Eleven more sleeps! That was the message on 11 May 2021 as the countdown to Onetec Day reached its final stretch. The date in the diary was 22 May. Onetec’s Casino Lounge had been given a makeover, and this update was all about the build-up to seeing the place again. Earlier in the series, we had looked back at the venue’s days as Midas Amusements. Now the focus had moved from the old change booth and original layout to the next chapter for Onetec. If you were following along at the time, you’ll remember the excitement around getting back to real arcades after the closures. The appeal was being back in the venue, seeing familiar faces and finding out what the refit looked like in person. This was a short countdown update, so it belongs alongside the rest of the Onetec story. The earlier article, “The Road to Onetec Day — Part 1”, covers where that transformation started. The countdown refers to May 2021. Anyone planning a visit now should use the current venue information rather than these old event dates. Were you there for Onetec Day? Let us know what you remember in the comments.

With two days left until the birthday bash, there was plenty on the machine list to get people talking. Onetec's celebration was due to take place on 18 September 2021 in Eston. The final reminder listed Electrocoin favourites including Magic 7 and several Bar-X games. There were T7 terminals as well, with different jackpot versions mentioned in the announcement. The classic line-up included Andy Capp, Road Hog, Adders & Ladders, Big Breakfast, Doctor Who, The Simpsons, Roller Coaster and Psycho Cash Beast. If you grew up around those machines, you probably already know which one you would have wanted to see first. Food was part of the day's plans: an all-day buffet, then pizza and chips in the evening. The programme also advertised games, giveaways and match-play promotions. This was a birthday gathering with a mixture of familiar cabinets and newer terminals, and a chance for viewers and regulars to meet in person. The machines listed here reflect what was advertised in September 2021. The event and its offers have ended, and the list isn't a promise of what is on the floor today.

Rainbow Riches Party took the spotlight in this instalment of the Onetec countdown. The community game was the latest preview of what viewers would see inside the Casino Lounge. The original post captured the relief around the May 2021 reopening period. After months of closures, readers were looking forward to returning to their usual venues, with masks and sanitiser still part of the routine. At Onetec, attention was on 22 May and the Hairy Slotters' planned live tour. Matt and his team had been working on the lounge, and these smaller updates let people see individual parts of the refit before the full visit. Rainbow Riches Party was described as a Hairy Slotters favourite. Its appearance gave this post a different focus from the later Magic 7 and Bar 7 preview and the final look at the T7 terminals. Did you follow the previews as they appeared, or first see the room during the livestream? The build-up was a big part of the occasion for people watching from home. This post belongs to the May 2021 countdown. The reopening arrangements and offers mentioned in the original announcement are historical.

Another date went into the diary in June 2021: Onetec's birthday bash was planned for 18 September. Matt and the team announced food, drinks, free-play promotions and more details to come over the following months. The Hairy Slotters were also planning to attend and show viewers around on the Reel-verse Slots YouTube channel. It was part of a busy summer of planned visits. The same announcement looked ahead to the Caesars Palace Summer Spectacular in Weston on 21 August, with a barbecue and a hotel-room competition connected to that event. For viewers, the appeal was having two occasions to follow and a chance to see familiar faces away from the usual video uploads. People who couldn't make the journey were due to get a look through the live tours. The Onetec birthday date was 18 September 2021. Later updates covered the day's activities and the machines visitors could expect to see. This June 2021 announcement is kept as an archive. The events, giveaways and promotions mentioned here are over.

Things were starting to look a bit brighter for the Onetec crowd in April 2021. The date everyone was talking about was 22 May: Onetec Day. This update was part of the build-up to the Casino Lounge, with the venue’s makeover giving regulars something to look forward to while the arcades were closed. The title caught that feeling well. After months of disruption, there was finally a date to talk about and a reason to start thinking about the next visit. The earlier instalment in the series had gone back to Midas Amusements and the space that became Onetec. This post moved the story towards the reopening plans. It was news about a real venue and its community. That is what makes these older updates worth keeping. They capture the anticipation around a place people knew, rather than treating an arcade as nothing more than a row of machines. If you followed the refit at the time, what were you most looking forward to seeing? And if you knew the old Midas arcade, how different did the new lounge feel? Originally published on 1 April 2021. The 22 May date belongs to that year’s event and should not be read as a new announcement.

