Gaming Cafe

2 Gaming Cafe Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 7th, 2024

A gaming cafe is a place that allows players to rent time on computers and consoles to play video games.

These establishments are more of a 'hangout spot' where gamers can spend hours playing their favorite game, enjoy snacks, and socializing with friends or schoolmates.

The concept has spread around the globe and can now be found in many different countries, including the United States.

Starting a gaming cafe is a fun and rewarding way to make money. You can sell food and drinks, as well as rent out consoles and games for people to play. You can also run tournaments for cash prizes, or host events and parties.

In this list, you'll find real-world gaming cafe success stories and very profitable examples of starting a gaming cafe that makes money.

1. Paniq Escape Room ($12M/year)

Akos Gabossy, the CEO and co-founder of PANIQ ROOM, was inspired to start his own business after visiting Chuck E Cheese's during his year as a foreign exchange student in California. Recognizing the growing popularity of escape rooms in his hometown of Budapest, Gabossy brought the concept to the United States in 2014, aiming to create immersive and interactive rooms that resembled movie sets. Today, PANIQ ROOM has 20 locations and plans to reach 30 locations, generating over $15 million in revenue and attracting more than 400,000 players annually.

How much money it makes: $12M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500K
How many people on the team: 25

How We Started A $12M/Year Escape Room That Brings In 400,000+ Players Annually

PANIQ ROOM is a global network of immersive escape room experiences with 20 locations, generating annual revenue of $10 million, aiming to reach 30 locations, $15 million in revenue, and 400,000 players annually, while investing in in-house production capabilities with Indestroom and focusing on marketing through Google Ads, Groupon, and social media platforms.

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2. Traveling Tales DMing ($3.6K/year)

James Gallagher turned his love for tabletop games into a business during the pandemic when he saw other Dungeon Masters earning money online. By June 2022, he quit his job and launched Traveling Tales DMing, offering high-quality game mastering services and generating buzz in Nebraska's TTRPG community.

How much money it makes: $3.6K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 1

I Built A Side Hustle Around My Passion For Dungeons and Dragons

Traveling Tales DMing LLC is a professional game mastering company that offers high-quality table-top role-playing game experiences, which includes Dungeons and Dragons, for $10 per 3-hour game, generating a lot of buzz in Nebraska's TTRPG community by working with local game stores.

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