for prizes of redemption game machines are plush toys, electronics, candy and snacks, gift cards, and so on. It is good if the prizes in the operators are updated regularly, by introducing custom or limited edition items, including holiday events, which would make them more attractive and meet the requirements of various players.
Plush Toys
are one of the hottest redemption prizes for their huge appeal to families, kids, and young players. Plush toys are not only cute but also very playable and collectible. Actually, plush toys are so well received by customers of different age groups. From classic cartoon characters and animals to the latest brand collaborations, plush toys have almost become a staple prize in every arcade and entertainment center.
The global plush toy market reached $9 billion in 2022, according to different sources, showing explosive growth, while the market is foreseen to continue growing steadily over the course of the next years. The majority of this prize category is made up of family players, especially during those months of the year that are considered holiday months, when demand can spike.
Plush toys enjoy very high operational flexibility. The different seasons of the year, holidays, or market demand may see operators introduce limited edition or even customized plush toys. For instance, during the holiday season, plush toys with a Christmas theme may be on offer, while Children’s Day may see operators selling special cartoon character editions. Such personalized and customized prizes can count as the strengthening of player loyalty in such an idea offers something much different from the ordinary redemption prize.
The prizes themselves, such as plush toys, are also low-maintenance and easy to store. They occupy hardly any storage space, which means operators can purchase in bulk and maintain reasonable cost control. For a lot of small-scale entertainment centers, the high cost-effectiveness of plush toys enables them to remain best-sellers long-term.
Electronics
Electronics continue to rank among the hottest prize categories in redemption games. From inexpensive items, including headphones and Bluetooth speakers, to high-tech, more expensive items like gaming consoles and smartwatches, they are a strong motivator for players to redeem. The broad appeal of electronics comes from their high technology content and practicality. For teenagers, especially adult players, high demand for technology products makes this prize category extremely attractive.
In the following years, the global consumer electronics market continued to grow and reached a scale of $1.2 trillion in 2023. Prizes of this nature will more often than not be positioned as high-point redemptions, meaning players need to earn a large amount of points before they can redeem them, thus encouraging multiple visits and more spending per visit. As such, the demand for electronics prizes continues to increase with the rising popularity of wireless headphones, smartwatches, and portable chargers.
They can also work together with some electronic brands, offering customized or limited-edition products that could intrigue more and more players. Only by launching some color variants of Bluetooth speakers in cooperation with a brand, or even providing only-limited-time electronics, can the stimulus for redemption be further aroused among players.
Because technology products are fast-evolving, operators need to renew their inventory of electronic prizes regularly in order to keep the players interested in what is on offer. The high perceived value of such prizes effectively raises players’ expectations for a game, especially for teenagers and adults, where electronics prizes far outstrip other categories in popularity.
Candy and Snacks
Snacks and candies might be inexpensive but play a huge role in prize pools. As a matter of fact, they are the most suitable prizes for low-point players or first-time families and children. Candy and snacks have instant gratification and quickly attract the interest of players to complete redemptions and satisfy their taste buds.
The U.S. snack market grew 3.7% in 2023, reaching $107 billion, reflecting strong global demand. These prizes are normally inexpensive, easy to manage, and very repeatable. It is pretty easy for players to burn these prizes without them having to spend a lot of points, so candy/snacks are the “entry-level” choice for many. Particularly for those players feeling unsure whether they want to play long-term, having a low barrier to redeem snacks will be a key factor in their initial retention.
Operators can choose the snack and candy types that are suitable for specific seasons, holidays, and local tastes. Offering, for example, ice cream or cold drinks as gifts in summer and festive candy during Halloween would add a festive feeling and redemption activities. Additionally, popular snack brands, particularly globally popular brands, will be a contribution to player experience and enjoyment in general.
Gift Cards
In the last couple of years, the trend seems to be towards gift cards as redemption prizes. Their flexibility and high perceived value make them the first choice for many players. From dining, shopping to entertainment, gift cards come with a host of options that would answer players’ needs whatever their age and interest may be. In particular, famous branded and retailer gift cards draw in a wide range of users.