Looking for a different way to round off a London day out? Wicked tickets are now among the booking options listed on Spin Raiders. You can make the theatre visit your main event, then use our London guide to find arcade and attraction ideas that fit around it. Affiliate disclosure: Spin Raiders may earn a commission if you book through the partner link in this article. What you are booking Wicked is playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, 17 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1LG. London Box Office lists a running time of approximately two hours and 45 minutes, including an interval. You select a performance and seats when booking; this is a theatre-ticket option, not a package including travel, accommodation or arcade admission. Check Wicked dates and seats with our booking partner Compare the complete booking Start with the dates you can actually travel, then compare the available seats and final checkout total. A headline starting price does not mean every performance or seat is available at that price. Read any restricted-view information and the booking conditions before paying. This guide does not promise a fixed discount: live prices and availability can change. If you are booking for several people, agree the budget and seating preferences first. Check that the seats you choose are together where that matters to your group, and make sure everyone has the correct performance date in their diary. Leave room for the rest of London Choose your performance before adding other activities. For an evening show, keep the afternoon flexible and allow time for food and the journey to the theatre. For a matinee, avoid booking an activity immediately afterwards: the show, leaving the building and travelling onward all need space in the plan. Our London destination page brings together venue listings and trip-planning ideas. Use it to shortlist an arcade or attraction, then check the individual venue's current opening hours, age rules and booking requirements. London is a large city; two places appearing in the same destination guide does not mean they are within a short walk of each other. Explore the Spin Raiders London guide Before travelling with children The ticket provider recommends ages seven and over and says children under five are not admitted. Under-16s must sit beside an accompanying adult aged 18 or over. The production includes loud sounds and flashing or strobe lighting; review the current show information if anyone in your group may be sensitive to these effects. Keep family arcade plans separate from adults-only gaming venues. For access requirements, contact the theatre or booking provider before choosing seats rather than assuming all areas offer the same access. Check once more before you book Confirm the performance time, ticket conditions and travel arrangements on the live booking pages. Details in this guide were checked on 24 September 2026. The artwork shown is the official show poster supplied through the existing Spin Raiders partner listing. Wicked information from London Box Office

Blackpool's next World Fireworks Championship display is this Saturday, 26 September 2026. If you are combining the fireworks with an arcade visit, the useful decision now is the order of your evening: games and food first, then enough time to reach your chosen viewing spot without rushing. Saturday's programme VisitBlackpool lists South Africa's Fireworks for Africa for 26 September, with build-up from 7.15pm and firing scheduled for 7.45pm. The free event takes place on the beach in front of Blackpool Tower, at Tower Festival Headland. Check the official programme again before travelling. Keep your route simple Start with the stop that matters most to your group, then work towards the viewing area. If a particular arcade is the main reason for your trip, give it a proper slot earlier in the day. That leaves you free to enjoy the fireworks without watching the clock or trying to squeeze in another venue on the way. Treat the end of the display as part of the plan too. Crowds leaving together can make even a short journey take longer. Build some flexibility into train, tram, bus or taxi connections, and check current service information instead of assuming your usual seafront route will operate unchanged. Plan your arcade stops before you travel Use the Spin Raiders Blackpool guide to pick your stops and check the venue details before setting off. Choose a manageable route around the part of the seafront you intend to visit rather than trying to cover the whole town in one evening. Opening hours, admission rules and the availability of particular machines can change, so confirm anything essential directly with the venue. Explore Blackpool venues on Spin Raiders Make the evening work for your group For a family outing, choose suitable amusement areas and keep any adults-only gaming areas separate from the plan. Agree a spending limit for arcade games before arriving. If your group wants a meal as well, leave a generous gap before the display rather than relying on a last-minute table close to the seafront. Pack for a coastal evening: an extra layer and comfortable shoes make a difference when you are standing outside. Agree a meeting place in case your group gets separated, and keep your return journey details handy. Anyone with access requirements should check the viewing arrangements with the organiser before travelling. Check the official update before leaving Outdoor events can change because of weather or operational conditions. Check the organiser's latest information on the day, including any changes to timings and transport arrangements. The photograph accompanying this guide shows Blackpool at dusk; it is not an image of the forthcoming display. Official World Fireworks Championship programme

