History of Coin Pusher Machines
Coin Pushers are widely popular arcade games found all over the world. Read how it all started, about controversies and which innovative new machines are popular now.
About Coin Pusher Machines
Coin pusher machines are a type of arcade game that are commonly found in arcades, amusement parks, and other entertainment venues. The game typically consists of a large glass case that is filled with coins, tokens, or other small prizes. Players insert a coin or token into the machine and use a joystick or button to control a metal pusher that is used to push the coins and prizes towards the edge of the case. The goal of the game is to push as many coins and prizes as possible off the edge and into a collection area where they can be redeemed for prizes.
History
The origins date back to the 1960's, in the United Kingdom, as a gambling device. The game became popular in arcades and amusement parks and has evolved over time to include different features and gameplay options, such as multiple levels, bonus rounds, and progressive jackpots.
After the launch in the UK, coin pusher machines quickly became popular all over the world, especially in Europe, the United States and Japan and its popularity has continued to this day. In the 1990s the number of coin pushers was at a peak. As more countries (and numerous States in the US) restricted the use of real money in coin pusher machines, due to concerns about (illegal) gambling, the number of machines declined. Today it is not often used for commercial gambling purposes anymore. Most coin pusher machines have been adapted for arcade halls, giving tokens back instead of money or coins. Even with the heavy competition from modern arcade machines, they still remain a staple of many arcades and amusement parks.
Modern Coin Pushers
The 'Angry Birds Coin Pusher' is a very successful modern version that automatically builds a coin tower that can be knocked over. There are also machines that use balls for bonus games, like the 'Marvel Spider-Man Coin Pusher. There is even a Coin Pusher that includes a Claw Game element, the Mario part Coin Pusher. New models are launched every year and it is clear that there is still a lot of innovation possible in these classic machines.
There is also a coin pusher machine for home use. It was developed in 2021 by... us!
We're huge coin pusher fans but we could never find a tabletop sized model to play at home. We developed a prototype in 2020 and a year later a first prototype batch of 150 units was sold in Europe. The 'Coin Pusher 365' (to play at home 365 days a year) was a big success and an improved version was introduced under the same name in 2022. Our coin pusher machine is a compact tabletop version and because it is unsuitable for commercial use (it does not have anti-cheating mechanisms like a tilt sensor) it is not considered an gambling device, so anyone can buy it.
If you'd like to have your own coin pusher machine, you can find more information about the Coin Pusher 365 on this website.