- Vegas Slot Machines For Sale
- Slot Machine Mod Gta V
- Modern Slot Machine Strategy
- Video Slot Machines For Sale
At the heart of all modern slot machines is a computer chip called the Random Number Generator (RNG). This device replaces the original spinning wheel found in gambling machines from the first half of the. Gambler's Oasis was founded on the principal of providing top quality casino slot machines and gaming devices to your home at the most reasonable price. Whether you want one slot machine or twenty slot machines.
Gambling is a billion dollar industry that attracts millions of people around the world. While games such as Texas Hold ‘Em poker receive more fanfare, by far the most profitable and available attraction in these casinos is the slot machine. While familiar in appearance, these devices are a mystery to the layperson. Dating back to the late 1800s and with a history rooted in the California Gold Rush, “slots” use the principles of probability and chance to beguile players and create a profit for owners. The design of slot machines has evolved from mobile mechanical parts to mostly electronic components over the course of the last century, but their charm and attraction remain strong. With the advent of computer servers and live streaming of data, slot machines are poised to intrigue and befuddle a new generation of gamblers hoping to hit the jackpot.
Introduction
The gambling industry brings in billions of dollars every year all over the world. Places such as Las Vegas and Monte Carlo have built their reputations on gambling establishments with hundreds of games ranging from poker to electronic horse racing and with all kinds of luxurious accoutrements from flashy shows to nightclubs. People travel from many different places, sometimes bringing a month’s worth of savings, so that they can participate in these games of chance and experience the casino atmosphere. More often than not, they leave having lost more money than they have won, but having enjoyed the experience nonetheless.
Since its introduction in 1893, the most popular form of gambling has been the slot machine. Slots are simple, giving rewards when the correct combination of symbols has surfaced. They rarely cost more than five dollars and require only the push of a button or the pull of a handle to play. Flashing lights, exciting sounds, and large grand prizes entice players who hope to strike it rich. Because they do not require skill or practice to play, these machines give everyone the chance to win. Immortalized in movies such as Casino and Ocean’s 11, slot machines continue to be the most profitable game in any casino. In Las Vegas alone, slot machines accounted for 67% of total casino profits in 2006 [1].
Various models of slot machines are in use today, but the most popular contains a combination of electronic and mechanical parts. Using the fundamentals of probability, slots are uniquely engineered to appear simple while disguising their true inner workings from the public. The slot machine combines engineering acumen, mathematical know-how, and psychological deceit in a single, attractive package.
History
In San Francisco in 1893, Gustav F.W. Schultze invented a small countertop gambling machine to capitalize on the strong gambling tendencies that resulted from the Gold Rush. This device accepted a nickel, which caused a colored disk to begin spinning. After the disk stopped, a connected star wheel determined the payout. A slide then cut the correct number of coins and dropped them into a payout cup. During the late 1890’s, Charles Fey perfected this machine by adding three wheels instead of one and changing their orientation so that they flashed symbols of playing cards through a window. Using more springs, cams and levers, Fey contrived a mechanism that allowed the reels to stop in succession, creating an atmosphere of suspense [2]. With over a thousand different possible combinations and a 75.6% payout of money played (meaning the owner kept 24.4%), Fey’s contraption known as the “Bell” became the standard archetype for slot machines and a popular attraction in saloons.
Herbert S. Mills further perpetuated the popularity of the Bell machines. By increasing the reliability and decreasing the cost of manufacturing slots, Mills was able to ship these machines throughout the new territories of the United States. He also pioneered the inclusion of a pack of gum with play in order to skirt the growing number of laws restricting the use of these gambling attractions. In essence, gamblers could only play once they performed the legal transaction of “buying” the gum. In 1906, Mills introduced his own slot machine with the now-classic bell and other symbols (Fig. 1) supplanting the original card signs on the slot reels [2]. Furthermore, he expanded the window opening from one to three lines to add another factor to entice people to play, as players could now see how close they were to winning.
