Hey everyone,
I don't know if it is the same in America as here but gambling machines in pubs are crushing my income in most locations, how do you handle that?
Some months income is so low it's under the amusement tax, so basically I'm loosing money.

Then looking at the gambling machines making 3000+ each every month (3 machines) what is so interesting in staring at a screen looking at your money vanishing every second.

I know it's an addiction but somehow I just get the feeling the general public is too lazy to stand up and do something as physical as playing some pinball.

Glad the other location I'm operating a pin just trashed their gambling machine as the income was lower than the amusement machines.

So how do you handle this constant fight against gambling machines other than operating them yourself?

I can mostly relate to that I mean I don't mind spending change for a few spins at luck when I'm waiting for a drink to be served but hell I'd never leave the house with the sole purpose to spend the few bits of spare time I have on gambling away my hard earned cash.
Whenever I'm in another city I'll check if there are places like pubs with a pin or Arcade game, that most of the time is the reason I'll go there (plus maybe to drink a few cold local beers), most of these evenings I end up with some highscore and 50 bucks well spent on hours of pinball goodness.
When I go home I've always got the feeling I had a good time with money well spent instead of a rush to gather more money and throw it all away again.

My perspective as an operator is that games have to be fun first of all, I'm making money by making people happy and making them have a good time forgetting about a shitty day at work or similar, if someone is enjoying himself they'll come back and play again.

Here in Germany it's 3 gambling machines per pub but you can stuff as many pins or arcades in there as you want.

There are operators though that still operate both types and I think with the uprise in prices on the pinball market most of them sold of what they still had around for a quick buck

Well the problem is everywhere here are gambling machines even bowling alleys, maybe it's different in the US but here in Germany there is no other way than to compete