Introduction: How to Cheat Slot Machines
Mar 13, 2020 Out of all the slot machine hacks and cheats, this most definitely would not work today. The Counterfeit Coin Trick. Before scanning technology became widespread, slot machines used to accept bets based on the weight of the coin. The question of how to hack slot machines had a real answer: Use fake coins which were the same weight as real ones. Slot machine tips that really work! Effective slots strategy means giving yourself the advantage. That leads us to tip number 1. 1 – Avail yourself of no deposit bonus codes. Before you look into ways to trick the slot machine, try tricking the casino. My third trick is this: If a slot machine is showing a win, BET ONCE. However, avoid that machine if it's been played recently. For this to work, if it is going to work, a slot machine showing a win needs to be idle for a while, and probably hasn't been idle if its chair is still pulled out.
Our personal favorite is the old 'coin on a string' routine. It's so amateurish and at the same time kinda quaint. But there has been any number of methods, from the high tech to the darn-right silly. Some of these include using cheat codes, magnets, your portable phone, cheating with different coins, homemade cheating devices and both software and hardware malfunction cheats. It goes without saying that all of these are illegal. Gaming authorities take cheating very seriously and courts dish out long sentences for those caught.
Cheat Codes for Slot Machines
You'll be needing to understand exactly how slot machines work in order to try and use any cheat codes. The problem with this method is that even if you had access to the cheat codes or codes used for testing during maintenance, you might have a problem actually using them. This is simply because every single interaction, whether from a player or from an engineer, is reordered.
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In conclusion, cheat codes are mostly gossips on the internet according to the online jackpot sites.
Fooled with a Magnet
This was an old trick that actually worked and was commonplace in the 1960s. You could use a strong magnet and cause the reels to spin freely, thus avoiding them from stopping where they were meant to. Once the reel symbols lined up, then a winning combo was triggered, allowing the player/cheater to cash out. Today's slot machines are not only protected from outside influences like magnetism but because they all run on software, using a random number generator, it would no longer function.
How to Cheat Slot Machines with a Cell Phone?
Because almost every land-based casino is happy to let you video yourself playing, some believe that they can use this to their advantage. The general idea is to film yourself playing, making sure the slots machine is in the shot. Then you analyze the footage and try and work out the algorithm used to program the game. Keep going until you have worked out the jackpot-winning combinations. But don't try this method to win the jackpot online, since these online platforms are well-protected from any hacker attacks.
Cheat Slot Machines with Coins
Years ago, when casino slot machines were more primitive with their security, scammer devised any number of hacks using various methods but all focusing around the actual coins themselves. These included using fake coins and other cheats. We've made a list here.
Shaved Coins
During the advancement of slot machine technology, there was a period when these machines used both a light sensor and a physical comparator. Now, normally when you popped in a coin, as it fell, the optic sensor would register the coin. But this sensor was not connected to the comparator into which the coin fell. So, you could use a shaved coin and couple it with a plastic token of the exact same size. The shaved coin would be returned as not fit for purpose and the token would remain in the machine, thus starting a new game.
Fake Coins
Years ago, casino slot machines used a system whereby the coins were weighed as they were inserted. This way the casino could be sure that the coinage was legit. But of course, there were still some players who wanted to game the system. They used fake coins of the same weight and were made of similar metals. Gradually the security technology grew to be more sophisticated and the age of playing with fake coins went the way of the dinosaur. Today, many casinos have slot machines that only accept casino tokens.
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This is another technique for cheating the slot machines and was also known as the 'yo-yo cheat'. That's simply because it used the same principle as the child's toy. So a coin, with a piece of string glued on, is placed in the slot machine until it activates a game. Once the mechanism has been tricked, then with a hefty tug, the coin is returned to its owner. Rinse and repeat. Of course, there's no way that such a simple and effective technique could function with today's machines.
Cheating Devices for Slot Machines
As well as trying to cheat slot machines with coins, there are some players who have devised various cheating devices. Here are some of the more well-known efforts:
Bill Validator Device
This actually worked well for a period. The Bill Validator device worked by having a $1 note fed into the slot machine, but the machine's own note validator would see this bill as a $100. Very useful indeed.