Slot innovation continued in the twentieth century. During the 1920s, slots were revamped to accept quarters and even silver dollars. Sometimes skill elements were added, such as buttons that allowed the player to attempt to stop each specific reel at a moment of his or her choosing. Most importantly, the concept of the jackpot was incorporated. Windows showing a buildup of coins proved to be effective bait for many players.
In 1963, Bally Manufacturing Company introduced the first electronic slot machine. Electromechanical sensors replaced the mechanical slides and allowed for brand new features. All three lines in the slot window could offer payouts, as well as diagonal matchups, allowing for many more winning combinations [2]. Furthermore, multiplier machines could accept multiple coins for larger prizes. Soon, logic cards and integrated circuits replaced the switches and wires. In 1981, Michael S. Redd founded International Game Technology (IGT), a public company that pioneered a radical new invention in slots. Redd took all the recent electronic breakthroughs and coupled them with a computer that replaced the original wheel randomizer. This computer generated random numbers that instantly decided the payout and where each “reel” would stop. A motor simultaneously carried out these directions on the slot screen. These machines remain the basis for slots in today’s casinos.
The Modern Electronic Reel Slot Machine: A Piece by Piece Breakdown
Slot machines produced today are a far cry from their mechanical ancestors. Computer chips have replaced spinning wheels, and electronic credits have replaced coins. This fusion of new age electronics with old fashioned nostalgia creates a machine that, while simple in theory, beguiles players on a regular basis.
At the heart of all modern slot machines is a computer chip called the Random Number Generator (RNG). This device replaces the original spinning wheel found in gambling machines from the first half of the twentieth century. The RNG is capable of continuously generating thousands of random numbers and, in the case of the three-reel slot, thousands of three-number combinations every second [3]. Each of these three numbers in the combination serves to designate where the reels will stop.
To simplify the thousands of combinations into discrete slots on reels, each random number in the combination is divided by a set value (typically, slot machines use 32, 64, 128, 256, or 512 as that value). The computer records the remainder of this quotient, which by mathematical law cannot exceed the set value [4]. The remainder is mapped to a certain symbol that is physically distributed among the number of slots the reel contains. A virtual representation of this mapping using a set value of 128 and a reel with 22 slots may be seen in Fig. 2.
This is how the odds swing in favor of the casino. The quotient remainders are not all distributed equally among the actual slots on the reel. Blank spaces are weighed heavily, as seen in the Percent Chance of Choosing Symbol column, as are those that have a lower payout. Furthermore, each of the three reels is weighted differently. For instance, the first reel is most likely to hit the jackpot slot, while by the third reel the likelihood is minuscule. Along with a heavy weighting to blank spaces surrounding the jackpot, this creates a “near miss” effect and keeps the player in suspense [3].
The RNG is part of a larger Computer Processing Unit (CPU) that controls other various functions of the slot machine. The basic functions include the Start switch, Max Bet switch, token or credit sensor, and RAM to store the various hit combinations, reel stops and payouts. Depending on the style of machine the CPU also may control the hopper, which stores tokens or coins, or the credit account of the player [5].
For a machine with actual spinning reels, once the random numbers have been generated, the machine uses a stepper motor to turn each reel and stop it at the predetermined point [4]. A stepper motor is an electromechanical device that uses electrical pulses to drive a shaft or spindle in discrete increments. These incremental movements are related to the frequency and sequence of the electrical pulses, allowing for total movement control [6]. If the machine only has a screen, then a piece of software animates a virtual spinning reel.
Overall, the slot machine’s actions are controlled by a simple algorithm based on basic programming principles like IF switches and loops. The algorithm begins once the on switch is triggered (usually by the insertion of a token or credit). At this point, the start button or “lever” is pulled, which leads the RNG to choose the random numbers that will control the positions of the reels. The step motor simultaneously spins the reels until they arrive at the correct position. If the selected combination corresponds to a payout, many machines will trigger a program of flashing LED lights and sounds, and the payout will be awarded. Otherwise, the game ends, and the player must trigger the start switch once more by adding a new token or credit. In addition to this simplified loop shown in Fig. 3, some machines include special jackpots or other attractive motions and sounds in order to create a more satisfying experience for the gambler.
