Whether you’re on the hunt for a quick buck, or you just want to make your game even more enjoyable, learning how to cheat change machines is essential to your success. And, thanks to some of the latest innovations, there are now ways to bypass the coin slot in many of today’s top video game machines.
Carmichael’s “monkey paw”
During the 1980s, it was common practice to cheat at slot machines in the United States and the Caribbean. These techniques required good sleight of hand and practice to avoid suspicion. There was no video surveillance in casinos at the time, making it difficult to identify the cheaters.
A popular technique during this time period was the “Monkey Paw” cheat. It involved a foot long, flexible steel rod bent into the shape of a claw. The tool was inserted into the machine’s money chute. When pushed into the payout receptacle, the device caused the microswitch to trip. This triggered a large payout.
Another technique that was used during this time period was the “Coat Hanger” cheat. It was also used to interfere with the coin mechanism. This technique was very effective in the early nineties, but was countered by casinos.
Another cheating technique that was used during the early nineties was the “Light Wand”. This was a device invented by Tommy Glenn Carmichael. It worked in the same manner as the Monkey Paw, blinding slot machine optical sensors. It also blinded slot machines’ random number generators, preventing them from calculating payouts.
Another cheating technique that was used in the late 1980s and early 1990s was the “Top-Bottom Joint Cheat”. It was made up of a curved metal piece and guitar string. When inserted into the machine’s money chute, the top-bottom joint short-circuited the coin hopper of older machines. This triggered the payout chute switch, and deposited all the coins.
Other cheating devices included a “slider”, a guitar string, and a sprung steel wire. These were all effective against the newer technology. However, they were too easy to detect and were not effective against older machines.
Tommy Carmichael was one of the most prominent cheats of all time. He invented several cheating devices and was convicted of stealing millions of dollars from casinos. He was also convicted of running an illegal gambling enterprise. He served prison time, and was banned from all casinos in Nevada for sixteen years.
Carmichael died in 2019, at the age of 68. His methods have since been uncovered, and casinos have since made improvements to their slot machines to prevent coins from being pulled out.
