Novomatic FAQ: Slot Demos, Chest Press Machines, Palace Card Game, and Building Your Own Video Game

I'm the guy who maintains our team's checklist after making a handful of expensive mistakes in this industry. I've been handling orders for entertainment and fitness equipment for about seven years now—mostly Novomatic, but also board games, video game peripherals, and strength machines. I don't have all the answers, but I've made most of the mistakes. Here are the questions I actually get asked.

What is a Novomatic slot demo and why should I use it?

Basically, a Novomatic slot demo is the game in practice mode. You get the same graphics, the same math model, the same bonus rounds. You don't put in real money, and you don't keep any winnings. I'd call it a try-before-you-buy tool.

For an operator, demos are genuinely useful. I used to skip demos and just order based on the spec sheet. That's how I ended up with a game my players found confusing. The demo showed the pinball-style bonus but didn't show how often the player actually hit it. My mistake was not filtering for that before buying.

One caveat: a demo is not a guarantee of performance. It's a way to test gameplay and theme fit. If you're a serious player, it's also a way to learn rules without risking money. That's it.

Are Novomatic slot machine games a good fit for every venue?

No, and I get why some operators want them—the brand name, the familiar themes. But the honest answer is: it depends on your license and your floor.

In June 2023, I helped a client set up a Novomatic product in a jurisdiction that only allowed amusement-with-prize machines. We made it work, but only after a local compliance review. If your region doesn't allow casino-style slots, a demo is as far as you can go. Don't push that boundary; the fines and license headaches aren't worth it.

Gambling regulations vary by jurisdiction. As of January 2025, the licensing requirements in the U.S., UK, and Europe are still different enough that you have to check with your local regulator directly. That's not a generic disclaimer; it's the difference between a legal floor and a closed facility.

Per the American Gaming Association, U.S. commercial gaming revenue hit $66.5 billion in 2023.

But that doesn't mean every venue should be chasing that money. The way I see it, for a small entertainment center, a few slot machines could be a nice add-on. For a family arcade, it's the wrong product altogether. It's not about best; it's about what fits.

Should I buy a machine chest press for my gym?

Depends on the gym. I'm not a trainer, but I've ordered enough strength equipment to know the basics.

A selectorized machine chest press is a solid staple for most full-service gyms. It's approachable for beginners, easy to adjust, and it doesn't require a spotter. If you have floor space and you're building a general strength area, I'd recommend it. If you're running a boutique boxing studio or a small private training space, a free-weight bench or cable crossover might serve you better. A chest press takes up maybe four square meters—actually more like 3.5, I'm guessing from our floor plan—and if you can't spare that, it's not a great fit.

Here's the mistake I made. In 2019, I ordered two chest press units for a renovation without measuring the upstairs floor layout. One of them was too wide for the doorway and we had to send it back. The return cost $280 and delayed the opening by a week. So measure, check the manual's dimensions, then order. Actually, measure twice. That's the process gap.

What is the palace card game?

Palace is a shedding card game—also called Shed or Karma depending on where you're from. You play with a standard 52-card deck, plus a second deck if you have more than four players. The goal is to get rid of all your cards. Some cards have special powers: twos skip, fours reverse, threes make the next player draw. I want to say that's accurate, but don't quote me on the exact house rules—they vary from table to table.

Why would a venue care? Because it costs nothing to add a deck of cards and a laminated rule sheet. It's not a cash maker like a slot machine, and it doesn't need a license. It's more of an engagement piece, especially in a retro or family game zone. To be fair, it won't draw a crowd by itself. Pair it with other tabletop games and it just fills the quiet hours.

If you're looking for a game to gamble on, this isn't it. It's about friendly competition, not revenue.

How do you make a video game from scratch?

Start with a design document, not code. That's the lesson it took me two projects to learn.

We once commissioned a custom video game cabinet for a family entertainment center. The developer asked for a spec, and I gave them a list of features but no hardware details. In hindsight, I should have pushed back on the timeline. But with the client waiting and a grant deadline the next day, I made the call with incomplete info. The result was a game that worked on a PC monitor but refused to talk to our coin door. That was a $3,000 mistake, plus three weeks of back-and-forth. I should have written down the hardware requirements first.

If you're building a video game from scratch, here's a rough process:

• Write down the core loop. What does the player do? Why is it fun?
• Choose a simple engine. Honestly, for a first game, tools like Godot or Construct are easier than C++ from zero.
• Use placeholder art. I used to think graphics came first. They don't.
• Playtest early. The first time you see someone struggle with your controls, you'll learn more than a month of planning.

For a commercial cabinet, add one more step: test with your actual hardware before production. This is the step I skipped. Don't.

What's the biggest mistake I see in this industry?

The biggest one is not having a formal process for custom orders. We didn't have a verification checklist, and it bit me three times before I finally made one.

First, we ordered the wrong quantity. Second, we ordered the right quantity but the wrong color cabinet. Third, we approved an unauthorized rush fee. All three were avoidable. The rush fee one cost us $350, and the surprise invoice got people upset. I remember sitting there staring at the spreadsheet thinking, if I just make a checklist, this stops. And it did.

Now when we order any equipment—slot machines, chest press, card game supplies, video game parts—we have a pre-check sheet. It covers model number, voltage, dimensions, certification, and the install path. We've caught 47 potential errors with it in the past 18 months. Maybe 47—I'd have to count, but it's a lot. There's something satisfying about seeing a mistake get caught before it costs money.

So if you're newer to this, don't wait for the third time.