How to Set Up a Small Gaming Floor: An Aristocrat Buyer's Checklist

Running procurement for a small gaming venue is different from working at a big casino. I manage purchasing for a hospitality group with a small gaming floor—maybe a dozen machines total, plus the usual bar and facility vendors. There's no purchasing department, nobody double-checks your vendor contracts, and no one else to blame when the freight truck shows up and the equipment doesn't fit.

When I first started ordering for venues like this, I assumed the process was simple: find the most popular Aristocrat games slot machines, place the order, and they show up ready to plug in. I was wrong. There's more paperwork, more hidden logistics, and more room for expensive mistakes than any sales rep will tell you.

So here's the checklist I wish someone had handed me in 2020—six steps that would have saved me thousands in mistakes. Whether you're buying three machines for a bar or thirty for a newly licensed venue, the approach is the same. Small orders deserve the same professional process as big ones.

Step 1: Get Your Regulatory Position Sorted Before You Talk to Vendors

Before you email a single sales rep, know exactly what your jurisdiction allows. This decision affects everything downstream, and getting it wrong is expensive.

• Know your license class. Class II, Class III, and video lottery terminal rules vary significantly by state. Don't assume what worked for a venue in the next county applies to you.
• Check the relevant GLI standards. GLI-21 covers slot machines. GLI-24 covers online gaming systems. Your equipment and platform need to meet these before regulators sign off.
• Confirm your machine cap. Many jurisdictions limit how many machines a small venue can operate. Adding machines later often triggers a zoning review or a full re-application.

In 2021, I watched an operator order five machines before checking whether their location's zoning allowed any at all. Those units sat in a warehouse for four months while the permitting was sorted out. The finance department was not happy.

Step 2: Pick Aristocrat Games That Match Your Players, Not Just the Hype

Aristocrat has some of the most proven titles in the industry, and there's a reason you see the same game names across venues everywhere. They've earned their floor space.

If I had to name two Aristocrat games that keep showing up in successful small venues, they'd be Dragon Link and Buffalo. Dragon Link's progressive jackpot feature drives repeat play, and Buffalo has held up as a player favorite for nearly two decades. These aren't trend picks—they have track records on real floors.

What most people don't realize is that the best game for your venue isn't necessarily the most popular one overall. It's the one that matches how your customers actually play.

• Cabinet style. Standard uprights are easier to install and service. Slant-top machines fit better in bar or counter settings where seat height matters.
• Session length. A high-engagement game like Dragon Link suits venues with customers who stay for longer stretches. If your traffic is mostly drop-ins, you'll want a different mix.
• Ask your regulars. Players will straight-up tell you which games they want. That's free market research and you should use it.

(Should mention: as a small operator, pay close attention to supplier support. I've personally had a distributor who was all smiles during the sale and went silent when I needed a replacement part six weeks later. The vendor who treats a three-machine order like a real partnership is worth far more than one who only smiles at seven-figure deals.)

Step 3: Set Up Aristocrat Online Gaming With Oasis 360

If you're not offering some form of online gaming in 2025, you're missing an expectation that customers now bring with them. Aristocrat online gaming is built to tie into the Oasis 360 casino management system, which gives you the backend tracking and accounting you need.

People think online gaming integration is hard because it involves technology. Actually, it's easier than you'd expect—the platform handles most of the complexity. The hard part is getting the backend configured so your staff actually uses it.

• Network infrastructure. Oasis 360 runs on standard TCP/IP networking. Your existing business internet usually handles the load, but keep gaming traffic off your customer Wi-Fi.
• Player tracking setup. Configure loyalty and players club features during installation, not a month later after players already have points scattered around.
• Online and offline consistency. Make sure rewards earned through online play link back to your physical floor. The system supports this—take the time to set it up.

Step 4: Don't Leave the Rest of the Floor Empty

A room with nothing but slot machines is not a complete venue, and underestimating the supporting equipment is a classic mistake.

Video Game Corner

A small arcade or console station pulls in a younger demographic and gives non-gambling customers something to do. A single screen and two controllers are enough to turn a dead corner into a reason for people to stay longer. The blade video game series, for example, has a loyal fan base that doesn't mind replaying the same levels—it's the kind of game that attracts a crowd.

Pool Table Logistics

Pool tables are a classic addition, but here's something that isn't obvious: you don't have your staff just push a pool table into place. A slate table can weigh over 700 pounds, and moving it wrong can crack the slate. When you plan a purchase, budget for professional pool table movers—roughly $150 to $350 depending on stairs and access, based on quotes I got in 2024. They'll level the table and make sure the playing surface is correct. Trying to save that cost ended up costing me a $600 re-leveling job at one venue, and the table was off for weeks.

Step 5: Build a Staff Wellness Corner and Post Instructions

This is the step most operators skip. You're asking employees to handle long shifts in a demanding environment, and a small wellness area with basic equipment is an inexpensive retention benefit. It doesn't need much floor space.

A chest press machine is one of the most common pieces in these staff fitness corners because it's safe for people without gym experience and covers a full pressing movement. If it's your first time choosing one, here's the short version of chest press machine how to use:

• Adjust the seat height so the handles line up with mid-chest.
• Set the backrest so your shoulders stay relaxed and your feet stay flat.
• Press forward until your arms are nearly extended—don't lock the elbows.
• Return slowly, under control, without letting the weight stack drop.

That's the whole movement. The machine does the stabilization for you. But our staff ignored the setup instructions often enough that I printed the steps and taped them to the wall. Do that before someone pulls a shoulder.

I want to say a solid commercial-grade chest press machine runs about $300 to $800, but prices shift. I'd check current quotes before budgeting.

Step 6: Budget Past the Quoted Price

Here's something vendors won't tell you: the first quote is almost never the final cost.

• Freight and installation can run 10-20% above the base estimate, especially with stairs, narrow doors, or a small elevator.
• Cabling and networking for Oasis 360 and online gaming add line items that nobody mentions in the first call.
• Contingency. Set aside at least 10% of the total budget. Something will cost more than expected.

During an expansion in 2023, my freight quote came in 40% higher than the initial estimate because the delivery truck couldn't access the venue's back entrance due to a local weight restriction. If I hadn't built in a buffer, it would have wrecked the project budget.

Final Thoughts: What Actually Matters

Look, nobody starts out as an expert at this. When I first started buying for gaming venues, I chased the lowest quote, ignored a vendor's actual responsiveness, and assumed every machine was the same until I had to wait three weeks for a service visit.

Small doesn't mean unimportant. The vendor who treats a two-machine order with respect is the one you'll still be calling when you're ordering forty.

The equipment matters—Aristocrat machines have real track records, and Oasis 360 is one of the most widely adopted casino management systems in the industry. But the make-or-break factor for a small venue is the relationship with your supplier. The one who handles your first small order well is the one who'll be there when a machine acts up on a Friday night and you need help before Monday.

Work the checklist, trust the process, and don't let any distributor make you feel small for starting out small. That would be the most expensive mistake of all.