Why Arcade Credits Are a Smart Upsell

When people think about revenue in a leisure venue, they usually think of the main attraction: the kart track, bowling lanes, or laser tag arena. But ask any experienced operator where the real margins are, and the answer may surprise you: everything around the main activity. Food and beverages, of course, but also a category that is often overlooked strategically-arcade games. And that revenue starts with something very simple: arcade credits.

From a commercial perspective, arcade credits are a small miracle. The operating cost of a game of air hockey or a turn on the claw machine is negligible, while guests perceive it as a valuable part of their day out. As a result, the margin on arcade credits is consistently higher than on almost any other product you sell. They also solve a challenge every leisure operator knows: waiting time. Guests waiting for their karting heat or for a bowling lane to become available are spending idle minutes-unless you give them something fun to do. Arcade credits transform that downtime into both additional revenue and a better guest experience.

There’s also a psychological advantage. A credit doesn’t feel like €1.50-it feels like play. Turning money into game credits lowers the barrier to buying “just one more,” especially for children and, by extension, their parents.

Despite this, many operators still leave money on the table because they treat arcade games as an impulse purchase at the venue. In reality, the best arcade strategy starts online, during the booking process. Guests who are already completing their reservation can add an arcade card or credit package with a single click. The benefits are significant for both sides.

For guests, it means there’s no need to make another purchase decision at check-in. Their arcade card or preloaded credits are ready upon arrival, making check-in faster and more convenient. For operators, the revenue is secured before the guest even walks through the door. Better yet, prepaid credits often feel “free” once guests arrive, making them more likely to use them and frequently purchase additional credits at the venue. At the same time, your front desk staff spend less time processing extra transactions during your busiest moments.

Even if guests skip the upsell during booking, you still have another opportunity. Use the booking confirmation email to highlight your arcade games and available credit bundles, encouraging guests to purchase before or during their visit.

The check-in desk also presents an opportunity to drive sales through smart bundling. Offer a small, medium, and large credit package, with the medium option acting as the anchor and the largest bundle delivering the highest margin. For birthday parties and group bookings, include arcade credits as a standard part of the package. Parents are often happy to pay for the convenience of an all-inclusive experience without unexpected costs on the day itself.

The biggest mistake is selling credits without measuring the results. By connecting arcade credit sales with your booking and POS data, you can see exactly which bundles perform best, when guests are most likely to buy, and which packages generate the highest upsell revenue. At Briq Bookings, we consistently see customers increase their average order value when they integrate additional products into the booking flow. The reason is simple: guests make purchasing decisions when it’s easiest at home, while they’re already booking.

The best part? You don’t need to redesign your entire operation. Start by adding a single arcade credit bundle as an optional product in your online booking flow and measure the results for four weeks. That’s the power of arcade credits as an upsell: the investment is minimal, implementation is straightforward, and every credit sold online adds high-margin revenue to a booking you were already going to receive.

Curious how to add products like arcade credits to your booking flow? Get in touch with us, we’d be happy to help you explore the possibilities.