Games Table Coin Mechanism Guide
What is a Coin Mech?
A coin mechanism - or "coin mech" - is essential if you plan to charge your visitors for game credits on your games tables. These mechs allow you to make a steady income stream from your tables - in busy locations, up to £500 per month - and cover the costs of operating the tables.
Mechs ensure that the correct price is charged for a game credit, store the cash away safely, and automatically release the game accessories (usually the balls) to the player after payment. The balls are stored during the game as they are potted or scored, and not released again until another coin is inserted for the next game.
This also stops people staying on games tables for ages, making other visitors wait. When the game is over, another coin needs to be inserted. It makes for a more organised, friendly games room.
If you have decided to install a pay-for-credit table in your venue, you’ll need a mech fitted from the factory when you order. Coin mechs can be retrofitted to some tables if you already have them, but please call us to check. When choosing a mech with your table, you have a few choices.
Mechanical Coin Mech
This is the most common type of coin mech for games tables and amusements, and has been for decades. The mech that we sell and recommend is the industry standard Essex Straight Six coin mech.
The Essex Straight Six coin mech. (From £129.00) [ view in store ]
A metal drawer with various slots in it is designed to take a special, pre-set combination of coins that add up to the price of one credit. When the coins are all in place, the drawer is pushed in, the coins drop through into the cash box, and the balls or game accessories are released. We can also pre-set the mech to take tokens instead of cash, if preferred.
A mechanical mech needs no external power supply and is largely maintenance-free, although the cash box will need emptying regularly and the procedure to change the combination of coins can be fiddly.
A mechanical pool table mech.
To change the coin combination, you need to buy a set of blanking plates. These can be added to the mech in different combinations, allowing you to dictate precisely how much a credit costs and which coins should be used. If you decide to make your table freeplay, you can fill the mech entirely with blanks to make it so.
Pros
- simple, functional design.
- all-metal parts for longevity and durability.
- takes any pre-programmed combination of coins.
- can be adjusted to take different coin combinations or made freeplay.
- no power supply required.
- very hard-wearing and tough.
- weather-resistant.
- can be adapted for tokens.
- cheap to buy and maintain.
Cons
- noisy to operate.
- can be fiddly to adjust the price of play.
- requires players to use exact change.
- requires recalibrating when new coins are issued.
- cash box can be vulnerable to thieves.
Electronic Coin Mech
This type of coin mech is more versatile. It can take any combination of coins to make up the price of a credit, with no need for pre-programming. You simply put your coins in, in any combination or sequence, and press a button when you have inserted enough for a credit, at which point the balls are released.
An electronic pool table mech.
Often these types of mech will also gather data on number of plays, coins used and other useful metrics that can help you plan your operations better. And they can be highly adjustable in various ways, helping operators to optimise the tables to their guests and locations.
However, they are often unsuitable for outdoor tables and will require an electrical power supply - some work on battery packs, and others on plug-in mains cables. The internal cash box will require emptying regularly and, like the mechanical mech, can be vulnerable to thieves, especially if left overnight in a non-secure location.
Pros
- adaptable, versatile operation.
- can take any combination of coins.
- can be adapted for tokens.
- smooth, quiet operation.
- quick, easy credit buying for guests.
- can be retrained by operator for new coins, combinations etc.
- some electronic mechs gather and record data on usage.
Cons
- requires electrical supply (either battery pack or mains cable).
- often not suitable for outdoors.
- cash box can be vulnerable to thieves.
Contactless Mech
A contactless mech does away with coins entirely. Instead, a contactless card reader is attached to the side of the table. When your guests tap their bank cards, mobile payments-equipped phones or other payment tech on the reader, an instant transaction banks the money and releases the balls.
A contactless pool table mech.
This instantly removes the theft risk from a table, as with no cash stored in the table, there is nothing to interest thieves. And decent card reader units, like the Onyx technology that we recommend, are highly adjustable and configurable. You can program the units to switch off at a certain time (perfect for last orders at the bar), and you can run promotions or advertising messages on the screen.
The only drawbacks of contactless readers are their initial cost, the fact that it must remain connected to the internet via wifi, Bluetooth or a mobile network, and the subscription and commission fees paid to the contactless unit operators. However, the ease of use for guests means that you should see very healthy profits regardless. Read more about our contactless systems here.
Pros
- highly versatile, adjustable operation.
- works with the tap of a contactless card or phone.
- very adjustable with a special operator’s software.
- can display advertising/promotional content on screen.
- records usage data for monitoring.
- unappealing and resistant to vandals.
Cons
- requires Wifi or Bluetooth, or 3G/4G/5G network connection (with sim card).
- requires external power (battery pack or mains cable).
- not recommended for outdoor use.
- expensive to buy.
- small subscription fees & commission payable to machine manufacturer.
Cash or Tokens?
Tokens can be a more secure option for tables installed in vulnerable locations (tokens are far less attractive to thieves) and you can sell tokens to your guests for cash. You can even give tokens away as prizes, or encourage good behaviour (we know a caravan park that gives kids game tokens for collecting rubbish from a nearby beach).
A pile of tokens as sometimes used on games tables.
If you think tokens will suit your business better, just let us know when you order your table, and we’ll pre-program the mech and include a bag of tokens with the table.
Ready to create some income?
If you think a coin-operated or pay-per-credit games table is the right addition to your public games room, let us help you to choose the right one. You can browse our coin-operated slate bed pool tables here, and our commercial, coin-operated football tables here.
If you need more advice, we've plenty of experience helping hotels, holiday parks, amusement arcades and bars with these machines, and we'd be happy to help - just drop us an email, hit the chat button below during office hours, or call us on 0800 612 8180.
Sales Manager at Liberty Games. Pool table specialist & pinball wiz. Film & cinema nerd, with a mental database of every episode of The Simpsons ever made.