Slot-Machine Innovations
By today’s standards the technology employed in slot machines has not advanced very significantly. Fig. 4 shows some of these newer slot machines. The Random Number Generator central to the slot machine’s function has existed for decades. Even newer slots with more than three reels, multiple payout lines and interactive games are child’s play when compared with a current video game system. However, new innovations to the world of gambling games are cropping up and copying many existing prototypes of networked machines.
In recent years, slot machine designers have worked closely with video game architects in order to bring some of the visual appeal found in virtual gaming to the gambling arena. Video monitors, 3D graphics, and group competition are all making their way into slot construction [7]. Furthermore, slots have taken on a pop culture persona in order to keep up with a younger generation of gamblers. Games featuring “Lord of the Rings” and “Sex and the City” themes have already appeared at gaming expos. Designers have even added multi-level games to help bring gamblers back.
One of the most intriguing developments in slot technology involves connecting slots to servers, much as office computer networks are designed. This innovation would allow casinos to easily manage minimum bets, percentages paid, and the type of game available on a machine. Furthermore, these activities or factors could be adjusted based on the time of day, level of activity at each floor, or even the players’ personal information [8]. These networks will also allow different games to be recommended for different players as well as the streaming of live television to built-in screens.
The appeal of slots has always been the atmosphere of suspense it creates with its spinning reels coupled with the appeal of “easy” money. The average person can easily set the minimum bet and playing is as simple as pressing a button. Recently, slot machines have been overshadowed by other table games such as poker, which is extensively televised, and the live excitement of craps. Changing with the times and utilizing new technologies will allow popular gambling machines from the past to remain as attractions to new generations of gamblers.
References
- [1] “Nevada Reporting Huge Casino Profits.” Online Gambling Paper. n.d. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://www.ogpaper.com/news/news-0222.html>.
- [2] Jack Kelly. “Slots: Perfecting a machine to take away your money.” American Heritage of Invention and Technology-Online 16.2 (2000): 34. Web. 13 Jul. 2010.
- [3] Michael Bluejay. “How Slot Machines Work.” Top Ten Las Vegas Tips. n.d. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://vegasclick.com/games/slots/how-they-work.html>.
- [4] Tom Harris. “How Slot Machines Work.” HowStuffWorks. 26 Feb. 2002. Web. 15 Jul. 2010.<http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/slot-machine.htm>.
- [5] Haruo Inoue. 1997. Slot Machine. U.S. Patent 5,609,524, filed July 12. 1995, and issued March 11, 1997.
- [6] “Stepper Motors.” Omega Engineering Web. 16 July 2010. <http://www.omega.com/prodinfo/stepper_motors.html>.
- [7] Christopher Palmeri. “Face-lift for the One-Armed Bandit.” Business Week 21 Dec. 2009: 77. Web. 15 July 2010. <http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FACE-LIFT+FOR+THE+ONE-ARMED+BANDIT-a01612094149>.
- [8] Quentin Hardy. “Well-Armed Bandits – Forbes.com.” Forbes Business News. 19 May 2008. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://www.forbes.com/global/2008/0519/054.html>.
- [9] “Old Downtown Las Vegas History.” EarlyVegas. n.d. Web. 20 Jul. 2010. <http://www.earlyvegas.com/downtown.html>.
- [10] Rusman. “Playing in an Online Slot Machines for Players.” Games and Entertainment Reviews. 6 Aug. 20101. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. <http://www.komiks-dk.net/slot-machines/playing-in-an-online-slot-machines-for-players.html>.
Vegas Slot Machines For Sale
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
Slot Machine Mod Gta V
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.
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.
Modern Slot Machine Strategy
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.
Wouldn’t a nice consulting job be better than risking jail time?
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.
Video Slot Machines For Sale
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!