#1 Used Pinball Machines for Sale Australia | Aussie Arcade Games

If you’re searching for used pinball machines for sale, you’ve probably noticed how patchy the results are. Classifieds with three blurry photos. Auction listings that never mention whether the thing even powers on. A few dealers who won’t put a price anywhere. This guide covers what a decent second-hand machine costs in Australia, where to buy one, what to check before you hand over any money, and how we handle it from our base in Darwin.

We’ve been selling pinball machines since 2016, more than 400 of them, to home games rooms, pubs, offices and collectors from Perth to Hobart. Everything below comes from that: the machines that come back with problems, the questions buyers ask before they commit, and the mistakes we’d like you to skip.

If you just want to see what’s available now, our pinball range is the quickest way in. If you’re still deciding, keep reading.

What Do Used Pinball Machines for Sale Cost in Australia?

Short answer: roughly $500 to $10,000 and up, and the gap is almost entirely about condition. These are the ranges we see in our own workshop.

Four things push a price up or down. Title popularity comes first: a well-loved Stern or Bally game costs more than an obscure one in the same shape. Playfield condition is second, because a worn playfield is expensive to fix and impossible to hide. Third is whether the machine has been properly serviced or just plugged in and photographed. Last is age. Modern LCD tables tend to hold their value better than a lot of 1990s solid-state games.

Here’s something forum posts rarely mention. A cheap machine that needs parts, a new clear coat and a few weekends of your time often ends up costing more than a serviced one. We price ours with the work already done.

Where to Find Used Pinball Machines for Sale in Australia

There are four main places to look for used pinball machines for sale, and each has a trade-off.

Specialist dealers. You pay more, but servicing, delivery and a warranty come with the machine. That’s us, along with a handful of others around the country.

Online marketplaces. Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and eBay have huge variety and very uneven quality. You’re dealing with the seller directly, so everything depends on how honest and how knowledgeable they are.

Operators and venue clear-outs. Pubs, arcades and amusement operators sell off older machines from time to time, sometimes at auction. Prices can be low, but the machines are usually sold as-is after years of heavy public play.

Private collectors and local clubs. Good sellers, fair prices, and the machine has often been looked after. The catch is that these sales are rarely advertised publicly.

Used Pinball Machines for Sale by Owner Near Me: What to Know Before You Go

Buying privately can be great value. Plenty of owners have babied the same table for ten years and know every quirk. It can also go sideways, and when it does you’re on your own.

That last part matters. Under Australian Consumer Law, the consumer guarantees generally apply when you buy from a business, not from a private seller. If a coil fails the day after you bring a machine home, a private sale usually leaves you holding the repair bill. The ACCC’s website explains where the line sits. A dealer’s warranty is a big part of what the extra money buys.

If you do go private, ask for a video of a full game being played (not just the attract mode), insist on seeing it powered up before any money moves, and use the checklist further down this page.

Used Pinball Machines for Sale Near Me and Nearby

“Near me” is an odd thing to search for when the item weighs 100 kilos, but we get it. People want to see a machine in the flesh before they commit.

Our warehouse is at 29 Smith St, Darwin City NT 0800, and you’re welcome to look at machines there by appointment. If you’re searching for a used pinball machine for sale near me from somewhere else in the country, we can send extra photos or a video of the exact machine running. Buyers who type used pinball machines for sale nearby are usually after the same thing: proof it works. A powered-on video, with the sound up, gets you most of the way there.

Used Pinball Machines for Sale Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth

We’re based in Darwin, so we don’t have a Sydney showroom, and we’d rather say that plainly. What we do have is a delivery process that’s been used for Sydney apartments, Melbourne terraces, Brisbane Queenslanders and Perth family rooms. Delivery is free, and professional setup is included. If you’re after used pinball machines for sale Sydney buyers can trust, the video route plus insured delivery is how most of our east-coast customers do it.

Used Pinball Machines for Sale Cheap: Where the Value Actually Is

Cheap and good value aren’t the same thing. These are the sweet spots.

The best-value tables for most homes are solid-state machines from the late 1970s through the 1990s. Parts are easy to get, the electronics are simpler than modern games, and there’s a huge range of themes. A serviced machine in the $2,500 to $4,500 band is where most first-time buyers land.

A project machine under $1,800 can suit you if you enjoy tinkering and have somewhere to work. If you don’t, skip it.

Be wary of anything sold as “works but needs a little TLC” or, worse, “doesn’t turn on.” Unless you’re a competent technician and the price reflects the risk, someone else’s project rarely turns into a bargain. When you search for used pinball machines for sale cheap, set a firm ceiling, then spend a little of that budget on condition rather than a famous title.

Popular Searches: Jaws, Lord of the Rings and Other Titles

Jaws. If you want a used jaws pinball machine for sale, be realistic. It’s a recent Stern release, so second-hand copies are still scarce and tend to hold their price. Get in touch and we’ll tell you whether we have one or can source one.

The Lord of the Rings. Stern’s 2003 table is a collector favourite. A lord of the rings pinball machine for sale used will attract competition, so look closely at playfield wear and ask what’s been replaced.

Everything else. Our range of used pinball machines for sale regularly includes titles from Stern, Bally, Williams and more. Browse the full shop or ask about a specific game.

Used Virtual Pinball Machine for Sale: Is It the Same Thing?

