Slot Machine Stands, Tokens, and Accessories: The Complete Home Owner's Guide

If you just bought a slot machine for your home — or you are about to — there is more to the setup than unboxing and plugging in. The machine is the centerpiece, but the right accessories make the difference between a machine that looks and plays like a casino setup and one that feels incomplete.

After 34 years of selling and shipping slot machines from Kingman, Arizona, we have answered every accessory question imaginable. This guide covers everything you actually need and some things you might want, based on what real home buyers ask us every week.

Stands for Slant-Top Machines

If you bought an upright slot machine, skip this section — uprights are self-contained and sit directly on the floor at the correct playing height. If you bought a slant-top, a stand is not optional, it is required equipment.

Why Slant-Tops Need a Stand

A slant-top cabinet is the machine head only — the angled screen and control panel. Without a base cabinet or stand beneath it, the machine sits on the floor at knee height, which is completely unplayable. On some models the power supply and logic board live in the head unit, but even then the playing ergonomics are terrible at floor level.

The stand raises the machine to the correct playing height and usually provides enclosed storage below.

Stand Dimensions

Standard slant-top stands run approximately: - Width: 24 to 28 inches - Depth: 18 to 20 inches - Height: 20 to 24 inches

This puts the top of the stand at about waist level, so the angled screen faces you correctly when seated on a bar stool or standing. Total height from floor to the top of the mounted machine head is typically 44 to 50 inches depending on the specific cabinet.

The IGT Game King slant-top — one of our most popular units — pairs with a 28" x 19" x 22" stand. The Bally Alpha slant-top uses a similar footprint. Always confirm dimensions before ordering a stand separately. We provide exact specs for every machine we sell, and we sell matched stands alongside our slant-top machines.

Types of Stands

Metal stands are the most common and least expensive, typically $100 to $150. They are powder-coated steel, usually black, with an open or minimally shelved interior. These are the same style used in commercial installations. Functional, durable, and straightforward.

Base cabinets with doors are enclosed stands with a hinged or sliding door that hides everything below. They look cleaner and give you lockable storage for tokens, tools, keys, or anything else you want near the machine. Cost is typically $200 to $350. If your machine lives in a finished game room, home bar, or living space where aesthetics matter, a base cabinet looks significantly better than an open metal stand.

Custom wood cabinets are for the serious home casino builder. Some customers have stands built by local woodworkers to match bar millwork or game room furniture. Hardwood cabinets that match the machine's era — oak or walnut for vintage machines, lacquered or painted for casino-style machines — look genuinely impressive. Budget $400 to $800 for quality custom work depending on local labor costs.

Matching Stand to Machine

Not every stand works with every machine. The key measurements are the footprint and whether any mounting hardware aligns. Before ordering a stand from any source, verify: 1. Width matches or slightly exceeds your machine head 2. Depth provides stable support without excessive overhang 3. Mounting brackets or bolt patterns align (we provide this information for every machine we sell)

Contact us when ordering a slant-top and we will specify the correct stand.

Tokens vs. Quarters: Which Should You Use?

This is one of the most common questions from new slot machine owners. The answer depends on your machine's configuration and how you want to use it.

Free Play Mode First

Before the tokens vs. quarters debate, remember that every machine we sell can be set to free play mode. In free play, you add credits by pressing a button — no coin handling at all. This is the simplest, quietest, and cheapest way to run your machine day-to-day. Many home buyers end up using free play mode exclusively once they get the machine home, especially families with children.

If you want the authentic coin experience — coins dropping into a metal tray, the satisfying clatter of a payout — read on.

Quarters

Real US quarters are 24.3mm in diameter and 1.75mm thick. Some machines came off the casino floor configured for quarter play, particularly older IGT S-Plus and early S2000 machines. If yours is quarter-configured, you can use actual quarters with no modification.

Pros of quarters: - Always available — bank rolls or coin rolls from any retailer - Authentic to the original casino experience for pre-2000 machines - Cashing out means actual spendable money

Cons of quarters: - Real money creates real psychology — it feels different to put $20 in quarters into a machine than $20 in tokens - Loose quarters scatter everywhere - Not all machines accept quarter-diameter coins without adjustment

Tokens

Most commercial casino-format machines from the 1990s onward were configured for 39mm casino tokens rather than quarters. This is the standard diameter for the vast majority of the slot machines we carry.

You can also buy quarter-size (24.3mm) brass tokens that work in quarter-configured machines without any modification — same diameter as a quarter but clearly marked as a token.

Pros of tokens: - Stay in the game — no real money psychology - Easy to manage in bags of 100, 200, or 500 - No loss if you forget them in the machine overnight - Custom tokens (with your name, logo, or a casino motif) add personality to your setup - Most commercial machines are configured for 39mm tokens right from casino service

Cons of tokens: - Upfront cost ($25 to $50 for a starter supply) - Need organization (a coin bucket keeps them managed)

Which Size to Buy

If your machine came from casino service in its original 39mm configuration: buy 39mm slot machine tokens. These are the casino standard, widely available from casino supply retailers and major online marketplaces.

If your machine is configured for quarter play: buy quarter-size (24.3mm) brass tokens or use real quarters. Quarter-size tokens run about $25 to $35 per 200 count.

If you are not sure what your machine is configured for, call us. We can tell you exactly what your coin mechanism accepts.