Light Wand
Again, this was a trick that worked well, but only for a limited period, after which the casino's tightened their security efforts. The light wand would blind the optical sensor on the slot machine. This would, in turn, prevent the machine from being able to determine the number of coins being deposited in the machine itself. The slot would actually 'lose track' on when to make a payout. Did someone say 'jackpot!'.
Monkey Paw Device
The Monkey Paw was a simple device which was a bent metal rod that was attached to a guitar string. The general idea was that you pushed the rod into the machine via the air vent. Then a bit of twisting and pushing and pulling until you managed to hit the trigger switch for the coin hopper. Almost embarrassingly simple.
Software and Hardware Cheats
As we've moved into the age of computers and software, so have the cheaters. Whether examining the source codes or actually ordering a slots machine to reverse hack it, whatever the casinos introduce to strengthen their security, the cheaters are never far behind. These are some of the better-known efforts with regard to both software and hardware hacks.
Finding a Slot Software Glitch
It has happened that due to a software glitch, certain slot machines have been unable to payout. So some smart players use this knowledge to manipulate the system. Because there are certain patterns of stakes that can be used to 'confuse' these glitchy machines, players are able to activate said glitch and be rewarded with a payout. Over the years, many players 'in the know' were able to take advantage of this and cheat slot machines out of millions of dollars. It was very difficult for the casinos to be aware of just what was going down.
Computer Chip Replacement
Dennis Nikrasch is probably the most famous slot machine cheater. He bought himself a slot machine and took it apart in his garage. He focused on the computer chip and was able to successfully reprogram them. Nikrasch then sent out a team of technicians who were able to replace the casino's slot machine chips with his own home-made ones. Over the cause of 20 years, he was able to 'win' over $15 million.
Short Circuit
You'd imagine that it would be impossible to cheat slot machines today. But you'd be wrong. A recent case was that of a couple of guys who worked at a casino. One of them was the maintenance engineer. He accidentally discovered that by causing a short circuit in the slot machine's internal circuit, the machines would payout on command. His downfall was getting his 'best' friend involved. After buying fancy cars and property, the two fell out over money with one then going to the police. This trick could have gone unnoticed for years.
Cheat Slot Machines with Piano Wire
Another more primitive effort took place in the late '80s. A group of guys managed to jam the mechanical clock inside slots machines that were used to measure the rotation of the wheels, using a length of piano wire. Once in place, they could manipulate the machines at will. Though they did hit the jackpot, their whole scam was actually recorded and the winning player was swiftly arrested.
Top-Bottom Joint
While we're still in the realm of basic techniques to cheat slot machines, then the 'top-bottom' scam is one of the best. This consisted of a tool, made up of two parts. On the top, there was a metal rod and on the bottom, a piece of a long wire. The idea was to feed the long wire into the coin chute, whilst simultaneously using the metal rod to go through the coin slot. You could then jam the machine causing it to payout all the coins inside.
Click here to visit our guides to win the jackpot, where you can find legal tips as well
Most slots players have dreamed about using slot machine hacks and cheats to bring down the house. I'll walk you through some of the most successful slot machine cheats, as well as some outdated techniques that will fail every time.
Some of these video slot machine hacks and cheats used to work, but they don't any longer. Before I begin, let me start with a disclaimer. Hacking slot machines is against the law in most countries. I do not advise it, and LegitGamblingSites.com does not endorse it.
Let's see how slot machines work and whether you can cheat slots today.
Casino Slot Machine Hacks
There are some slot machine hacks that worked on old-school slots. I don't recommend trying these today. They won't work on modern slot machines which have evolved to deal with them. If you try these and get caught, you'll likely get banned from the casino for life. Nonetheless, they did work once upon a time, and if you happen to find a classic slot machine in a bar, you might be able to try some of these.
The Yo-Yo Slot Hack
I have a confession to make before I tell you about this slot hack. I have used this successfully, but not on slot machines. I pulled it off once or twice on the vending machines in my high school and scored a free bottle of Coca Cola or two.
The idea is to tie a thin string around a coin and deposit it. When a deposit is registered, you yank the string and pull it out. If you know anything about modern slot machines, you probably just laughed out loud. Out of all the slot machine hacks and cheats, this most definitely would not work today.
