We must say right away that trying to trick a slot cabinet in a land-based casino today can result either in being banned from this casino house, or being sued. This post was written only for fun and entertainment.
However, purely out of interest, we decided to explore some tricks that were used in previous years, or are said to be sometimes used today, to trick a slot machine into paying.
So, check out 15 methods of how to trick a slot machine to win that we have found!
We must say right away that trying to trick a slot cabinet in a land-based casino today can result either in being banned from this casino house, or being sued.
However, purely out of interest, we decided to explore some tricks that were used in previous years, or are said to be sometimes used today, to trick a slot machine into paying.
So, check out 15 methods of how to trick a slot machine to win that we have found!
#1 Hack - EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) - Now Outdated
This is the first of our slot machine hacks and an extremely risky and potentially dangerous method where people attempt to deploy a powerful burst of electromagnetic energy to disrupt the electronic components of a slot cabinet.
The goal is to cause malfunctions or trigger unintended behavior, potentially leading to payouts or advantages for the cheater. However, EMP attacks are highly illegal, pose significant safety risks, and are extremely difficult to execute successfully due to the complex nature of modern slot cabinet designs.
#2 Hack - Metalized Currency (Very Easy to Detect)
In the past, people who were wondering how to cheat slot machines used this method a lot. Metalized currency method involves coating the coins with conductive material to deceive slot machines' optical sensors or detection mechanisms.
By making the money appear as a valid coin or bill, cheaters aim to trick the machine into accepting the modified currency as genuine, allowing them to play without spending real money.
However, it must be said that this method is illegal, easily detected, and can result in severe consequences, including criminal charges and getting banned from casinos.
#3 Hack - Collusion (Requires a Skillful Team)
Collusion involves multiple players collaborating in their research on how to cheat slot machines. These players might strategically occupy neighboring machines, coordinating actions to manipulate outcomes or distract casino personnel.
They could also pool their resources to increase the frequency of play or combine winnings unfairly. However, casinos are vigilant about detecting such behavior, and collusion is illegal in all jurisdictions even though players might not do anything that physically harms or alters the slot machine.
#4 Hack - Magnet (Outdated Method)
Back in the day, some crafty players looking for ways of cheating slot machines found a way to outsmart metal-based slot machines using magnets.
By skillfully timing the spin, they would apply a powerful magnet externally to halt the reels when a winning combo appeared. Once the magnet was removed, they'd claim their prize! However, modern-day slot machines are a different story.
With advanced computer software and non-magnetic materials, cheating this way is no longer possible.
#5 Hack - String On A Coin (Outdated Technique)
The next of our slot machine cheats is coin on the string method. In the previous years, an ingenious technique involved attaching a string to a coin and inserting it into the slot machine to trigger the game. Once activated, the crafty player would retrieve the coin using the string.
However, with the relentless advancement of technology, this method has become obsolete. Though a true classic, it's now a thing of the past.
#6 Hack - Cheat Code (Very Complicated)
Gaming authorities are entrusted with ensuring a fair and honest gaming industry. Engineers play a crucial role in designing gaming machines with both gameplay quality and auditing capabilities. However, there are instances where an engineer's skills are misused for personal gain like an effort to hack slot machine.
Take the infamous case of Ronald Dale Harris, an engineer associated with The Nevada Gaming Commission, who manipulated slot machines by exploiting their source codes. His exploits went undetected until his partner scored a massive $100,000 win in a casino's keno game back in 1995, leading to the uncovering of the elaborate scam.
#7 Hack - Bill Validator Device
Discover the nifty bill validator device - a simple yet ingenious slot machine hack. Crafty players use this clever gadget to wrap around a regular $1 bill, deceiving the slot machine into thinking it's accepting a high-value $100 bill instead. This sneaky method allowed players to wager less while appearing to bet more.
