Cash balance: definition and use in a computer club
Cash balance — what it is and how it works in IZI
Section titled “Cash balance — what it is and how it works in IZI”Cash balance — real money in the player’s IZI account, deposited via the cashier, kiosk, or mobile app. Spent on gaming sessions, bar, and other club services.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”Cash balance is the player’s internal account. The mechanics resemble a prepaid wallet: the player deposits money to their account and then spends it on each visit instead of paying directly with cash or a card. From the club’s perspective this is a deferred obligation: the money is in the till but the service has not yet been rendered.
Key properties of cash balance:
- Equivalent to real money — 1 balance unit = 1 unit of the club’s currency
- Spent fully on any club service without percentage restrictions (unlike bonus balance)
- Not credited automatically — only through top-up or manual administrator adjustment
- Refundable per club policy (unlike bonus balance, which technically cannot be withdrawn)
Where it is used in IZI
Section titled “Where it is used in IZI”The player’s cash balance is visible in:
- Customer card — current balance, top-up and deduction history
- Cashier — when starting a session the system deducts the required amount from the cash balance automatically
- Top-up report — total cash balance top-ups for the period; this is one of the key metrics for calculating AOV using the accrual method
A cash balance top-up is the event that triggers the top-up bonus program: when a top-up exceeds the threshold, the player receives a bonus to a separate bonus balance.
How it differs from bonus balance
Section titled “How it differs from bonus balance”| Parameter | Cash balance | Bonus balance |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Real money | Virtual points |
| Source | Player top-up | Program credit |
| Spending | Any service, 100% | Partial, within tariff limit |
| Refund | Possible per club policy | Not provided |
| Expiration | Indefinite (by default) | Optional, configurable |
Effect on customer behavior
Section titled “Effect on customer behavior”A customer with a non-zero cash balance behaves differently from a customer without one:
- Higher switching barrier — switching to a competitor means losing the balance or having to “spend it down” first
- Faster decision-making — no payment friction on each visit; the money is already “there”
- Engagement with the bonus program — each top-up triggers the bonus mechanic, creating additional motivation to accumulate
For calculating LTV and ARPU, the sum of cash balance deductions (services actually rendered) is used, not the sum of top-ups (which may accumulate).
Related
Section titled “Related”- Bonus balance — virtual points, not money
- Top-up bonuses — program triggered by cash balance top-up
- ARPU — revenue metric based on actual deductions
- Shift — top-ups and deductions for a shift are visible in the report
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Frequently asked questions
What is cash balance in IZI?
Cash balance — real money in the player's IZI account. Topped up via cashier, kiosk, or the mobile app. Spent when paying for gaming sessions, bar services, and other club items.
How does cash balance differ from bonus balance?
Cash balance is real money: top up 500 units, spend exactly 500 units on services. Bonus balance is virtual points that cannot be withdrawn and can only be spent partially within the tariff limit.
Can money be refunded from the cash balance?
Depends on the club's refund policy configured in IZI. Refunds from cash balance are processed by the administrator through the club cashier in accordance with internal rules.
Why do clubs use a prepaid balance system?
Prepayment locks in revenue upfront: money in the till before the service is rendered. In addition, a player with a remaining balance is more likely to return to that specific club — switching to a competitor means losing the remainder.