Slot machines are the most profitable games in casinos, benefiting both the establishments and, unfortunately, professional cheaters. Despite modern slot machines having advanced security systems to prevent tampering, some savvy cheaters still manage to manipulate them for significant payouts.
In this article, we’ll reveal 10 ways people have cheated slot machines. Some of these methods are still effective, while others are just fascinating relics of the past.
1. Cheating Online Slot Source Codes
Nowadays, much of gambling takes place online, where players engage with video slots using random number generator (RNG) software to produce outcomes. These online slots are developed by casino software providers, not the casinos themselves. Some of the well-known providers in the U.S. include IGT, Real Time Gaming, Playtech, and Microgaming.
When you play an online slot, you’re interacting with a game hosted on the casino’s website but created by a specialized software company. These companies ensure the games are fair and adhere to strict standards for randomness and fairness.
2. Cheating a Slot Machine with Shaved Coins
Although this method is outdated, it’s an interesting part of gambling history. In the 1980s, slot machines used light sensors or lasers to register coin insertions, working separately from the physical coin comparators.
Cheaters would insert shaved coins along with objects matching the coins’ size and shape. The slot machine would reject the shaved coins but accept the other objects as valid, allowing the cheater to play for free. While this trick no longer works with modern machines, it showcases the creativity of past cheaters.
3. Using Fake Coins to Cheat Slot Machines
Over time, cheaters have not only used shaved coins but also outright fake coins to trick slot machines. Although most land-based casinos today have digitalized systems using player cards, some still use coins. If you manage to create coins of the exact size and weight, you might think you can cheat a slot machine, though this is highly unlikely.
One of the most infamous cheaters who used fake coins was Louis “The Coin” Colavecchio. He scammed numerous Las Vegas casinos out of hundreds of thousands of dollars before his arrest in 1998. After his release in 2006, he resumed his coin-based scams and was re-arrested within a few months.
4. Cheating Slot Machines with Magnets
It’s important to note that cheating slot machines with magnets is impossible with modern machines. All contemporary slot machines, whether video slots or traditional one-armed bandits, are controlled by computer software.
In the past, cheaters would wait for a winning combination on the reels and then use a strong magnet to stop the reels immediately, causing the machine to pay out. This method no longer works with today’s technology.
5. The Yo-Yo Technique to Cheat Slot Machines
Previously in this guide, we mentioned the laser sensors that slot machines used to have for registering coin insertion. Cheaters would attach a string to a coin and “yo-yo” the coin into the machine, tricking the sensor into registering a coin insertion, allowing them to play for free.
As with using magnets or fake coins, this technique is no longer viable since most slot machines have been fully digitalized.
6. Cheating Slot Machines with a Light Wand
One of the legendary Las Vegas slot machine cheats involves the infamous light wand, crafted by Tommy Glenn Carmichael. This ingenious device blinded the optical sensor of a slot machine, preventing it from accurately determining when or how much to pay out.
Carmichael amassed a fortune using this device, as it transformed ordinary small wins into colossal jackpot payouts. He even replicated and sold the device to other scammers around Las Vegas for up to $1,500 each, despite costing him only about $30 to produce.
7. Cheating Slot Machines with a Piano Wire
Dating back to 1982, a group of scammers employed a classic trick—piano wire—to cheat slot machines. They used over 20-inch long piano wires to access the inner workings of the machines and manipulate their reel rotations.
These wires were inserted to jam the internal clock, allowing the group to control the outcome of spins. Their scheme ran smoothly until their greed led to their downfall, attempting to cash out a $50,000 jackpot.
8. Cheating Slot Machines with a Top-Bottom Joint
In the 1970s and 1980s, the top-bottom joint tool gained notoriety among casino scammers as an effective slot machine cheating method. Consisting of two parts—a metal rod with a bent end resembling the letter “q” and a long copper wire—the tool manipulated the machine’s light sensor and coin slot.
By inserting the copper wire into the coin chute and the metal rod into the coin slot, the scammers tricked the machine into releasing all its stored coins, resulting in hefty payouts.
9. Cheating Slot Machines with a Monkey Paw
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably already looked up “Carmichael casino cheater.” If not, it’s worth a search—this guy was a master at outsmarting slot machines. Alongside the light wand, he also invented the “Monkey Paw.” This contraption featured a guitar string attached to a bent metal rod.
To use the Monkey Paw, it was inserted into a slot machine’s air vent to trigger the coin hopper switch. When successfully activated by Carmichael or one of his customers who purchased the device, all coins inside the machine would spill out.
10. Cheating Slot Machines with a Bill Validator Device
Attention, casino cheaters: bill validator devices are still around and can be used to cheat digitalized slot machines that accept dollar bills and lack a player card system!
The bill validator is a clever device that wraps around a $1 bill, tricking the slot machine into believing you’re inserting a $100 bill. However, be cautious of surveillance cameras when attempting to cheat a casino with this device.
FAQ
Can I still cheat slot machines today?
Yes, while it’s still possible to cheat both land-based and online slot machines, the practice has become significantly more difficult. However, it’s essential to understand that cheating is illegal and carries severe consequences.
How can I ensure a casino or slot machine doesn’t cheat me?
To ensure fair play, only engage with regulated online casinos holding valid gaming licenses issued by reputable authorities like the Nevada Gaming Control Board or Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Avoid unregulated or offshore (crypto) casinos to protect yourself from potential fraud.
How can I cheat a slot machine with my phone?
Cheating a slot machine with a phone typically involves using a PRNG (Pseudorandom Number Generator) cracker app. This app sends alpha-numeric keys to complex algorithms at intervals, predicting certain outcomes. However, it’s important to note that cheating is illegal and unethical.
What are some methods to cheat online slot machines?
Cheating online slot machines may involve tactics like bonus grinding or exploiting the hit rates and return to player percentage at licensed online casinos. Nevertheless, engaging in such actions violates the terms of service of reputable casinos and may result in legal repercussions.
Why do people think slot machines are rigged?
Slot machines are not rigged, but they are designed with a built-in house edge, known as the Return to Player Ratio (RTP). This ensures that casinos profit over time while still providing entertainment. Any perception of rigging likely stems from misunderstanding how slot machines operate.
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