What did these machines originally cost?

[noobie]

I keep reading everywhere that pachislo machines originally cost around $3,000-$4,000 dollars, and that the machines are replaced every 6 months or so. I have difficulty understanding how this could be correct. Considering these parlors have several hundred machines, that seems like a huge expense. Are these machines really that expensive initially?

[dalto]

Also, are they actually replaced after only six months of use?

I have noted with the machines that I have bought that condition is directly related to how old the machines are so I tend to think they are in use longer than that.

[Tulsa]

It's a pachislo urban legend as far as I'm concerned. Until I see a copy of a japanese invoice showing they paid 462,340.00 Yen for X machine, I'll never believe it.

[RKnarr01]

they can be used for a maximum of 2 years but many machines are available in the US withing 2 years of their release in japan

[rupan777]

Far less than that. The average lifespan of a pachinko/pachislo machine in a single parlor is three months, more if it's popular but rarely over a year and if it does last that long, it won't be a marquee machine. There are the exceptions: in pachinko, Umi Monogatari (aka Sea Story) lasted four years as a marquee machine until its brother New Sea Story came out. For pachislo, some of the Juggler series can be found prominently in parlors despite being out for several years.

Regarding price, I'm told that a brand new pachinko machine with the casing runs anywhere from roughly US$1500 - $2500 depending on the manufacturer, cases are reused within the year so newer machines produced by the same manufacturer can be switched. I'm not sure about pachislo machines but I would guess they run in the same general price range, maybe a little cheaper.