What is a pre-reveal game? A plain guide for store owners
Pre-reveal games show the player the result of the next play before they commit. Here is what that means, how it differs from other skill games and sweepstakes platforms, and what to check before you put one in your store.
Walk into enough convenience stores and you will see three kinds of game machines near the counter: skill game machines, sweepstakes game kiosks, and pre-reveal games. They can look alike: same cabinet size, bright screens, the same regulars playing them. Under the hood they work differently, and the difference matters for how a store owner should think about them. This is a plain guide to the pre-reveal type. No legal advice, just how the machines behave and what to ask.
The one-sentence version
A pre-reveal game shows the player the outcome of the next play before the player decides to make that play. The player can look at the result, then choose to play it or walk away. That preview is the whole idea. In a conventional game the player commits first and finds out afterward. In a pre-reveal game the order is flipped: see first, then decide.
How a session actually goes
- The player loads credit and the screen shows the result of the next play. It might be a win, it might be nothing.
- The player chooses to accept that play or not. Many machines let the player preview several plays ahead.
- If they play it, the result is exactly what was shown.
- The screen then shows the next outcome, and the cycle repeats.
Because the result is known in advance, the player makes an informed choice each time. Supporters of the format argue that this removes chance from the decision; regulators in some states disagree, which is why the legal picture is uneven.
Pre-reveal vs. skill game machines
A skill game machine asks the player to do something that affects the result: stop a reel on a target, solve a quick puzzle, match a pattern under a timer. Fortune skill game cabinets fall in this group. The outcome depends on the player's input, and the games are built so a careful player can finish a play successfully.
A pre-reveal game does not usually require that kind of input. It asks the player to decide, not to perform. Some cabinets blend the two, with a preview and then a skill step, which is one reason the categories get blurry in conversation.
Pre-reveal vs. sweepstakes game kiosks
A sweepstakes game kiosk works on a different legal theory altogether. The AOG Sweeps game kiosk is a sweepstakes platform: a customer registers, receives entries, and plays sweepstakes games on the kiosk or on their own phone. No purchase is necessary, the platform is 21+, and it is only offered in eligible states. The store hosts a sign-up kiosk on the counter rather than owning a game cabinet.
So the three families line up like this:
| Type | What decides the result | Who usually owns the hardware |
|---|---|---|
| Skill game machine | The player's skill | Store (bought outright) or a route operator |
| Pre-reveal game | Shown in advance; player accepts or skips | Usually a route operator |
| Sweepstakes game kiosk | Sweepstakes entries on a platform | The platform; the store hosts the kiosk |
Where pre-reveal games stand legally
This is the part every store owner should take seriously. Pre-reveal games have been tested in courts and legislatures in several states, and the answers have gone both ways. A machine that is fine in one state can be a problem in the next one over, and local ordinances sometimes add rules on top.
Before a pre-reveal cabinet comes through your door:
- Ask the operator to show you, in writing, how the machine is classified in your state.
- Call your state's licensing or revenue office and ask about the specific game, not just "skill games" in general.
- Keep a copy of whatever documentation the operator gives you.
- If anything about the answer is vague, wait.
Arcade Ops sells and markets machines for use where permitted by law. The buyer or host is responsible for compliance in their jurisdiction. A quick call will get you a straight answer about which products are offered where you are.
What store owners tend to like, and not like
Like: players understand the format quickly, sessions are steady, and the preview reduces complaints about "the machine cheated me." Regulars who enjoy the format are loyal to it.
Don't like: the regulatory uncertainty, the fact that most pre-reveal cabinets are operator-owned (so the store shares the result), and the way a rule change can mean a truck shows up to take the machine away.
For a store that wants to own its equipment, a skill game cabinet bought outright is often the simpler path: Fortune is $3,500 all in with a 6-game pack, and the store keeps 100% of what it earns where skill games are permitted. For a store that wants nothing to buy and nothing to maintain, a sweepstakes sign-up kiosk is the lowest-commitment option in eligible states. Route operators who place any of these can see coverage on the states page and plans on the pricing page.
Placement tips that apply to every type
- Put the machine where the clerk can see it from the register.
- Give it a dedicated outlet; shared power strips cause reboots.
- Keep it out of the aisle and away from the door.
- Post the age rule the product requires and enforce it.
- Know who to call when it goes dark, and how fast they come.
Bottom line
A pre-reveal game is a machine that tells the player what will happen before they play. That single design choice makes it different from a skill game machine, where the player's input decides the result, and from a sweepstakes game kiosk, which runs on a registered sweepstakes platform. The format has fans among players and store owners, but its legal footing varies by state more than the other two, so do the homework before you say yes.
To compare cabinets side by side, read Fortune machines vs. other skill game cabinets. Leaning toward a sweepstakes kiosk? Start with how to add an AOG Sweeps game kiosk to your store.
Adding an ATM kiosk to your store
An ATM kiosk is the simplest machine a convenience store or gas station can add: $6,000 flat, installed on site within five days of the order, sold in any state. Here is how to place it, what to expect, and how it pairs with game machines.
How to add an AOG Sweeps game kiosk to your store
The AOG Sweeps game kiosk is a sweepstakes platform with a free counter sign-up kiosk for gas stations, c-stores, vape shops, grocers and bars in eligible states. Here is how the sign-up works, what the store does day to day, and what to check first.