If you’re looking for a fun way to save all of your spare change, slot machine banks are a great addition for anyone’s room. Whether you want something small or a full size replica from the casino you lost money in, these novelty coin banks come in various sizes and a wide range of prices. For the price, you get all the bells, whistles, and jackpots of their real-life counterparts, without having to leave your home.
No, you do not need a permit to buy one. These are novelty machines, not the big time slots you play in Las Vegas. They do pay out jackpots, but only the spare change you put inside comes out. Casinos use tokens to control payouts and people that want to break inside them. The tokens themselves have no value at all once outside the building. Anyone dumb enough to cash them in will get a free ride from the local police.
For those who wish to but one outside the U.S., you can use coins from 98% of the world’s countries. This can be a good thing for businessmen and world travelers, who happen to bring back some spare change from their last trip. They won’t sort them, but you can at least stash them for later. Many slot machine banks have a spot in the back for you to empty the slot thing when it’s full.
You do get sound effects built-in, but they are battery powered. If you want, you can leave these out to save you from the pain of someone winning a jackpot. You can also find slot machine banks without the lights and sirens. They also have kid size models that are safe and quiet for children to have a little bit of fun saving money.
Depending on the size, slot machine banks come in either metal finishes or just the usual plastic casing. Sometimes it’s because of the size of the slot machine, but you can get small metal ones or large plastic ones. Either way, you get the same features in almost every slot machine bank.
You can expect to pay as low as $20 bucks, but the larger replica banks will run about $80. Each one is a bit different from the others, but their made to do the same thing: hold on to your change and take money away from your friends. You have to treat them like arcade games in your home.
Sure, you could use it as a cool looking bank, but why not have some fun and get it back the hard way? Some may think it’s rigged to keep it, but if you keep doing it over time, you can have an interesting way to save money and have extra for certain needs.
If you have already started creating a game room or “Man Cave”, slot machine banks fit right in with poker tables, bars, and pool tables. It’s a great way to add variety if you or your friends get bored easily or if they enjoy different things. Get a set of 3 or more and you’ve got your own neighborhood casino. Just make sure that the money stays within your circle of friends.
Now, if you really want a piece of casino history, some pawn shops, eBay dealers, and other stores sell refurbished slot machines for around $1,500. These are real slot machines fixed up for reuse or sometimes auctioned off after a bankruptcy. You know the features, except these have a key lock for maintenance. Some use only tokens, which is great if you wish to not have spare change as the prize. The other models take tokens as well, but they can only hold so much.
All of the casinos worldwide have to replace slot machines for newer models. For those you travel and love souvenirs, you can find slot machines for any place that allows them to be played. Keep in mind: not all of them will be in English or take all forms of currency. It’s best to buy slot machines in the country that you reside in and it also saves you money on shipping.
The main benefit is having the real deal in your home, whether it’s a piece of Vegas or elsewhere. The look alone just shouts “Play me!” right when you walk in the room. If you’re concerned about energy costs, just unplug the slot when you don’t want to play with it. Keeping it plugged in may spike your electric bill a bit. Otherwise, it’s just another opportunity for bragging rights.