Indoor Games Buying FAQ: What an Office Manager Learned Ordering from ice-games

When I took over purchasing for a 300-person company in 2020, I thought the hard part would be managing 60-80 orders a year. It wasn't. The hard part was the year we decided to build a game lounge for employees and clients. I knew how to buy chairs and software. I did not know how to buy pool tables, ping pong tables, arcade machines, and a small wall of board games.

This article is the FAQ I wish someone had handed me before I started collecting quotes. It's not a list of every game we own. It's the questions that actually changed what I bought and how I handled delivery.

If you're in the same spot, here's the short version:

• What should I check before buying a commercial pool table?
• What is a video game developer—and why does it matter for arcade machines?
• What are "ice casino games" and do I need a gambling license?
• Should I stock the Taboo board game or the Cabo card game?
• Is rush delivery worth it?
• What do first-time buyers forget?

Let's go through each one.

1. What should I check before buying a commercial pool table?

Start with the slate. A real commercial table almost always has three-piece slate, usually 1 inch thick. According to the Billiard Congress of America, a standard 7-foot table has a playing surface of 39 by 78 inches. Those are the specs you want to see in writing. A home table with a thin one-piece slate or an MDF playing surface might be fine for a basement, but it won't hold up to daily play in a lounge.

The frame is also part of the equation. Commercial tables use stronger rails and heavier cushions because people lean on them, set drinks down, and sometimes miss the ball completely. Some vendors try to sell "commercial style" when they mean "looks commercial." Ask for the actual component specs.

We ended up ordering from ice-games after their quote included a delivery checklist. They asked about doorway widths, freight elevator capacity, and floor type before I did. That was the first sign I wasn't buying from a random reseller.

Don't forget access. A 7-foot table can weigh 500 to 700 lbs. Our freight elevator could handle it, but barely. If the table has to go up two flights of stairs, that changes the install price and your risk. Measure everything, including corners.

2. What is a video game developer—and why should a buyer care about arcade machines?

A video game developer is the studio that designs, writes, and tests the code for a game. When you buy an arcade machine, you're not just buying a big box with a screen. The hardware is the cabinet, the controls, the buttons, the monitor. The game itself is software, and that software was built by a developer.

Why does that matter? Because support depends on who made the software. I once looked at a used cabinet that had some old Ice Age video games on the menu. It was a fun nostalgia thing, but when I asked who to call if the game froze, the seller said "I think it just works." That's not a support plan. If the board dies, you're stuck with a big decorative box.

Newer commercial games from developers like Raw Thrills or Stern have active support and replacement parts. A good supplier, like ice-games, will tell you which games are still supported and which ones are basically collectible. If the developer is out of business, the game is a gamble.

Also, don't confuse a supplier with a developer. ice-games is not a video game developer. They're the people who get the machine to your door, set it up, and know what to stock. That distinction matters because when software breaks, you need to know whether the fix is a part or a developer patch.

3. What are "ice casino games"—and do I need a gambling license?

Let me be direct: I can't give legal advice, and you should verify this with your local gaming commission. But here's the practical answer. Most people who search for "ice casino games" don't actually want slot machines. They want the look of a casino for a bar, a lounge, or a special event: blackjack tables, poker tables, maybe a roulette podium. That's furniture, not gambling equipment.

Gambling happens when there's a bet and a payout. If you're charging people to sit at a blackjack table and handing out chips, that's gambling. If you're charging a flat fee to host a poker tournament and everyone leaves with the same money they put in, the rules get tricky. Get that in writing from a lawyer.

We went the simpler route. We bought card games and board games, and the Cabo card game became one of our most popular lounge games. It's easy to learn, doesn't need a dealer, and has the same bluffing fun as a casino card game without the regulatory side. I'm not saying it replaces a casino night. I'm saying it solved our problem.

4. Should I stock the Taboo board game or the Cabo card game?

Both. They serve different moments.

The Taboo board game is a group activity. It works best with four or more people, teams, and a timer. It gets loud, and it gets people talking—which is exactly what you want in a company lounge or a client waiting area. I watched it turn a quiet room into a laughing mess in about a minute. Twice, actually.

The Cabo card game is smaller and faster. It's better for two to six people at a side table. People can play it while eating lunch, and it doesn't require a big setup or a referee.

Here's the buying tip: order two copies of any heavily-used party game. The first Taboo game we put into the break room lost cards within a month. We ended up taping the box shut. That wasn't a quality issue; it's what happens with repeated use. If you're buying for a home, one copy is fine. If you're buying for a lounge, think of games as consumables.

The ice-games rep actually told me this before I ordered. I thought she was padding the invoice. She was saving me a second shipping charge.

5. Is rush delivery worth it?

Yes, when the deadline is real. In March 2024, we had a client event with a fixed venue opening. The first quote we got said 12 to 14 business days for delivery. The event was in nine days. ice-games offered a guaranteed delivery slot for an extra $380.

My finance person pushed back. $380 on an order of several tables sounded like a lot. But I looked at the cost of being wrong. The client was bringing about two hundred people into a venue that was supposed to have a finished game lounge. Empty tables would have been embarrassing, and it could have hurt the next contract.

We paid the $380. The delivery arrived on day eight. Worth it.

What you're buying with a rush fee is certainty, not just speed. The phrase I use now is:

A cheap delivery date that might slip is more expensive than a good delivery date that you can plan around.

Prices were accurate as of March 2024, and supply chains change, so verify current rates before budgeting.

6. What do first-time buyers forget?

The mistake I almost made was measuring the game itself but not the room around it.

A 7-foot pool table needs more than just a 39-by-78-inch spot. You need room for the cue stroke, chairs, and people walking by. A common rule of thumb is to leave about 5 feet of cue clearance on each side. That means a room of at least 12 by 16 feet for a 7-foot table. It's a rough rule, not a universal number.

Ping pong tables are even easier to get wrong. You need room at both ends for the paddle stroke and for players to step back. We placed a ping pong table with about four feet at one end. It looked fine on paper. The first time someone played, the paddle hit the wall on a backhand. We moved it the next morning.

Ask the supplier for a room diagram. ice-games sent me a simple layout showing the cue-stroke circle around each pool table. That ten minutes of planning saved us from a lot of bruised knuckles and rearranged furniture.