The Counterfeit Coin Trick
Before scanning technology became widespread, slot machines used to accept bets based on the weight of the coin. The question of how to hack slot machines had a real answer: Use fake coins which were the same weight as real ones. They used similar metals or hard material, and they got away with it for a long time.
Again, technology has caught up and rendered this slot machine cheat impotent. Ask any experienced player, and they'll tell you that it's difficult enough to get a slot to accept some real coins, never mind counterfeit ones!
Tampering With Payout Switches
Throughout gaming history, slot machine hacks and cheats have brought on some hilarious inventions. A number of them involve guitar strings and metal wires. At one point, players would attach hooks and metal claws to the end of metal wire or strings and feed it through the cooling system of the slot machine. They'd rattle around for a while, and eventually, they'd hit the payout switch.
This hack would never work on an electronic slot machine. To understand why, you should read our report on Random Number Generators (RNG). There are no physical switches which activate payouts in modern slot machines. The only thing tampering with slot machines will get you these days is a place on the sidewalk when the casino security team catches you.
Slot Machine Cheat Codes
As slot machines evolved past basic mechanical parts and made use of technology like RNGs and electronic sensors, computer programmers became a key part of keeping them honest.
Slot Machine Magnet Trick 3
What happens when the computer programmer who's supposed to do his job lets temptation get the better of him? Just ask Ronald Dale Harris. He was in charge of finding and fixing software flaws. He was a high-level programmer and worked for the Nevada Gaming Control Board in the 1990s. One day, for whatever reason, he decided to modify some slots so it would pay out when he entered a certain sequence of coins.
Harris got away with this for a long time, but his accomplice got busted when they tried the same thing on keno. Harris was locked up for seven years, but he got out in two for good behavior. I doubt he has ever tried to hack casino slot machines again, especially since all Vegas casinos have banned him.
A Mobile Slot Machine Hack Which Really Worked
Cheat Slot Machines with Coins
Years ago, when casino slot machines were more primitive with their security, scammer devised any number of hacks using various methods but all focusing around the actual coins themselves. These included using fake coins and other cheats. We've made a list here.
Shaved Coins
During the advancement of slot machine technology, there was a period when these machines used both a light sensor and a physical comparator. Now, normally when you popped in a coin, as it fell, the optic sensor would register the coin. But this sensor was not connected to the comparator into which the coin fell. So, you could use a shaved coin and couple it with a plastic token of the exact same size. The shaved coin would be returned as not fit for purpose and the token would remain in the machine, thus starting a new game.
Fake Coins
Years ago, casino slot machines used a system whereby the coins were weighed as they were inserted. This way the casino could be sure that the coinage was legit. But of course, there were still some players who wanted to game the system. They used fake coins of the same weight and were made of similar metals. Gradually the security technology grew to be more sophisticated and the age of playing with fake coins went the way of the dinosaur. Today, many casinos have slot machines that only accept casino tokens.
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This is another technique for cheating the slot machines and was also known as the 'yo-yo cheat'. That's simply because it used the same principle as the child's toy. So a coin, with a piece of string glued on, is placed in the slot machine until it activates a game. Once the mechanism has been tricked, then with a hefty tug, the coin is returned to its owner. Rinse and repeat. Of course, there's no way that such a simple and effective technique could function with today's machines.
Cheating Devices for Slot Machines
As well as trying to cheat slot machines with coins, there are some players who have devised various cheating devices. Here are some of the more well-known efforts:
Bill Validator Device
This actually worked well for a period. The Bill Validator device worked by having a $1 note fed into the slot machine, but the machine's own note validator would see this bill as a $100. Very useful indeed.
Light Wand
Again, this was a trick that worked well, but only for a limited period, after which the casino's tightened their security efforts. The light wand would blind the optical sensor on the slot machine. This would, in turn, prevent the machine from being able to determine the number of coins being deposited in the machine itself. The slot would actually 'lose track' on when to make a payout. Did someone say 'jackpot!'.
Monkey Paw Device
The Monkey Paw was a simple device which was a bent metal rod that was attached to a guitar string. The general idea was that you pushed the rod into the machine via the air vent. Then a bit of twisting and pushing and pulling until you managed to hit the trigger switch for the coin hopper. Almost embarrassingly simple.
