Part III: Slot Machine Cheating · Physical Cheating Methods

SCAM #13: The Kickstand

How it works

A sophisticated wire device inserted into the machine from the hopper area or coin chute rather than the coin slot. The kickstand was used to hold internal levers open, tricking the machine into activating multiple credits at once. The wire was bent in a specific shape depending on the target machine type – there were approximately 50 different variations for different machine models. Instead of getting 10 credits, the cheat could get 100. Because some machines had a time-out feature, the cheat couldn’t simply hold the lever open indefinitely; they had to work within the timing limitations.

Where it appears

Coin-operated slot machines with internal mechanical credit levers accessible through the hopper or coin chute.

On the record

The kickstand was one of the devices most commonly confiscated by Nevada Gaming Control Board agents. James Taylor noted that the device was particularly difficult to detect because there were so many variations, each customized for a specific machine type. Kickstands, monkey paws, and yo-yos were among the devices Taylor donated to the Mob Museum in Las Vegas.

Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction — the method is described so it can be recognised.