Someone hands you a plastic card at the arcade counter and says it is loaded. Then the whole group starts asking the same questions: who holds it, what does each game cost, and what happens to the points?
This guide answers those questions about the Lucky Strike arcade card in plain language, using the official Arcade Card Terms & Conditions as the source. You will find how to load a card, how a group can share one, and how prizes work. The arcade is one of the best parts of a night at Lucky Strike, and a little prep makes the whole group's time on the games easier.
How a Lucky Strike arcade card works at the games
The arcade card is a stored-value card with a magnetic strip, an embedded chip, or both. You swipe it in the card reader attached to a game, and the credit price to play appears on or near the reader. Each reader tells you whether the card has enough funds, so nobody has to guess at the machine.
The card tracks two things: game credits and redemption points. Game credits are what you load and spend to play. Redemption points are digital ticket points that certain games award, and they are stored on the same card. Credits work on selected games and attractions, and some games or locations may have restrictions, so check the price at the reader before you play.
The details below follow the Arcade Card Terms & Conditions, which are the final word on how the card works.
Loading your card: counters, kiosks, and bonus credits
You can buy or reload a card at any available counter or kiosk station inside a participating Lucky Strike center. Kiosks have set amounts, and if you want a specific amount that the kiosk does not offer, an employee at the counter can help.
Credits come in two types. Regular credits are the ones you buy. Bonus credits are added to your card when you buy certain amounts, as listed at the counter or kiosk, and both types can be used on selected games. You cannot choose which type gets used first, so just play and let the card do the work.
Game credits never expire and have no maintenance fee, and they can be used at participating Lucky Strike Entertainment centers in the United States and Canada. Sales tax is included in your purchase, purchases are non-refundable, and the card does not send statements, so ask a team member if you want help with your balance.
Sharing one card across a group, and what to know
A group has two easy options. Pass one card around the table, or have each person load their own. One card keeps the spending in one place, while separate cards keep points and prizes separate, which matters if every kid wants their own prize at the end.
Here are the rules to know before you hand the card over. Credits cannot be moved from one card to another, so decide how to split before you load. Selling or transferring a card in exchange for payment voids the card and its balance. Cards that are lost, damaged, or stolen are not replaced, so treat the card like cash and keep it with someone responsible.
For a party, make one person the card captain, who holds the card and keeps an eye on the balance. Kids Parties offer optional add-ons like extra game time, which can simplify the arcade for a group. If a game malfunctions mid-play, find a team member right away. The team will try to repair it, or give you credits to play a comparable game.
Redeeming prizes: points, the prize counter, and limits
Many games reward redemption points, which are stored right on your card. When you are ready for a prize, take the card to the prize counter, where the points are deducted for the item you pick. If you do not have enough points for the prize you want, nothing is lost. Unredeemed points stay on your card for next time, and points never expire.
You can check your points balance with an employee or at a kiosk. Points can be used at participating Lucky Strike Entertainment centers in the United States and Canada, as long as the prize is available. Points and prizes have no cash value and cannot be refunded or exchanged.
There are a few limits. You can redeem only one item valued at 25,000 points or more per day, across all participating centers, and Lucky Strike may limit redemptions to four transactions in a calendar month. Redemptions are subject to review of gameplay activity. Some games also dispense collectible character cards, and collecting all the unique ones lets you exchange them for points at the counter or a kiosk.
Load up, check the specials, and plan your arcade night
The arcade works best as part of a night, with bowling, food and drinks, and a few rounds on the games between frames. Load a card, set a plan for who is playing what, and keep the points for the end, when the prize counter has everyone's attention.
Check the current specials before you go, since some centers run half-price arcade play on certain days, which generally applies to non-redemption games only. Use the Lucky Strike location finder to find your nearest center, and browse Lucky Strike experiences for more ways to play. The lights are bright, the games are waiting, and the prize counter is waiting for the best score of the night.
Feel Lucky.