RFID vs. Magnetic Strip Game Cards: Which is Better for Your Arcade Business?

When evaluating options for a card system, you must take your due diligence to gather information about every critical aspect of a system. Since it’s the component closest to your guests, let’s take a deeper look at game cards. Your cards are another example of something small that significantly impacts your operations and guest experience. 

First, let’s explore the difference between Magnetic Strip and RFID technology.  

What is Magnetic Stripe Technology?

The magnetic stripe cards were invented by IBM and spread worldwide to standardize card-based payment systems in the 1970s. When mag stripe technology was introduced to our industry, it was a significant upgrade to quarters and tokens.  

As technology continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, mag stripe is becoming obsolete. You may have noticed that more and more hotels are moving away from swipe technology for room locks to improve the guest experience. Mastercard even announced they are swiping left on magnetic stripe technology in 2024. 

What is RFID Technology?

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Each RFID system consists of cards carrying a transponder chip and chip readers, which includes a transceiver and antenna. The chip in RFID game cards emits a weak radio signal that transmits a token amount of data: The card’s ID number and the balance on the card.  

It improves the player experience because there are fewer points of failure (i.e. scratched magnetic stripes or dirty readers), and they don’t have to rely on a physical read. With a simple tap on the reader, players can easily activate games and attractions. 

RFID card readers also need less maintenance and regular cleaning to keep them functional. Clearing your RFID cards to new IDs or balances is as simple as running them through a kiosk dispenser that emits a new data write signal automatically. 

What is the Difference in Costs?

RFID cards cost about $0.05 more per card but offer a far better investment in the long-term regarding recycling cards. We’ve found that RFID cards last 4 to 5 times longer than magnetic stripe cards and see cards recycled up to seven times. Many Amusement Connect customers like Brad Armstrong use collection boxes for used game cards, which he recycles every day. 

In addition, your staff must manually clear game cards for the next day’s use in your arcade – one card at a time – for magnetic strip cards. In contrast, the Amusement Connect RFID card system can automatically clear all your RFID cards through the self-service kiosk by emitting a new signal as the card goes through the machine. The saying goes, “Time is money” when paying higher hourly staff wages.  

Finally, don’t forget to compare shipping costs when comparing quotes for both game card system vendors and the cost of shipping new cards. 

Lead times

Supply chain issues have impacted manufacturers in every sector for the past year, so it’s no surprise that lead times are a little longer than usual. Fortunately, the right vendor can make a big difference. We have over 2 million game RFID game cards in stock, and our expert product-hunting automotive industry vets have secured another 8 million cards. This supply chain resiliency means we can ship generic cards immediately, and custom cards are ready in 3-4 weeks. For us, it’s all about meeting the developing needs of our customers. 

We encourage you to ask about each vendor’s current lead times to ensure that you get game cards in the quantity and delivery window you need to start generating revenue sooner. 

In Conclusion

Which type of game card system is best for your arcade; magnetic strip cards or RFID game cards? Talk to some other venues using every system and discover what their game card recycle rates, maintenance requirements, and damaged card loss has been. Ask about their overall experience and if they are willing to recommend the system they are currently using.  

While you might get plenty of recommendations from consultants and other vendors, collect multiple data points to ensure the system meets the long-term needs of your business. 

Choosing a card system is crucial for your business and a decision worthy of in-depth research. At Amusement Connect, we believe that an informed customer is the best customer.