How to Choose the Right Arcade Machine for Your Event in Singapore
- Admin
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
How to Choose the Right Arcade Machine for Your Event in Singapore
With over 27 arcade machines available for rental in Singapore, the choice can feel overwhelming. Claw machines, racing simulators, shooting games, music games, sports cabinets - each one works beautifully for some events and poorly for others.
After 18+ years running events across Singapore, the team at Eventguru has seen what works. This guide gives you a simple decision framework to match the right arcade machine to your event type, guest profile, venue, and budget - so you walk away with machines that create genuine buzz, not just fill space.
Step 1 - Know Your Audience
The single most important factor is who is attending your event. Different age groups and event contexts respond to different machines.
Children aged 12 and below
Young children are drawn to bright lights, simple controls, and the excitement of winning a prize. The best choices for this age group are:
• Claw machine - universal appeal, especially for kids who love the suspense of winning
• Gashapon machine - capsule vending is endlessly fascinating for younger children
• Air hockey - quick to learn, competitive, great for 1-on-1 play
• Hi Striker - the classic strength tester, suitable from age 8+
Mixed adults and families
Corporate family days and community events need machines that work across age groups simultaneously. The best options:
• Bishi Bashi - 3-player button-mashing game that levels the playing field regardless of gaming skill
• Basketball machine - intuitive, competitive, works for everyone from 10 to 60
• Racing simulators - driving is universally understood; even non-gamers enjoy it
• Claw machine on free-play mode - turns it into a prize giveaway activity
Adults at corporate or D&D events
For Dinner & Dance events, team-building sessions, and corporate parties, engagement and novelty matter most:
• Daytona / racing simulators - generates queues and competitive energy
• Shooting games - team vs team activities with a scoreboard
• Retro cabinets (Street Fighter, multi-game) - nostalgia is a powerful crowd-puller for 30–50 year olds
• Prize claw machine - works as a lucky draw mechanic with branded prizes
Step 2 - Match the Machine to Your Venue
Space and power availability are practical constraints that many event planners overlook until it's too late. Every arcade machine has a footprint and a power requirement.
Machine | Footprint | Power | Best venue |
Claw machine (LED) | ~1m × 1m | 1 × 13-amp | Indoor · any size |
Gashapon machine | ~0.5m × 0.5m | No power needed | Anywhere |
Air hockey table | ~1.5m × 2.5m | 1 × 13-amp | Function rooms |
Bishi Bashi | ~1.2m × 1m | 1 × 13-amp | Any indoor venue |
Racing simulator (single) | ~1m × 1.5m | 1 × 13-amp | Ballrooms · halls |
Racing simulator (triple) | ~1m × 3m | 1 × 13-amp | Large events |
Daytona cabinet | ~1.5m × 1.5m | 1 × 13-amp | Large indoor events |
Basketball machine | ~1.5m × 2m | 1 × 13-amp | Halls · open spaces |
Key venue questions to answer before booking:
• How many standard 13-amp powerpoints are available and where are they positioned?
• What is the total floor area available for games - and is it open-plan or broken up by pillars?
• Is there a loading bay or lift for equipment delivery? Some machines are tall and heavy.
• Is it air-conditioned? Racing simulators and claw machines can generate heat - important for indoor summer events.
Step 3 - Set a Clear Goal for Each Machine
Every machine you rent should serve a specific purpose at your event. The three most common goals are:
Goal 1: Draw crowds and create a focal point
For this you want machines with visual impact - LED lighting, large footprints, or active gameplay that people want to watch. Best choices: Glowing LED Claw Machine, Daytona racing cabinet, Triple-screen racing simulator, Basketball machine.
Goal 2: Provide a lucky draw or prize mechanic
If you want guests to win prizes as part of your event programme, choose machines that you can control. Best choices: Claw machine on token mode (you control win rate), Gashapon machine with branded capsules, Cash grab booth with branded vouchers.
Goal 3: Drive brand engagement at a roadshow
For roadshows and brand activations, you want branded machines that create a photo opportunity and extend dwell time. Best choices: Premium or Glass Claw Machine with full branding wrap, Racing simulator with branded wrap, Gashapon machine with custom capsule stickers.
Step 4 - Work Out How Many Machines You Need
A common mistake is renting too few machines, creating long queues that frustrate guests, or too many, leaving machines idle and wasting budget.
Use this as a starting guide:
Guest Count | Recommended Machines | Notes |
Up to 50 pax | 2–3 machines | 1 crowd-drawer + 1 prize machine |
50–150 pax | 3–5 machines | Mix of categories for variety |
150–300 pax | 5–8 machines | Add a racing simulator as centrepiece |
300+ pax | 8+ machines | Consider a full arcade zone layout |
Bundle pricing is available when you rent 3 or more machines from Eventguru. Contact our team for a custom quote.
Step 5 -
Factor in Your Budget
Arcade machine rental in Singapore typically ranges from $350 to $1,800 per machine per day, depending on the machine type and rental duration. Here is a rough budget framework:
• Entry-level budget (1–2 machines): $350–$700/day — claw machine + air hockey or gashapon
• Mid-range (3–5 machines): $1,200–$2,500/day — good mix of categories for 80–150 pax
• Premium (6+ machines + branding): $3,000+/day — full arcade zone for large corporate events
Weekly and monthly rates offer significant savings over daily rates — ideal for roadshows, mall activations, and long-running events. Ask about bundle rates for multiple machines.
Quick Reference - Which Machine for Which Event?
Event Type | Recommended Machines |
Kids' birthday party | Claw machine · Gashapon · Air hockey · Hi Striker |
Corporate family day | Bishi Bashi · Basketball · Racing simulator · Claw machine |
Dinner & Dance | Daytona · Racing simulator · Retro cabinet · Shooting game |
School carnival | Claw machine · Gashapon · Air hockey · Basketball |
Roadshow / activation | Branded claw machine · Racing simulator · Gashapon (custom capsules) |
Community / RC event | Claw machine · Bishi Bashi · Air hockey · Gashapon |
Product launch | Branded claw machine · Racing simulator with wrap |
Still Not Sure? Talk to Our Team
The best way to get the right machines for your event is to describe your situation to someone who has seen it before. At Eventguru, our team has set up arcade machines at hundreds of events across Singapore — corporate family days, school carnivals, D&D nights, roadshows, and birthday parties of every size.
Tell us your guest count, event type, venue, and budget, and we will recommend the exact machines and quantities that will work. No hard sell — just honest advice from 14+ years of experience.
Ready to rent? WhatsApp: +65 9179 1262 | Email: sales@eventguru.com.sg | www.eventguru.com.sg
