How Leisure Venues Are Turning Shooting Into a £20,000/Month Revenue Stream

If you run a leisure venue, you're constantly searching for ways to increase footfall, boost dwell time, and add new revenue streams — without massive capital expenditure.

For a growing number of entertainment centres, bowling alleys, and leisure complexes across the UK, the answer has arrived in an unexpected form: interactive digital shooting.

And the numbers are compelling. We're talking about a single attraction that can generate anywhere from £4,000 to £32,000 per month in recurring revenue — with minimal staffing requirements and a setup time measured in hours, not weeks.

The Shift in Leisure Entertainment

The leisure industry has been evolving rapidly. Traditional attractions — arcades, bowling, mini golf — still draw crowds, but venue owners are under increasing pressure to offer something memorable, shareable, and repeatable.

Competitive shooting ticks every box. It's adrenaline-fuelled. It's social. It works for hen nights, corporate events, birthday parties, and casual nights out alike. And critically, it drives repeat visits — because players want to beat their scores.

The problem, historically, has been the technology. Traditional target systems are clunky, require manual resetting, and offer no digital scoring or leaderboards. They feel dated in a world where everything else is connected.

Enter the Smart Target System

A new generation of digital target systems has changed the game entirely. These are mains-powered, Ethernet-connected target panels that register hits in real time, feed scores to a central display, and connect to cloud-based leaderboards — all automatically.

No manual resetting. No scorekeeping. No dedicated staff member standing by. The system runs itself.

Each lane typically consists of 10 targets mounted on a pre-assembled backboard. Installation takes under an hour per lane, and the whole system — including network setup and software — can be live within a single day.

• ✓Real-time hit detection — instant sensor feedback, no delays
• ✓Global leaderboards — players compete against others across the country
• ✓ShooterID integration — players scan in and track their progress over time
• ✓Customisable game modes — adjust scoring, timing, and difficulty
• ✓Scales from 2 to 16 lanes — start small, grow as demand increases

The Revenue Maths

This is where it gets interesting for venue owners. Let's look at the realistic revenue potential, based on a conservative estimate of £50 per lane, per hour and 40 operational hours per week.

These figures are based on typical venue performance and assume consistent utilisation. Actual results will vary depending on location, marketing, and how well the attraction is integrated into your venue's overall offering — but the potential is undeniable.

Compare that to the relatively modest upfront investment required, and you're looking at an attraction with a payback period measured in months, not years.

Who Is This Actually For?

Smart target systems aren't just for shooting ranges. The versatility is one of the biggest advantages. Here's who's already using them:

🎯 Leisure & Entertainment Venues

Bowling alleys, arcades, and entertainment complexes are adding shooting lanes as a premium attraction. It draws a different demographic, fills quieter periods, and gives customers a reason to stay longer — and come back.

🔫 Shooting & Airsoft Ranges

For established ranges, digital targets upgrade the entire experience. Real-time scoring, structured competitions, and leaderboards transform casual visits into competitive events — and keep players coming back to improve their times.

🏆 eSports & Competitive Events

The rise of shooting-based eSports has created a whole new market. Venues with smart target systems can host structured tournaments, regional qualifiers, and branded competitive events — all with professional-grade digital scoring.

🎪 Branded Installations & Pop-Ups

Brands are increasingly looking for experiential activations that cut through the noise. A fully branded shooting experience — with custom game modes, corporate scoring, and social sharing — is exactly the kind of high-energy activation that gets talked about.

What Does the Setup Actually Look Like?

One of the most common questions from venue owners is: "How disruptive is the installation?" The answer: barely at all.

The Bottom Line

The leisure industry is always looking for the next big thing. But the smartest venue owners aren't just chasing trends — they're looking for proven attractions that deliver measurable revenue with minimal operational burden.

Interactive digital shooting checks every box. It's quick to install, almost self-running, drives repeat visits, and can generate serious income — whether you start with 2 lanes or scale up to 16.

If you've got the space and the appetite for a new revenue stream, it might be time to take a closer look.