Valued at US$80 billion, the global gift card market in 2023 continues to realize a strong manifestation of preference by players for this category of prize. Compared to other redemption items, it is more versatile and facile when it comes to usage. Players can decide how they want to use the card, whether to buy some physical goods or make purchases online. Whether it’s global brands like Amazon or Netflix, or local dining and clothing chains, gift cards cover almost every aspect of daily life.
In fact, for , the advantage of gift cards is that they take up less inventory space and are easy to operate. They can flexibly change various amounts and varieties of cards according to the demand of players. Also, due to the relatively transparent cost to provide gift cards, operators can choose different card values to satisfy low-point and high-point players. For those players who do not know what kind of physical prizes to choose, gift cards have the most advantages.
Operators may also arrange with local stores and shops to sell their own custom-designed or limited-edition gift cards. This creates intrinsic added value in the card while yielding a win-win by forcing cooperation with area merchants.
Sports Equipment
Sports equipment has been an increasingly popular prize category, especially with the unabated growing awareness of health and fitness. This category includes basic sports items like basketballs, soccer balls, badminton rackets, and accessories such as water bottles, yoga mats, and wristbands. Sports equipment appeals to a broad audience, attracting both young people and fitness enthusiasts alike.
In 2022, the sports equipment market reached US$220 billion, and it is expected to grow annually by 4% in the coming years. It is with this data that one understands the increasing demand for sports and healthy living as a determinant of the popularity of sports equipment prizes.
For operators, sports equipment prizes have high practicality and are in very good cooperation with brands. What’s more, in cooperation with famous sports brands, giving away customized sporting goods can improve the added value of prizes and increase brand awareness among young people. Cooperation with famous sports brands to introduce limited-edition sport bags or sport shoes will attract lots of players who have interests in both sports and fashion.
The prize category of sports equipment can also be very flexible. According to different levels and types, operators are allowed to choose different levels and types of sporting products in light of the players’ preferences. The low-point player can redeem small items like a water bottle or a wristband, and high-point players can redeem more highly valued items such as balls or sportswear.
Fashion Accessories
Fashion accessories attract a wide range of demographics, majorly young ladies and fashion lovers. Prizes usually include watches, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, sunglasses, among many more. They were also not just for decoration, but showed one’s taste and fashion sense.
The global fashion accessory market achieved USD 62 billion in 2023 and is expected to continue increasing further over the coming years. What is unique with fashion accessories as prizes is that their price can range from very low to very high, depending on the player’s points level. Low-point players can redeem simple bracelets or earrings, while high-point players can choose higher-end brand watches or accessories.
For operators, fashion accessories are important not only for attracting female players but also in terms of upgrading the prize pool. In choosing well-known brands or limited-edition fashion accessories, an operator is surely able to enhance the appeal of prizes, especially for players who have a high level of fashion awareness. In addition, the small size of the fashion accessory makes inventory management very easy to handle whereby operators can refresh the style regularly, hence keeping the prize selection fresh in order to keep players interested in going for more redemptions.
Novelty Items
Novelty items are really creative and fun, mostly appealing to players who like to collect new things or try them out. These prizes include all sorts of interesting small toys, creative decorations, and funny trinkets. The most significant advantage of novelty items is their special design combined with a low cost-a different kind of redemption experience for players compared to regular prizes.
In fact, the more recent development of social media has allowed many players to enjoy publishing the quirky prizes they’ve redeemed from arcades, leading to increasing interest in novelty items. For operators, these prizes not only drive players to creativity but also add some unique social buzz to the arcade or entertainment center.
Novelty items also have very low costs and simultaneously guarantee very high-profit margins. An operator can bulk-order cheaply acquired highly entertaining prizes and artificially raise their value with great packaging and limiting its release. Unique, specially designed keychains or mini decorations, by carefully designing the models and limiting the number of releases, are able to stir up high interest in collecting
