Choosing the right gaming stool mechanism affects more than player comfort. It also influences the appearance of your gaming floor, staff workload, and the purchase price of the stools.
If you’re specifying seating for a gaming venue, understanding the difference between swivel-only and swivel-return mechanisms will help you choose the right solution for your environment.
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1. Swivel-Only Mechanism
The Swivel-Only option will allow the gaming stool to rotate freely about its axis through a full 3600. Whether you prefer stools that are a fixed-height or ones with gas height adjustment*, the swivel-only mechanism is the most popular and cost effective choice. How to improve the comfort of your gaming stools.
For most gaming venues, a swivel-only mechanism provides everything players need while keeping seating costs under control.
2. Swivel-Return Mechanism
The Swivel-Return mechanism has a ‘spring-back’ feature that will return the seat to a neutral position once the player gets off the stool. For fixed-height stools, the swivel-return mechanism limits the rotation of the seat to 1800.
Casino chairs fitted with a gas height adjustment swivel-return mechanism*, will rotate through a full 3600. In addition to returning to a neutral position when the player gets off the stool, the gas lifter will also extend to its maximum height.
Gaming floor neatness
Gaming areas are usually tidy with the stools neatly facing the machines when they are not in use.
Do Swivel-Return Mechanisms Keep Gaming Floors Neat?
Yes, but only in the right circumstances.
Most casino chairs are free-standing, i.e. they are not attached to the gaming machine. Patrons often move the stools to suit their playing style, play multiple machines, or play with a friend. When they vacate the stool, it is normally left in its ‘last used’ position. This can, and often does, result in an untidy gaming floor. A staff member will then re-position and straighten the stools so that they are once again facing the machines.
a. Stools with a Swivel-Only Mechanism
If the stools are fitted with a standard swivel-only mechanism, repositioning the stools in front of the machine is easy.
The staff member simply pushes the stool to the correct position in front of the machine and then rotates the seat to face the playing console.
b. Stools with a Swivel-Return Mechanism
If the stools are fitted with a swivel-return mechanism, repositioning them is a little more difficult.
The staff member will not only have to push the stool to the correct position in front of the machine, but they will also have to counteract the spring-back action of the mechanism. If the ‘neutral’ position of the mechanism is not facing the console, the staff member may have to lift up the stool in order to position it correctly.
Swivel-Returns are best suited for chairs that are fixed or attached to the gaming machine and cannot be moved by the patrons.
When Should You Choose a Swivel-Return Mechanism?
A swivel-return mechanism is most effective when the stool cannot be moved by patrons. Typical applications include:
– Gaming stools fixed to the floor
– Seating attached directly to gaming machines
– Installations where every stool remains in a fixed position.
In these environments, the mechanism helps maintain a consistently neat gaming floor with minimal staff intervention.
For most casinos, clubs, pubs and hotels using free-standing gaming stools, a swivel-only mechanism is the practical choice. It offers excellent durability, unrestricted movement and comes at a lower cost.
Need Help Choosing?
The right mechanism depends on how your gaming floor operates, not simply on the stool itself. If you’re specifying seating for a new venue or replacing existing gaming stools, choosing the correct swivel mechanism can improve player comfort, reduce costs and ensure your investment performs as expected for years to come.
Our casino chair ranges can be fitted with the mechanism of your choice. The Case for Height Adjustable Gaming Stools.
* Gas height adjustment is not available on 4-legged stools.