Amusement Arcades
Description
This sector encompasses businesses that operate venues specifically designed for family entertainment through non-gambling, non-billiard, and non-pool attractions. The core function involves hosting patrons within large indoor or outdoor spaces featuring interactive games, rides, and performance art designed to provide amusement rather than profit through wagering. Typical activities include maintaining extensive collections of vintage coin-operated machines, managing video game arcades, or running indoor play centers that combine gaming with themed environments. Operators can range from small neighborhood kiosks that serve as local gathering spots for families to massive regional complexes that rival dedicated theme parks in scale and scope. Many large venues also integrate retail spaces selling food, merchandise, and apparel to enhance the visitor experience while sustaining revenue beyond ticket sales or coin insertion. While some locations focus solely on digital gaming, others offer a hybrid environment with live shows, miniature golf, and interactive exhibits that encourage social interaction among children and adults alike. These establishments serve as community hubs, providing affordable recreational opportunities that foster family bonding and leisure during weekends and holidays. The industry remains distinct from gambling establishments by strictly adhering to regulations that prohibit betting activities, focusing instead on pure entertainment value and engagement.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation sector includes a wide range of establishments that operate facilities or provide services to meet varied cultural, entertainment, and recreational interests of their patrons. This sector comprises (1) establishments that are involved in producing, promoting, or participating in live performances, events, or exhibits intended for public viewing; (2) establishments that preserve and exhibit objects and sites of historical, cultural, or educational interest; and (3) establishments that operate facilities or provide services that enable patrons to participate in recreational activities or pursue amusement, hobby, and leisure-time interests. Some establishments that provide cultural, entertainment, or recreational facilities and services are classified in other sectors. Excluded from this sector are: (1) establishments that provide both accommodations and recreational facilities, such as hunting and fishing camps and resort and casino hotels, are classified in Subsector 721, Accommodation; (2) restaurants and night clubs that provide live entertainment in addition to the sale of food and beverages are classified in Subsector 722, Food Services and Drinking Places; (3) motion picture theaters, libraries and archives, and publishers of newspapers, magazines, books, periodicals, and computer software are classified in Sector 51, Information; and (4) establishments using transportation equipment to provide recreational and entertainment services, such as those operating sightseeing buses, dinner cruises, or helicopter rides, are classified in Subsector 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation. |
| 713 | Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries subsector (1) operate facilities where patrons can primarily engage in sports, recreation, amusement, or gambling activities and/or (2) provide other amusement and recreation services, such as supplying and servicing amusement devices in places of business operated by others; operating sports teams, clubs, or leagues engaged in playing games for recreational purposes; and guiding tours without using transportation equipment. This subsector does not cover all establishments providing recreational services. Other sectors of NAICS also provide recreational services. Providers of recreational services are often engaged in processes classified in other sectors of NAICS. For example, operators of resorts and hunting and fishing camps provide both accommodation and recreational facilities and services. These establishments are classified in Subsector 721, Accommodation, partly to reflect the significant costs associated with the provision of accommodation services and partly to ensure consistency with international standards. Likewise, establishments using transportation equipment to provide recreational and entertainment services, such as those operating sightseeing buses, dinner cruises, or helicopter rides, are classified in Subsector 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation. The industry groups in this subsector highlight particular types of activities: amusement parks and arcades, gambling industries, and other amusement and recreation industries. The groups, however, are not all-inclusive of the activity. The Gambling Industries industry group does not provide for full coverage of gambling activities. For example, casino hotels are classified in Subsector 721, Accommodation; and horse and dog racing tracks without casinos are classified in Industry Group 7112, Spectator Sports. |
| 7131 | Amusement Parks and Arcades 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating amusement parks and amusement arcades and parlors. |
| 71312 | Amusement Arcades 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 713120. |
| 713120 | Amusement Arcades 6-digit U.S. detail | This sector encompasses businesses that operate venues specifically designed for family entertainment through non-gambling, non-billiard, and non-pool attractions. The core function involves hosting patrons within large indoor or outdoor spaces featuring interactive games, rides, and performance art designed to provide amusement rather than profit through wagering. Typical activities include maintaining extensive collections of vintage coin-operated machines, managing video game arcades, or running indoor play centers that combine gaming with themed environments. Operators can range from small neighborhood kiosks that serve as local gathering spots for families to massive regional complexes that rival dedicated theme parks in scale and scope. Many large venues also integrate retail spaces selling food, merchandise, and apparel to enhance the visitor experience while sustaining revenue beyond ticket sales or coin insertion. While some locations focus solely on digital gaming, others offer a hybrid environment with live shows, miniature golf, and interactive exhibits that encourage social interaction among children and adults alike. These establishments serve as community hubs, providing affordable recreational opportunities that foster family bonding and leisure during weekends and holidays. The industry remains distinct from gambling establishments by strictly adhering to regulations that prohibit betting activities, focusing instead on pure entertainment value and engagement. |
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Classification References
- 01Operating a variety of attractions, such as mechanical rides, water rides, games, shows, theme exhibits, refreshment stands, and picnic grounds, known as amusement or theme parks--are classified in Industry 713110, Amusement and Theme Parks;
- 02Supplying and servicing coin- or card-operated amusement (except gambling) devices or rides in places of business operated by others, operating billiard or pool parlors, or operating recreation attractions, such as waterslides, miniature golf courses, and gocart raceways--are classified in Industry 713990, All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries;
- 03Operating bingo, off-track betting, or slot machine parlors or in supplying and servicing coin- or card-operated gambling devices (e.g., slot machines or video gambling terminals) in places of business operated by others--are classified in Industry 713290, Other Gambling Industries;
- 04Operating casinos (except casino hotels)--are classified in Industry 713210, Casinos (except Casino Hotels); and
- 05Operating casino hotels--are classified in Industry 721120, Casino Hotels.
Index Items
Amusement arcades
Amusement device (except gambling) parlors, coin- or card-operated
Amusement devices (except gambling) operated in own facilities
Arcades, amusement
Electronic game arcades
Family fun centers
Game rooms (except gambling)
Indoor play areas
Pinball arcades
Video game arcades (except gambling)
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External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 713120.
Amusement & Theme Association
The primary trade association for amusement parks and arcade operators providing resources and advocacy.
NAICS Code Page (US Census)
Official United States Census Bureau page defining the specific classification for Amusement Arcades.
Arcade Industry Directory
A comprehensive online directory listing thousands of active arcades, game centers, and coin-op businesses.
