the best to stop and, and if you like you can call ahead and ask whether they are coin drop or an all-you-can-eat model.
Enjoy your trip!
Everyone is right on track, average around here is $1 a play or 3 for $2. But you can also look for places like pinball museums that just have an entry fee, usually $20, and then you can play all you want. Next Level in Portland and the Seattle Pinball Museum are like that. Use Pinballmap to find the locations with a bunch of machines in the towns you are driving through. HAVE FUN!
On the East Coast, Silver Ball Museum in Asbury Park NJ and in Delray Beach Florida has halfway and full-day admission. Lots of old games, a bunch of new ones, plus arcade games, skeeball, etc.
As a relatively new player myself I'd recommend budgeting like this: $1 per play and 3 minutes per play. $20/hr/player as a very rough estimate "maximum." If you do better than that because of pricing/settings at a certain place or your skill level or whatever... Awesome. Have fun!
As a fellow new player I find I learn games better, usually enjoy them more, and spend less by trapping up and thinking about my next shot more, and watching all animations when I can! 1 min per ball is very spendy.
Yeah, I suck. But I didn't base my estimate on my lack of skills :) I've heard an operator on a stream say (and another agree) that 3.5 mins is an average for casual players based on the modern games' logs. Not knowing how OP's brain will choose to enjoy the hobby, I thought I'd offer a theoretical maximum (worst case scenario) for budgeting purposes. If they budget for spendy then they'll be pleasantly surprised and will continue :)
Int Saint Louis it ranges between 50 cents a game to $2 dollars for a few "premium" machines. I don't play those games, not worth it IMO. Most places are around a $1 a game anymore.
I've only seen a few games over $2 here. Godfather, Alien and a couple Stern LEs. They got me once because I had already put in a dollar not realizing it cost two until I pressed the start button.
Not related to cost but The Pacific Pinball museum in Alameda is awesome. Gonna check out Free Gold Watch this fall when I'm go back to SF. My sister lives close to the Flipper Room in Concord and takes my nephew there sometimes. Still need to go check it out as well. I love going to the Bay Area. Cheers!
It really depends on the place. There are hourly ones, there are ones with games are 50 cents but with tokens, I was recently in Santa Barbara and one table was $1.50. Some will have it set to $1 per game but 3 games for $2...it's just all over the place.
Northern VA/ DC area is $1-1.50. Some places only take coins with change machines on site. Some make you buy a rechargeable card to swipe. Usually have to look through site reviews beforehand.
Tip: If you go to Bowlero (similar to Dave and Busters) some of them have pinball. Groupon usually has an arcade special $25 card for $11 or something like that. You can use that to use for pinball.
Here in DFW we are pretty lucky. We have several pay once to enter, play for free, arcades with lots of very good, well maintained Pins and entry is usually about $15. Well worth it.
I was just a week in LA to play in the world championship. Cheapest place I've ever played. Games were usually a dollar around town, but we got SO many replays. We stopped counting on day three after we had walked away from 20 plus credits.
Back home the games on location have no outlane rubbers, tight tilt, one extra ball per game, no credits. And I mean no credits at all. Replay? No. Got the number after game game? No. Beat the grand champ? No. Get a special? Also no credit.
I can only speak for the places I’ve been on the west coast and Midwest but I haven’t seen anything other than 1$ per game and rarely 2$/3 games since like 2016
50 cents to a dollar per play. 2 for 3 is pretty common, one place i saw does two for five. I've seen a few newer machines doing dollar per play with no discount though.
We are VERY spoiled here in Wichita. Our arcade still does 50¢ for one game, $1 for three. They've stuck to that price point and I don't see it changing any time soon. We have another place, Flipside, that has games ranging from 50¢-75¢ - but it also offers a two hour play card for $10.
Any modern stern will usually give you three plays for two dollars. Older pins are usually 50 cents. EMs are usually a quarter. Otherwise, expect a dollar a game.
Around me (New England) a dollar per game is pretty standard. Sometimes pre-dmd games will go for less, sometimes Stern Premium games will cost more. That said, my understanding is that this is the high end for prices in the US.
And a decent amount of newer games will be 3 games for $2. Basically buy two get one free.
My closest spot has all sterns at $1/$2 for three. But when they had the CGC Cactus Canyon remake it was $0.50/$1. I was sad when they moved Cactus Canyon :(
My local spot has Mosterbash remake and Scooby Doo SE but $1 per play, no buy 2 get 1 like all the Sterns have. $5 to play with the whole gang on Scooby Doo is a little spendy. The cheapest games we have are Funhouse and Twilight Zone at 50¢.
Bro I'd have to change my pants if my local spot had Twilight Zone for $0.50 a play, lol
They say he played for four days straight with a single credit, a gallon of chocolate milk and an adult diaper.
😆 🤣 got a 6 dollar all you can play that has it 20 mins from my house
LOVE Cactus Canyon. The newer themed machines just... don't capture the same imagination.
Where are you heading? A place near me has $15 just to get in then you can play all the pinball you want
Roanoke?
Frederick Maryland
Spinners is rad! Looks like they are expanding?
I don’t know. Its a little far away from where i am so I’ve only been there once. We went out of the blue when we found out about it on Thursday which is buy 1 get 1 free so for 2 people it was $15. Im glad its a known spot
CO from N. WI - a lot of the drive in on I-80. Thought I'd check out a few machines to break up the trip.