Token Storage

A metal coin bucket — the kind you see sitting next to casino machines — holds 200 to 300 tokens and looks great as part of the setup. These run $15 to $35 depending on quality and whether they include a handle and lid. Many base cabinets have interior shelving where a bag of tokens stores out of sight between sessions.

Surge Protectors

This is the accessory that most buyers overlook and every buyer needs. Slot machines contain sensitive electronics — main boards, game chips, memory batteries, and power supplies — that can be damaged or destroyed by power surges. Plug every machine into a quality surge protector, full stop.

What to Look For

• Minimum 1,500 joule rating for adequate protection
• UL 1449 listed — the safety standard for genuine surge protectors
• At least 6 outlets for the machine plus any nearby equipment
• Indicator light showing protection is still active (surge protection components wear out over time and need replacement)
• Clamping voltage of 400V or less — lower is better protection

Do not use cheap power strips. A strip without UL 1449 surge suppression provides zero protection. A quality surge protector from APC, Belkin, or Tripp Lite runs $25 to $50 and is cheap insurance against a main board failure that can cost $200 to $500 to repair or replace.

Extension Cords

If you need an extension cord to reach the machine's location, use a heavy-duty cord with 12-gauge or 14-gauge wire rated for at least 15 amps. Slot machines draw 2 to 5 amps, so cord gauge is rarely the limiting factor, but undersized cords heat up and create fire risk. Keep runs short — under 10 feet — and plug into the surge protector, not directly into the wall, so the protector covers the full circuit.

Toppers

A topper is the illuminated display unit that mounts on top of the slot machine cabinet. In casino environments, toppers showed progressive jackpot totals or promotional content. At home, toppers are purely aesthetic — they add height, visual impact, and the authentic casino look that comes from a machine being lit up from top to bottom.

Types of Toppers

Game theme toppers are back-lit signs matching the machine's game theme. An IGT Double Diamond machine looks completely different with a glowing Double Diamond topper compared to a bare cabinet top. These are the most popular home topper style.

Progressive jackpot display toppers show scrolling or static dollar amounts on LED displays. At home there is no actual progressive network, so the numbers are decorative — but many of these units let you set whatever jackpot amount you like. A display showing $47,281.50 and counting creates atmosphere regardless.

Custom toppers are available from aftermarket suppliers for buyers who want something specific — a name, a custom logo, or a theme that does not exist in the original catalog.

Compatibility and Height

IGT S2000 machines use a standardized topper mounting bracket and most IGT-era toppers are interchangeable. Bally and WMS machines use their own mounting systems. Always verify topper compatibility with your specific machine before purchasing.

Toppers add 12 to 18 inches of height. A standard S2000 upright at 44 inches plus a 16-inch topper reaches 60 inches — measure your ceiling and any overhead shelving before ordering.

Coin Trays

Coin machines have a tray at the bottom of the cabinet where hopper payouts drop. On machines that have been in service for years, these plastic trays can crack, yellow, or break. Replacement coin trays for IGT S2000 and other common platforms are widely available for $15 to $35.

Metal coin trays are available as direct replacements and upgrades. They are more durable than the original plastic and produce a more satisfying sound when coins drop — the metallic clatter is noticeably more satisfying than plastic. If you enjoy the audio experience of coin payouts, a metal tray makes a real difference for about $25 to $45.

Dust Covers

If your machine sits unused for weeks at a time, or lives in a garage-adjacent space with more particulate in the air, a dust cover prevents grime from accumulating in the coin mechanism and ventilation slots.

Custom fabric covers sized to your specific machine run $30 to $60 from specialty game room suppliers. A moving blanket draped over the machine works equally well for storage.

Machines stored for months without covers tend to accumulate dust in the coin mechanism and on circuit board contacts. The first thing our technicians do when a stored machine comes in for service is blow it out and clean the coin path — preventable with a $30 cover.

Complete Setup Checklist

Here is what a complete home setup actually requires:

For slant-top machines (required): - Stand or base cabinet matched to your machine — $100 to $350

For all machines: - Quality surge protector — $25 to $50

For coin-operated machines (your choice): - 39mm tokens or quarter-size tokens, 200 count bag — $25 to $40 - Metal coin bucket for storage — $15 to $35

Nice to have: - Game theme topper — $75 to $200 depending on style - Dust cover — $30 to $60 for a custom fit - Metal coin tray (upgrade) — $25 to $45

Total accessory budget: $50 to $75 minimum (surge protector plus tokens for an upright coin machine) to $500 for a fully accessorized slant-top setup with a base cabinet, tokens, topper, and a coin tray upgrade.

Getting the Right Accessories

We sell stands matched to the machines in our inventory and can help source tokens, coin trays, and toppers for machines we sell. When you browse our shop or contact us, mention what you have in mind for your setup and we will help you identify what you need.

If you are still in the process of choosing a machine, our complete buyer's guide covers the selection process from start to finish. Our slot machine man cave setup guide goes deeper on the game room design side of the project.

For information on the machines themselves — dimensions, weights, and what fits in your space — see our slot machine dimensions guide.

The accessories are what take a slot machine from sitting in a corner to being the centerpiece of a real game room experience. After 34 years, we have seen every setup imaginable — from a single machine in a bedroom to twelve-machine home casinos with custom millwork and ambient lighting. Getting the accessories right is what separates the setups that impress guests from the ones that feel unfinished.