No. A virtual pinball cabinet runs software on a PC and displays the table on screens. There’s no steel ball, no rubber, no coils. Some people love them for the huge library of tables in one cabinet; others find they miss the physical feel.

If you’re considering a used virtual pinball machine for sale, ask what hardware is inside, how the software is licensed, how old the screens are and who built it. Home-built cabinets vary wildly. This guide is about physical tables, the real thing with a ball you can hear.

Which Era to Pick When Browsing Used Pinball Machines for Sale

Electromechanical (EM), before about 1978. Relays, switches and a lot of charm. They’re collectible, but parts can be hard to find and they suit owners who enjoy a bit of maintenance.

Solid-state, late 1970s to the 1990s. The sweet spot for most buyers. Simpler electronics, wide parts availability and huge variety.

Modern, 2010s onward. LCD screens, deeper rules and sturdier builds, at a higher price.

For a first machine, go solid-state or modern. We’ll steer you that way unless you specifically want the EM experience.

How to Inspect a Used Pinball Machine Before You Buy

Whether you’re buying from us, a collector or a stranger on Facebook, run through this list.

1. Watch it power up. It should boot, run its start-up checks and show no error messages.
2. Play several full games. Don’t judge it on one ball. Problems show up with use.
3. Open the service menu. Run the built-in coil, switch and lamp tests. This is the closest thing to a health check the machine has.
4. Study the playfield. Look for worn paint around inserts and under the flippers, lifted clear coat and swollen or chipped wood.
5. Test the flippers. Strong, even, no buzzing or sticking. Weak flippers usually mean worn parts.
6. Check the display or screen. On 1990s games, look for missing lines or pixels in the dot-matrix display. On modern games, check the LCD for burn-in.
7. Look at the cabinet and backbox. Fading, water damage and rust on the legs tell you how the machine was stored.
8. Ask for the manual and keys. A seller who has kept them probably kept the machine well too.

Then think about access. A standard machine is about 132 cm long, 74 cm wide and 168 cm tall with the backbox up, and it weighs between 90 kg and 140 kg. Measure doorways, hallways and stairwells before you buy, not after delivery. If it’s going upstairs or into an apartment, tell us when you order.

What “Fully Serviced” Should Really Mean

It means the playfield has been tested under real play, switches and flippers adjusted, and any known fault fixed. It does not mean someone plugged it in and the lights came on. Ask any seller of used pinball machines for sale exactly what was checked, and ask to see it in writing. We document ours, and you can ask for the checklist on any machine we list.

Why Buy Used Pinball Machines for Sale From Aussie Arcade Games

We’re not the biggest pinball dealer in Australia and we’re not trying to be. We’d like to be the one you’d recommend to a mate.

• Every machine is serviced, not just cleaned. Playfield, flippers, coils and boards are checked before it ships, and we’ll tell you what was done.
• Prices are on the page. No “contact us for pricing” runaround.
• We deliver Australia-wide. Melbourne apartment or a property outside Alice Springs, we’ve shipped to both.
• We’ll tell you when a machine isn’t right for you. If you want a first table for the family room, we won’t sell you a temperamental 1970s EM that needs constant attention.
• Ongoing help. Repairs and servicing are available after the sale, including for machines you didn’t buy from us.

Delivery Across Australia

Machines are professionally packed and fully insured for transit. We deliver to every state and territory: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory, including regional areas. Free shipping and professional setup are included with orders. See our shipping policy for state-by-state detail.

Warranty and After-Sales Support

Every purchase is covered by a 1-year warranty, and we handle claims directly, so you’re not chasing an overseas distributor. If a machine develops a fault later, even out of warranty, get in touch. Our refunds and returns policy is on the site if you’d like to read it before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are used pinball machines for sale in Australia worth buying?

Yes, if the machine has been checked properly. A good second-hand table plays almost as well as a new one for everyday home use at a fraction of the price. It won’t have the latest features or the same length of manufacturer warranty.

How much should I budget for a pinball machine for sale used?

Most first-time home buyers land between $2,500 and $9,500, depending on whether they choose a serviced used table or a new one. Project machines start around $500, restored collector pieces run higher.

Can I buy a used pinball machine for sale near me and test it first?

If you can get to Darwin, you can inspect machines at our warehouse by appointment. If you can’t, we’ll send extra photos or a video of the machine playing.

Is it safe to buy used pinball machines for sale by owner?

It can be, but you carry the risk. Consumer guarantees generally don’t apply to private sales, so inspect the machine carefully and see it powered up before paying.

Do you deliver used pinball machines for sale Australia-wide?

Yes, to every state and territory, fully insured, with professional setup included.

What’s the best pinball machines for sale used option for a beginner?

A solid-state or modern machine. Parts are easy to source and the electronics are more reliable than electromechanical games.

Will it fit through my door?

Most tables are about 132 cm long, 74 cm wide and 168 cm tall with the backbox up. Measure your access points first, and tell us about stairs when you order.

Ready to Find Your Machine?

Browse the latest pinball machines or tell us what you’re after and we’ll point you at the right one, even if that means a smaller sale for us. Call +61 468 264 527, email sales@aussiearcadegames.com, or visit 29 Smith St, Darwin City NT 0800 by appointment. Our team can talk you through used pinball machines for sale that suit your room, your budget and your skill level.