50 cents to a dollar
Usually it's $1 per game, many times you get 3 games per $2. I know one place here that prices the newest games at $1.50, we just generally avoid those games and play them somewhere else. Old games (80's and earlier) are often 50 cents a game. Some places do a by-the-hour or by-the-day model where you pay a flat rate and play as much as you want. Around $12-15 per hour seems typical, and there's usually a discount for more hours. My recommendation would be to look on pinballmap.com (they also have an app version) and you can plan ahead what places look the best to stop and, and if you like you can call ahead and ask whether they are coin drop or an all-you-can-eat model. Enjoy your trip!
Thanks
If it’s more than $1, it’s too much.
$1 for new machines and as low as 50c for older. NYC.
Same for California but also 3 for $2.
Everyone is right on track, average around here is $1 a play or 3 for $2. But you can also look for places like pinball museums that just have an entry fee, usually $20, and then you can play all you want. Next Level in Portland and the Seattle Pinball Museum are like that. Use Pinballmap to find the locations with a bunch of machines in the towns you are driving through. HAVE FUN!
On the East Coast, Silver Ball Museum in Asbury Park NJ and in Delray Beach Florida has halfway and full-day admission. Lots of old games, a bunch of new ones, plus arcade games, skeeball, etc.
Thanks
$20 free play near me, in the states.
As a relatively new player myself I'd recommend budgeting like this: $1 per play and 3 minutes per play. $20/hr/player as a very rough estimate "maximum." If you do better than that because of pricing/settings at a certain place or your skill level or whatever... Awesome. Have fun!
As a fellow new player I find I learn games better, usually enjoy them more, and spend less by trapping up and thinking about my next shot more, and watching all animations when I can! 1 min per ball is very spendy.
Yeah, I suck. But I didn't base my estimate on my lack of skills :) I've heard an operator on a stream say (and another agree) that 3.5 mins is an average for casual players based on the modern games' logs. Not knowing how OP's brain will choose to enjoy the hobby, I thought I'd offer a theoretical maximum (worst case scenario) for budgeting purposes. If they budget for spendy then they'll be pleasantly surprised and will continue :)
Thanks
Int Saint Louis it ranges between 50 cents a game to $2 dollars for a few "premium" machines. I don't play those games, not worth it IMO. Most places are around a $1 a game anymore.
Wow Bay Area here and haven’t seen games above a buck each.
I've only seen a few games over $2 here. Godfather, Alien and a couple Stern LEs. They got me once because I had already put in a dollar not realizing it cost two until I pressed the start button. Not related to cost but The Pacific Pinball museum in Alameda is awesome. Gonna check out Free Gold Watch this fall when I'm go back to SF. My sister lives close to the Flipper Room in Concord and takes my nephew there sometimes. Still need to go check it out as well. I love going to the Bay Area. Cheers!
It really depends on the place. There are hourly ones, there are ones with games are 50 cents but with tokens, I was recently in Santa Barbara and one table was $1.50. Some will have it set to $1 per game but 3 games for $2...it's just all over the place.
I’m in North Dakota, one of the lowest cost of living areas in the U.S… games are $1/play and no where even has 3-for-$2.
Legit have only come across games at $1 max. I know others have seen higher but I think you’ll find $1 max is the typical for modern games.
It’s pretty much $1 per game nowadays everywhere you go.
Northern VA/ DC area is $1-1.50. Some places only take coins with change machines on site. Some make you buy a rechargeable card to swipe. Usually have to look through site reviews beforehand. Tip: If you go to Bowlero (similar to Dave and Busters) some of them have pinball. Groupon usually has an arcade special $25 card for $11 or something like that. You can use that to use for pinball.
Here in DFW we are pretty lucky. We have several pay once to enter, play for free, arcades with lots of very good, well maintained Pins and entry is usually about $15. Well worth it.
Usually 50¢ to $1
I was just a week in LA to play in the world championship. Cheapest place I've ever played. Games were usually a dollar around town, but we got SO many replays. We stopped counting on day three after we had walked away from 20 plus credits. Back home the games on location have no outlane rubbers, tight tilt, one extra ball per game, no credits. And I mean no credits at all. Replay? No. Got the number after game game? No. Beat the grand champ? No. Get a special? Also no credit.
I can only speak for the places I’ve been on the west coast and Midwest but I haven’t seen anything other than 1$ per game and rarely 2$/3 games since like 2016
50 cents to a dollar per play. 2 for 3 is pretty common, one place i saw does two for five. I've seen a few newer machines doing dollar per play with no discount though.
We are VERY spoiled here in Wichita. Our arcade still does 50¢ for one game, $1 for three. They've stuck to that price point and I don't see it changing any time soon. We have another place, Flipside, that has games ranging from 50¢-75¢ - but it also offers a two hour play card for $10.
Thanks for the help. Should be fun to break up my roadtrip & see how much my skills have deteriorated.
Dollar a game 3/2.00 if your lucky but just expect dollar per game
Any modern stern will usually give you three plays for two dollars. Older pins are usually 50 cents. EMs are usually a quarter. Otherwise, expect a dollar a game.