Blackpool is a different trip once the lights come on. If you want time in the arcades as well as an evening along the promenade, it helps to plan the two parts of the day separately. The 2026 Illuminations run from 4 September 2026 to 3 January 2027. Admission to see the display is free. The full route runs between Starr Gate and Red Bank Road, so walking the entire length is a much bigger undertaking than taking in the central promenade. Coral Island is one option for the daytime part of a central Blackpool visit. Alongside its arcade games, it has the Pirate Flyer, an indoor monorail that travels above the venue. You can make this a short stop between other attractions rather than assuming every person in your group wants a whole day in an arcade. Choose your evening route before setting off. Decide which stretch of lights you want to see and how you will get back to your accommodation or transport. Switch-on and switch-off times change through the season; use the official timetable for your actual date. An Illuminations timetable does not tell you when an individual arcade closes. Check each venue separately, especially if there is a particular machine or attraction you are travelling to see. Arcade line-ups can change, and a photograph from an earlier visit is no guarantee that a cabinet is still there. Leave some space in the plan for food, a rest and the weather. A shorter stretch of promenade that everyone enjoys is a better evening than trying to rush the whole route. Official Blackpool Illuminations 2026 dates Check the Illuminations switching times Coral Island’s Pirate Flyer

The Gambling Commission’s October 2025 announcement set out changes to online account-limit tools. These included prompts before a first deposit and clearer access to financial limits. A later part of the programme was originally due on 30 June 2026. The Commission subsequently extended that implementation date to 30 September 2026, as recorded in its updated consultation response. The revised definition concerns gross deposits: money paid into the account, without subtracting withdrawals. The linked regulator guidance gives the updated requirements. This is an online account-control change, not a new stake setting for physical arcade machines. Updated Commission timetable and requirements

A family-friendly arcade needs to work for the whole group. A good choice of games helps, but so do clear prices, room to move around and somewhere nearby to take a break. Think about the people coming with you. Younger children may enjoy a simple pusher or a ride, while older children may prefer a game they can play together. Someone who does not want to play still needs a comfortable way to enjoy the visit. Check practical details before a long journey: toilets, step-free access, parking and whether there is space for a pushchair or mobility aid. Ask the venue directly about a particular access requirement. Agree a spending amount before starting. It is easier to enjoy a game when everyone knows how many attempts are in the budget. A prize should be a possible extra, rather than something the day depends on. Read signs around any adult-only areas and follow staff guidance. If the noise or lights become too much, step outside or choose a quieter stop. The best family visit is one where everyone gets something they enjoy. That might mean fewer games and more time for an ice cream afterwards.

Fairground Frights is the Halloween event listed for Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach in October 2026. If you found this page under its earlier ‘Halloween Havoc’ title, the event name has been corrected to match the official visitor listing. The published dates are 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 October, with sessions listed from 5.30pm to 9pm. There is no session listed for Monday 26 October. The event brings scare actors, mazes and rides together on the Pleasure Beach site. The visitor listing recommends it for ages 10 and above, so consider whether the scare element suits your group. For the 29 October visit mentioned in the original headline, check that date when booking rather than selecting an ordinary park ticket. Confirm availability, prices and any access requirements with the organiser. The official listing below is the place to check for changes before travelling. Fairground Frights dates and event information

The machine-removal requirement announced by the Gambling Commission took effect on 29 July 2026. It requires licensees to stop offering a machine when the Commission has notified them that it does not comply with applicable requirements. That is not an instruction to clear every old fruit machine from an arcade. A cabinet’s age alone does not explain whether this particular requirement applies. For enthusiasts, the practical point is to be careful about conclusions. A machine disappearing from a floor does not, on its own, establish that a regulator ordered its removal. It may have moved, been sold or gone for repair. If an operator gives a confirmed explanation, that can be reported with its date and source. Without one, a photograph of an empty space is simply evidence that the machine was not there when the photograph was taken. The Commission’s announcement explains the requirement and its purpose in more detail. Gambling Commission: new gaming-machine rules