Calculate Ticket Redemption Game Profitability & COGS
$
$
Value Returned to Player:–
Gross Profit Per Play:–
TRG Payout Rate (COGS %):–
function calculateTRG() {
// Retrieve inputs using var
var playCostInput = document.getElementById('playCost');
var avgTicketsInput = document.getElementById('avgTickets');
var ticketCostInput = document.getElementById('ticketCost');
var playCost = parseFloat(playCostInput.value);
var avgTickets = parseFloat(avgTicketsInput.value);
var ticketCost = parseFloat(ticketCostInput.value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(playCost) || isNaN(avgTickets) || isNaN(ticketCost) || playCost 40) {
resultEl.style.color = '#d9534f'; // High risk/Loss
} else if (trgPercentage < 15) {
resultEl.style.color = '#f0ad4e'; // Too tight/Low player satisfaction
} else {
resultEl.style.color = '#0056b3'; // Healthy range
}
resultEl.innerHTML = resultText;
}
Understanding the TRG (Ticket Redemption Game) Rate
In the Family Entertainment Center (FEC) and arcade industry, TRG stands for Ticket Redemption Game. The "TRG Rate" usually refers to the Payout Percentage or Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) percentage for a specific machine. It is the critical metric that balances operator profitability with player satisfaction.
Unlike standard video games where the income is 100% margin (minus electricity and depreciation), redemption games have a variable cost associated with every play: the physical tickets or e-tickets dispensed, which players exchange for prizes.
The Formula: TRG Rate % = ((Average Tickets × Cost Per Ticket Point) / Cost Per Play) × 100
Input Definitions
Cost Per Play: The amount of money the player swipes or inserts to start one game (e.g., $1.00 or 4 credits valued at $0.25 each).
Average Tickets Dispensed: The statistical average of tickets won per game. This can be found in the game's audit menu (Total Tickets / Total Plays) or set manually via the machine's difficulty settings.
Unit Cost Per Ticket: The actual monetary cost to the operator for every ticket point redeemed. This is calculated by taking the total cost of merchandise inventory and dividing it by the total ticket points required to win that merchandise. A common industry standard is between $0.003 and $0.005 per point.
Interpreting Your TRG Rate
Setting the correct TRG rate is an art form. If the rate is too low, players feel cheated and will stop playing, causing revenue to drop. If the rate is too high, you may lose money on every play.
15% – 20% (Tight): High profit margin per play, but may discourage repeat play. Common in high-traffic tourist traps where repeat business is less critical.
20% – 30% (Sweet Spot): The industry standard. Players feel like they are winning enough to continue playing, while the operator maintains a healthy margin.
30% – 40% (Loose): Used for "Loss Leader" games or high-skill games to create excitement in the arcade.
Above 50%: Generally unsustainable unless the game has a very high throughput or serves as a major marketing attraction.
Managing Profitability
To adjust your TRG Rate, you can manipulate three variables: raise the price of the game, adjust the game difficulty (average tickets), or adjust the ticket cost (by changing the ticket price of prizes at the redemption counter).
Use this calculator regularly when auditing your game meters to ensure your settings haven't drifted due to mechanical issues or skilled players finding exploits.