Software and Hardware Cheats
As we've moved into the age of computers and software, so have the cheaters. Whether examining the source codes or actually ordering a slots machine to reverse hack it, whatever the casinos introduce to strengthen their security, the cheaters are never far behind. These are some of the better-known efforts with regard to both software and hardware hacks.
Finding a Slot Software Glitch
It has happened that due to a software glitch, certain slot machines have been unable to payout. So some smart players use this knowledge to manipulate the system. Because there are certain patterns of stakes that can be used to 'confuse' these glitchy machines, players are able to activate said glitch and be rewarded with a payout. Over the years, many players 'in the know' were able to take advantage of this and cheat slot machines out of millions of dollars. It was very difficult for the casinos to be aware of just what was going down.
Computer Chip Replacement
Dennis Nikrasch is probably the most famous slot machine cheater. He bought himself a slot machine and took it apart in his garage. He focused on the computer chip and was able to successfully reprogram them. Nikrasch then sent out a team of technicians who were able to replace the casino's slot machine chips with his own home-made ones. Over the cause of 20 years, he was able to 'win' over $15 million.
Short Circuit
You'd imagine that it would be impossible to cheat slot machines today. But you'd be wrong. A recent case was that of a couple of guys who worked at a casino. One of them was the maintenance engineer. He accidentally discovered that by causing a short circuit in the slot machine's internal circuit, the machines would payout on command. His downfall was getting his 'best' friend involved. After buying fancy cars and property, the two fell out over money with one then going to the police. This trick could have gone unnoticed for years.
Cheat Slot Machines with Piano Wire
Another more primitive effort took place in the late '80s. A group of guys managed to jam the mechanical clock inside slots machines that were used to measure the rotation of the wheels, using a length of piano wire. Once in place, they could manipulate the machines at will. Though they did hit the jackpot, their whole scam was actually recorded and the winning player was swiftly arrested.
Top-Bottom Joint
While we're still in the realm of basic techniques to cheat slot machines, then the 'top-bottom' scam is one of the best. This consisted of a tool, made up of two parts. On the top, there was a metal rod and on the bottom, a piece of a long wire. The idea was to feed the long wire into the coin chute, whilst simultaneously using the metal rod to go through the coin slot. You could then jam the machine causing it to payout all the coins inside.
Click here to visit our guides to win the jackpot, where you can find legal tips as well
Most slots players have dreamed about using slot machine hacks and cheats to bring down the house. I'll walk you through some of the most successful slot machine cheats, as well as some outdated techniques that will fail every time.
Some of these video slot machine hacks and cheats used to work, but they don't any longer. Before I begin, let me start with a disclaimer. Hacking slot machines is against the law in most countries. I do not advise it, and LegitGamblingSites.com does not endorse it.
Let's see how slot machines work and whether you can cheat slots today.
Casino Slot Machine Hacks
There are some slot machine hacks that worked on old-school slots. I don't recommend trying these today. They won't work on modern slot machines which have evolved to deal with them. If you try these and get caught, you'll likely get banned from the casino for life. Nonetheless, they did work once upon a time, and if you happen to find a classic slot machine in a bar, you might be able to try some of these.
The Yo-Yo Slot Hack
I have a confession to make before I tell you about this slot hack. I have used this successfully, but not on slot machines. I pulled it off once or twice on the vending machines in my high school and scored a free bottle of Coca Cola or two.
The idea is to tie a thin string around a coin and deposit it. When a deposit is registered, you yank the string and pull it out. If you know anything about modern slot machines, you probably just laughed out loud. Out of all the slot machine hacks and cheats, this most definitely would not work today.
The Counterfeit Coin Trick
Before scanning technology became widespread, slot machines used to accept bets based on the weight of the coin. The question of how to hack slot machines had a real answer: Use fake coins which were the same weight as real ones. They used similar metals or hard material, and they got away with it for a long time.
Again, technology has caught up and rendered this slot machine cheat impotent. Ask any experienced player, and they'll tell you that it's difficult enough to get a slot to accept some real coins, never mind counterfeit ones!
