Shaping the Future of Amusement Software: How Contactless and Mobile Wallets are Revolutionizing Unattended Payments

When your business model involves maximizing family fun—and profits—you’re wise to strategically incorporate innovative integrated payments. Rapid digital transformation is reshaping how guests interact with location-based experiences, and payments are no exception. ISVs developing software for venues ranging from amusement parks and arcades to escape rooms, VR centers, bowling alleys and indoor sports complexes, water parks, zoos and aquariums, racing and simulation centers, and many others must embrace the shift to seamless, omnichannel payment solutions—including unattended payments—that not only improve guest convenience but also future-proof their platforms for evolving business models.

So that fun can take center stage, consumers expect speed, security, and convenience in all other amusement venue matters. ISVs that fail to integrate unattended, contactless, and mobile wallet solutions as part of a true omni-channel strategy risk falling behind. The future of payments isn’t just digital—it’s frictionless, automated, and available wherever and whenever guests interact with amusement experiences. Payments are no longer just a backend function—they are a competitive differentiator for ISVs and amusement operators alike.

Payroc is a leading strategic payments partner dedicated to helping ISVs capitalize on industry trends and build scalable, innovative payment solutions that drive business success. In the amusements vertical, in particular, we have exceptionally deep experience, partnering with numerous industry icons such as CenterEdge, KioSoft, Incredible Technologies, and Intercard to optimize payments, profits, and success. In this article we would like to share our expertise and encourage ISVs with amusement-venue projects to reach out to us for further discussion.

The Rise of Unattended, Contactless, and Mobile Wallet Payments: A Tectonic Shift in Consumer Behavior 

As you know, self-service kiosks, digital ticketing, and cashless arcades are no longer a futuristic vision—they’re today’s reality. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition because consumers began demanding cashless systems that minimized hand-to-hand contact. As a result, cashless payments at entertainment venues has grown from 61% to 93% in just the past several years.

Beyond physical safety, today’s consumers also prioritize fast and financially secure transactions, making EMV, unattended, and mobile wallet payments essential for reducing friction and ensuring trust in the payment process. For venue operators, contactless payments also provide better data tracking and insights for creating loyalty programs.

Payroc has extensive experience integrating with all the main technologies enabling contactless payments at location-based entertainment venues, including:

• RFID wristbands—Guests wearing preloaded wristbands use them to tap-to-pay at payment terminals. Simple, secure, and unlikely to be lost.

• Cashless cards—Preloaded cards allow guests to pay for games, food, merchandise, and more.

• Mobile wallets—Consumers increasingly expect venues to accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other NFC-based mobile payments for all purchases. About 50% of Americans now use digital wallets—a number that rises to over 80% for Gen Z consumers.

• QR-code-based transactions—Many location-based entertainment venues now provide scan-to-pay options at food stands, retail shops, and even ride lockers.

• Self-service kiosks—Consumers can scan barcodes to complete purchases without waiting in line or interacting with staff. Many venues have tablet-based POS systems that support touchless payments.

• Online and app-based prepayments—Prepaid digital ticketing and memberships allow guests to enter without handling cash. Mobile apps let guests link credit or debit cards, track spending, and manage payments for food, games, or souvenirs.

• AI-powered and biometric payments—This emerging technology will allow venues to use facial recognition to transact payments. AI-driven systems will also use guest preferences to prompt suggestions and enable one-tap purchases for refreshments, merchandise, or experiences.

ISVs that create software with seamless, unattended payment integrations empower amusement operators to differentiate their venues, reduce wait times, and increase guest loyalty through effortless, self-service experiences. Indeed, contactless payments are now expected, not optional. Guests assume they will enjoy a seamless experience whether they’re purchasing tickets online, reloading game credits at a kiosk, or paying for concessions—all without staff intervention. 

What’s In It for the ISV?

Integrated payments aren’t just an operational necessity—they can and should be a revenue-driver.

First, ISVs that support omni-channel payments, including unattended transactions, gain a competitive advantage over those offering only traditional payment methods. Savvy amusement operators vetting potential ISV partners to future-proof their businesses and optimize profits know to look toward ISVs experienced in robust payment integrations.  

Second, when payments are deeply integrated, everyone wins. The consumer enjoys a more immersive, fun experience. The amusement business benefits from enhanced customer loyalty. And the ISV becomes more essential to the operator’s business, increasing platform stickiness and cementing long-term relationships.

And third, higher transaction volumes equal more revenue for both the amusement business and the ISV monetizing payments through higher processing revenues. Frictionless payments make it easier for customers to purchase, which leads to higher per-visit guest spending.

The Technology That’s Redefining Unattended Payments for ISVs 

The software industry is moving away from rigid, hardware-dependent SDKs toward flexible, scalable cloud-based APIs. ISVs that embrace a cloud-API payment integration will be able to: 

• Scale Faster: Seamlessly support multiple unattended devices and payment methods.

• Reduce Compliance & Security Overhead: Offload sensitive payment data handling to cloud-based processing solutions.

• Enable Frictionless Guest Experiences: Unify payment experiences across mobile apps, kiosks, vending machines, and online platforms.

• Lower Capital and Upgrade Costs: Eliminates the need for constant hardware updates and expensive on-premise integrations.

How Payroc Sets Amusement ISVs Up for Success  

Early in our history, Payroc chose to focus on unattended payments as a core competency. For interested parties, we are proud to share the extensive list of payment hardware devices certified to connect through our proprietary gateway; this makes both EMV chip transactions and contactless payments readily accepted in our systems on any number of payment terminals that may work best in your environment. We also have more than X years’ experience building seamless unattended payments integrations and working with ISVs to support mutual success.

• Scalability: Payroc support unattended payments, mobile wallets, and omnichannel transactions.This allows your amusement operator’s business to grow in any direction without friction or delay. 
  
  
• Go-to-Market Expertise: We provide hands-on support for ISVs launching payments integrations. We help develop the go-to-market plan, provide partner training, support the pilot and GA launch, and participate in Quarterly Business Reviews. In short, we’re alongside you from beginning to end, helping ensure a successful launch and ongoing optimization.
  
  
• Flexible Business Models: Payroc supports referral, ISO, and managed Payfac models to align with different ISV needs.With Payroc Path, you have the best of both worlds. ISVs can bring their current payment processor to the payments integration, leveraging Payroc’s gateway while maintaining existing provider relationships.
  
  
• Revenue Optimization: Payroc offers several payment processing programs to assist amusement venues in optimizing revenues. Transaction bundling is one. Instead of processing each individual transaction live, in real time, our system can be set up to aggregate transactions on a chosen schedule, such as at the close of business each day. This processing method results in lower overall processing fees per dollar processed. Payroc also offers micro-ticket pricing, which is an attractive option for many amusement venues. With micro-ticket pricing, small transactions—typically $5 or less—incur lower processing rates than the industry standard. Payroc also offers RewardPay Choice, which allows venue operators to share credit card payment processing costs with customers. In these and other ways, Payroc help ISVs optimize profitability.

Why ISVs Must Act Now 

For location-based entertainment businesses, the shift toward contactless and unattended payments is not a passing trend—it’s an industry-wide transformation. 

ISVs that invest in truly seamless payment integrations today will dominate the market tomorrow. The future belongs to ISVs that select the right payments partner—one that helps them optimize revenue, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver superior guest experiences. By embracing seamless, unattended, and omni-channel payments, ISVs can differentiate their platforms, drive adoption, and position themselves for long-term success in an evolving industry. 

Payroc is the partner that makes it happen. We invite you to schedule a demo today.