Skill Games and ATM Placement in Pennsylvania: What Operators and Location Owners Need to Know
Published June 9, 2026 · 7 min read · By Archer ATM
If your bar, club, or convenience store has skill game terminals, you already know the answer to one question: an ATM isn't optional. Skill games run on cash. Players who run out go to a different location to reload, unless you have an ATM right there.
This guide covers everything skill game location owners and multi-site operators need to know about ATM placement in Pennsylvania: how it works, what it costs (spoiler: nothing), and why getting the ATM placement right dramatically affects your game revenue.
Why Skill Game Locations Are the Best ATM Hosts in PA
Most businesses that host ATMs see a portion of customers use the machine on any given visit. Skill game locations are different. The games themselves generate constant demand for cash. A player who wins credits needs to cash out in bills. A player who's down wants to keep playing. Both situations create ATM transactions.
The numbers reflect this. Skill game locations consistently rank among the highest-volume ATM sites in Pennsylvania. A bar with three or four terminals can easily see 50–100 ATM transactions per week, compared to 15–30 at a typical convenience store with similar foot traffic.
What this means for your revenue: more ATM transactions means more surcharge income for your location. At $2.50–$3.50 per transaction, a 75-transaction-per-week location earns roughly $750–$1,000 per month from ATM surcharges alone. That's passive income on top of your game revenue.
Placement: Where You Put the ATM Matters
Skill game operators who have had ATMs in multiple locations learn quickly that machine placement is everything. General rules:
- Near the games, not by the door. An ATM near the exit gets used on the way out. An ATM between the bar and the game area gets used mid-session, right when a player is deciding whether to keep playing.
- Visible when the player runs out. The player shouldn't have to search for it. If they have to ask where the ATM is, some percentage will just leave instead.
- Not blocked by furniture or foot traffic. The ATM needs a clear approach and enough room for someone to use it without being crowded or watched.
- Near a power outlet and with wireless signal. We handle all technical setup, but the machine needs a standard 110V outlet and either a phone line or wireless connection at the install location.
We've placed ATMs in dozens of skill game locations across Butler County and Western PA. We'll recommend the best spot during our pre-install site visit based on your specific floor plan and machine layout.
What It Costs to Get an ATM at a Skill Game Location
Nothing. Zero. Archer ATM provides the machine, handles installation, loads and manages the cash, performs maintenance, and processes all compliance. There is no equipment purchase, no lease fee, and no installation charge.
In exchange, you provide the floor space and the power outlet. We split the surcharge revenue with you on a transparent schedule, and you can log in to our reporting portal to see your transactions and earnings at any time.
How the Revenue Split Works
Every time a customer withdraws cash from the ATM, they pay a surcharge (typically $2.50–$3.50). That surcharge is split between Archer ATM and your location.
There are two models: flat fee (you receive a fixed dollar amount per transaction regardless of volume) or revenue share (you receive a percentage of each surcharge). High-volume skill game locations often do better on revenue share. We'll walk through both options before you sign anything.
Multi-Site Operators: Consolidating ATM Service
If you operate machines across multiple locations (bars, clubs, convenience stores, social halls), having a single ATM partner for all your sites simplifies your life considerably. One contact, one reporting system, one agreement structure.
Archer ATM serves multi-site operators across Butler County and Western PA. We can install at new locations on your schedule, and if a location you manage loses its lease or changes operators, we coordinate the machine transition without you having to manage the logistics.
Location owners who host your machines also benefit: they get the ATM revenue without the management overhead, which makes them more receptive to hosting your terminals long-term. It's a relationship-builder.
Compliance Considerations for Skill Game ATMs in PA
Pennsylvania's skill game regulatory environment has been evolving. One thing that remains constant: ATMs must meet standard network compliance requirements (EMV chip capability, PCI-DSS standards, ADA accessibility) regardless of what type of business they're placed in.
Archer ATM provides machines that are fully compliant with current PA and federal ATM standards. We carry liability insurance on our equipment and handle all network registration and compliance reporting. You don't need to do anything on the compliance side. It's on us.
One note: an ATM placed in a skill game location processes standard bank withdrawals. The ATM is not connected to the skill game terminals and does not interact with the game software. It simply provides cash access to customers, the same as it would in any other business.
Getting Started
If you own or manage a skill game location in Butler County or Western PA and you don't have an ATM, or you have one from a national operator with opaque reporting and slow service, reach out. The application takes two minutes and there's no obligation until you're satisfied with the terms.
Questions about placement, revenue, or how the process works? Call us directly at (724) 264-8181. We're based in Butler and we pick up the phone.
Add an ATM to Your Skill Game Location
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