RFID-Based Cashless Payment System for Playland Machines Using ESP32 and Centralized Cloud Services

Abstract

Previously, the issues with cash and token payment systems in playland machines included inefficiency, security risks, and high maintenance costs. These systems can lead to lost revenue, a poor user experience, and make it difficult to check and balance operations in real time. They are not theftproof, have mechanical issues, are prone to human error, and do not work well when many machines are used together. Today’s amusement centers need payment solutions that are fast, contactless, transparent, and easy to manage from a single platform. These solutions should simplify customer experience and help operators track usage, revenue, and machine status in real time. To address this, the study presents an RFID-based cashless payment system using ESP32 microcontrollers in several playland machines, all connected to a central cloud system on Google Cloud. Each user receives an RFID card linked to an account balance in a central database. When a card is tapped, theESP32 checks the card, securely connects to the cloud using REST APIs, verifies the balance, deducts credits, and starts the machine. The research included building hardware prototypes, developing the cloud backend, designing APIs, and testing communication between multiple machines and the central system. The results show that transactions sync in real time, balances are managed accurately across machines, transaction times are shorter, and the system can scale easily. The main contribution is a practical, affordable, and scalable IoT-based system for cashless payments in playlands that enhances security, increases operational transparency, and supports future data-driven management and growth.