#8 Hack - Computer Chip Replacement (Extremely Complicated)
Meet Dennis Nikrasch, the mastermind who revolutionized slot machine tricks cheats. He acquired a slot machine and meticulously explored its weaknesses in his garage. Nikrasch discovered that the computer chips within the machines could be re-programmed to trigger jackpots at will.
With an army of accomplices, a stockpile of manipulated chips, and a collection of slot machine keys, he orchestrated a relentless and lucrative scam that left casinos reeling for years. His audacious scheme involved merely swapping the original chips with his crafty creations.
#9 Hack - Software Glitch (Can Happen On Its Own Tho)
For decades, cunning players manipulated software glitches to cheat slot machine by employing specific betting patterns to confuse the machines and trigger unexpected jackpots.
This clever maneuver benefited numerous cheats over the years. However, it's essential to note that some legitimate jackpot winners have faced disappointment as well due to this phenomenon. One prominent instance involved 90-year-old grandmother Pauline McKee from Illinois, who won a staggering $41 million on a Miss Kitty slot machine in 2015.
Despite her efforts to sue the casino, historical precedents resulted in the rejection of her final appeal several years later.
#10 Hack - Shaved Coins
Though no longer prevalent today, it's fascinating to learn about the shaved coin scam. As technology progressed, slot machines incorporated light sensors to detect payments. Interestingly, in many machines, the optic sensor functioned independently from the physical comparator.
This peculiar setup allowed cunning scammers to exploit the system. By sending a shaved coin simultaneously with an object matching the shape and size of the required stake coin, the shaved coin would be rejected while the other object triggered the game.
#11 Hack - Fake Coins
Throughout history, fake coins were a crafty method employed by the notorious con artist, Louis "The Coin" Colavecchio, to swindle casinos for years until his arrest in 1998. Despite his release in 2006, he wasted no time resuming his cheating ways. However, it came as no surprise when he was caught again within a matter of months.
#12 Hack - Light Wand (Historical)
In the realm of gambling history, Tommy Glenn Carmichael stands as one of the most notorious slot cheats. His brilliant invention, the "light wand," worked like magic, conjuring jackpot wins seemingly out of thin air.
By cleverly blinding the slot machine's optical sensor, the light wand prevented the machine from accurately counting deposited coins, creating the perfect opportunity for Carmichael to manipulate it in his favor. Small wins transformed into colossal payouts.
#13 Hack - Monkey Paw (Historical)
Carmichael, a brilliant mind when it came to cheating, is renowned for inventing the infamous "monkey paw" - a device that changed the game of slot machine scams. After multiple experiments with a video poker machine, he crafted the perfect contraption, astonishingly simple yet highly effective.
Using a guitar string and a bent metal rod, he deftly inserted it into the machine's air vent, skillfully triggering the coin hopper's switch. The result? A cascade of coins, defying the odds and leaving casinos bewildered.
#14 Hack - Piano Wire (Outdated)
In a throwback to 1982, an audacious group of men orchestrated a daring slots scam at Caesars Boardwalk Regency casino in Atlantic City. One member ingeniously attached 20-inch long piano wires to the inner workings of the targeted slot machine. These wires allowed them to disrupt the wheel rotation clock, effectively manipulating the spins.
Their efforts paid off with a staggering $50,000 jackpot win. However, their luck ran out as their entire operation had been caught on film, leading to the arrest of the winning player before he could even leave the premises.
#15 Hack - Top-Bottom Joint (Historical)
During the 1970s and 1980s, crafty scammers employed the ingenious "Top-Bottom Joint" technique to cheat at slots. This cunning method involved a special tool split into two parts – a top with a metal rod bent in the shape of a "q" and a bottom with a long wire.
By inserting the bottom through the coin chute and the top through the coin slot, the cheats could cleverly jam the machine, compelling it to release all the stored coins.
Online slots became Steven's career passion, and today, his expertise encompasses all aspects of slots and other casino games for CasinosHunter. Steven ensures accurate reviews and recommendations for players. His dedication shapes comprehensive game explanations and guidelines.
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