Tampering With Payout Switches
Throughout gaming history, slot machine hacks and cheats have brought on some hilarious inventions. A number of them involve guitar strings and metal wires. At one point, players would attach hooks and metal claws to the end of metal wire or strings and feed it through the cooling system of the slot machine. They'd rattle around for a while, and eventually, they'd hit the payout switch.
This hack would never work on an electronic slot machine. To understand why, you should read our report on Random Number Generators (RNG). There are no physical switches which activate payouts in modern slot machines. The only thing tampering with slot machines will get you these days is a place on the sidewalk when the casino security team catches you.
Slot Machine Cheat Codes
As slot machines evolved past basic mechanical parts and made use of technology like RNGs and electronic sensors, computer programmers became a key part of keeping them honest.
Slot Machine Magnet Trick 3
What happens when the computer programmer who's supposed to do his job lets temptation get the better of him? Just ask Ronald Dale Harris. He was in charge of finding and fixing software flaws. He was a high-level programmer and worked for the Nevada Gaming Control Board in the 1990s. One day, for whatever reason, he decided to modify some slots so it would pay out when he entered a certain sequence of coins.
Harris got away with this for a long time, but his accomplice got busted when they tried the same thing on keno. Harris was locked up for seven years, but he got out in two for good behavior. I doubt he has ever tried to hack casino slot machines again, especially since all Vegas casinos have banned him.
A Mobile Slot Machine Hack Which Really Worked
What happens when you take cash-rich American casinos, Russian mobsters, high-tech equipment, and a team of jet-setting slot players and put them together? No, this isn't the plot of a bad B movie, this slot machine hack really happened. In fact, it may still be happening today.
In the summer of 2014, a casino in St. Louis noticed some of its machines had paid out much more than they should have according to their payback averages. After watching the security footage of the casino, they found the same man winning again and again, and they knew he was a slot machine hacker right away. They just had to figure out how he was doing it. They noticed three things:
- He was holding his iPhone close to the screen when playing
- He was winning on Aristocrat slots
- And he was 'jabbing' the spin button suddenly after long pauses
It soon became apparent that lots of other casinos had been the victims of slot machine hacking, and the same man was involved in most of the slot machine hacks and cheats. Authorities tracked down Murat Bilev and discovered he was part of a Russian team which had successfully hacked slots from the United States to Macau, bilking the casinos for millions.
After arresting him on a return trip to the US, Bilev spilled the beans. He was part of a Russian slot machine hacking team which figured out the exact timing of how the PRNGs work in Aristocrat slots. His phone was equipped was a slot machine hacking app which told him exactly when to press the spin button, hence the sudden hand movements after long pauses.
Bilev was sentenced to two years in prison and deported from the USA. However, authorities worry that the scam has evolved and there are still teams out there using slot machine hacks and cheats today.
Are slot machine hacking apps available online? Yes, but if you get caught using them, you'll end up in the slammer like Murat Bilev. I'd strongly advise against it.
What If You Do Discover a Slot Machine Hack?
If you do figure out how to hack casino slot machines, you'll face a moral and legal choice: to steal or not to steal.
I'd advise you not to. You see, there's an alternative option, and it could be just as lucrative. Contact the casino slot machine company, tell them you've found a bug, and make a contract for a reward if you show them and are proven correct.
Some slots companies will dismiss you as a quack, but believe it or not, lots of them will give you an audience, especially if they suspect there's a bug in their slot machine software.
Heck, you could even get a job as a consultant. After all, you've figured out a slot machine flaw that their coders didn't recognize.
Can You Really Hack Slot Machines?
If you read the full article on slot machine hacks and cheats above, then you'll know the answer is yes. But it takes some serious skills and connections. Both of the successful slot machine hackers mentioned here ended up in prison. And you have to ask yourself, is it really worth it?
I personally don't think so. For me, slot machines are about the thrill of potentially winning a life-changing jackpot. I don't even particularly want to win by cheating. I'd worry about being found out and having to look over my shoulder for the rest of my days.
Slot Machine Magnet Tricks
Instead, I advise you to relax, have fun, learn all you can about how slots work, and forget slot machine hacks and cheats. If there's such a thing as karma, you might even get rewarded for deciding not to try slot machine hacks!