How Much Money Can an ATM Make in Las Vegas? A Realistic Breakdown

The Inputs That Actually Move The Number

Understanding ATM earnings comes down to a few key variables that you can control and measure:

• Monthly transactions (T) — withdrawals completed on your machine
• Surcharge price (S) — the fee the customer agrees to on-screen
• Venue revenue share (P) — your percentage of the surcharge from the placement agreement
• Processing and network costs per withdrawal (F) — processor/network fees
• Consumables per withdrawal (C) — paper and small parts allowance
• Average withdrawal size (A) — useful for cash planning but not part of surcharge math
• Reload interval (R) — days between cash loads, drives required cash float

Keep these as variables you can change. Neighborhood, nearby competitors, and hours open affect T; pricing experiments affect S; your contract sets P; your processor schedule sets F; your ops set C and R.

Simple Formulas (Fill With Your Numbers)

• Gross surcharge revenue (per month) = T × S
• Venue payout (your share as the business owner) = (T × S) × P
• Operator gross after venue payout = (T × S) × (1 − P)
• Estimated costs retained by operator = T × (F + C)
• Operator net (before cash float cost) = (T × S) × (1 − P) − T × (F + C)

This analysis focuses on what the venue receives ((T × S) × P) and what the operator retains before float.

Pick Your Own Inputs

Use the ranges people commonly test in Las Vegas/Henderson. Replace with your actuals:

• Transactions (T): 150–500+ per month depending on venue type and visibility
• Surcharge (S): $3.50–$4.50
• Venue share (P): 0.25–0.50 depending on agreement model
• Fees (F): $0.25–$0.55 per withdrawal (processor/network schedules vary)
• Consumables (C): $0.03–$0.08 per withdrawal allowance

Realistic Scenarios

Here are three examples showing the math. Change the numbers to match your case:

What Affects Transaction Volume (T)

These neutral factors tend to change transaction counts over four-week periods:

• Visibility: Can customers see the ATM from the entrance and main path?
• Competition: Distance to competitor ATMs and their surcharge prices
• Operating hours: Weekend peaks and special event calendar impact
• Signage: Small entrance "ATM available" plus internal directional arrow
• Queue space: Room for two people without blocking core business paths
• Uptime: Monitoring and timely reloads reduce missed withdrawals

Cash Float and Reload Planning

Float size is separate from earnings but matters for operations:

• Float estimate = Average daily withdrawals × A × R, plus buffer
• Example: 10 withdrawals/day × $180 × 4 days ≈ $7,200 plus buffer
• If R drops from 4 days to 2 days, required float roughly halves

Revenue Share Models

Percentage Share

Payout moves with transaction volume, simple to understand; less predictable month to month.

Flat Rent

Predictable for venue; upside capped; depends on seasonality and neighborhood patterns.

Hybrid Model

Base rent plus small percentage; splits predictability and upside potential.

Make Your Own Worksheet

1. Fill T, S, P, F, C for your specific venue
2. Compute venue payout and operator net using the formulas above
3. Track four weeks of actual transactions and compare to projections
4. Keep the version that matches your data and risk tolerance

Common Questions

Is there a single "typical" earnings number?

Venues differ widely in traffic, location, and operating hours. The worksheet approach above lets you plug in your own traffic and pricing to get realistic estimates.

Does a higher surcharge always make more money?

Not automatically. Higher surcharges can raise gross per transaction but may reduce transaction volume. The only way to know is to test small changes and compare four-week performance blocks.

How do I know if my venue is a good fit?

Look at foot traffic patterns, nearby ATM competition, and whether customers frequently ask about cash access. A simple four-week observation period can give you baseline transaction estimates.