The CEO of Sacoa USA, Sebastian Mochkovsky, believes that the US market is tracking steady. He said: “The US market is currently stable and continues to perform well. There are very limited and de minimis effects left over from the pandemic, and customers are now looking for games and attractions not available in an at-home setting, such as party and event venues, food establishments and more.”

While demand for these venues remains high, Mochkovsky warns that there are still challenges facing the US market, highlighting rising costs for both insurance and labour for FECs and otherentertainment venues. Tradingeconomics.com reports that labour costs rose by three per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, following a 0.5 percent rise in the third quarter. Many operators say that they’re struggling to attract labour to workat their venues.

Despite the challenges, the out-of-home world continues to grow in popularity. Mochkovsky
said: “Largely due to the pandemic, the biggest developments will be seen in areas that are not available at home. As previously mentioned,these include event venues, restaurants and more.”

He also backed what many other US-based companies had reported, that the FEC world was filling a gap that traditional retail had left. He said: “Today, arcades and FECs are typically found in malls, shopping centres and other popular spots with high foot traffic, such as outdoor plaza-like locations, city centres and more.

FECs can also be found in smaller, more rural locations because fun is universal. Venue space varies according to local density and expected foot traffic.”

“The US market is currently stable and continues to perform well.”
Sebastian Mochkovsky

While competitive socialisation is the buzzword that is dominating European entertainment currently, Mochkovsky believes that the US has already embraced the concept, albeit in a slightly different guise. “The US market understands and implements competitive socialisation in many ways,” he said, “such as go-kart racing, laser tag, dodgeball and more.
So, the US is well on its way to implementing these concepts.”

As a cashless system provider, Sacoa is well-positioned to talk with authority on what American operators prefer when it comes to a payment system. Mochkovsky said: “The percentage of operators we work with are fully cashless because that is our business. We are a cashless company. We believe that many operators in the US will continue to use cash because of tax issues, and some customers prefer to use cash on certain occasions. This is because their credit cards sometimes charge extra fees for using this method of payment.”

While many of the companies in this US special issue have praised the US market and its unique properties, Mochkovsky argued that it is not really that different than anywhere else,
saying that a good product is a universal concept. He said: “There is nothing unique about the US market as compared to the rest of the world. Especially with the internet, anyone anywhere is able to see how most FECs operate without physically being present at said FEC. This isespecially useful for replicating tried and tested, successful models without having to invest on trial and error.”

The company is a long-time supporter of the US’ trade shows, appearing at countless IAAPA Expos and Amusement Expos, showcasing its tried-and-tested system to interested parties.
Last November saw it show off a number of new products at IAAPA Expo, such as the K5 Kiosk, a follow up to its incredibly popular K4 Kiosk. The
new version features a space-saving design while still providing all the services of its larger sibling.It also unveiled KwikPay, its QR code-based payment platform for smaller arcades and coin-op businesses. It allows guests to pay via QR code stickers, which can be added to any machine and automatically start play via a pulse once the guest has paid.

It is clear that Sacoa is not resting on its laurels and is continuing to innovate to ensure that the next generation of operators has a system that will ensure seamless play for the guest.