Part III: Slot Machine Cheating · Physical Cheating Methods

SCAM #7: Backing Up the Chute

How it works

An old cheating technique attempted primarily on slant-top (bar-top) slot machines. As the machine paid out coins, the cheat would attempt to push coins slightly back up into the coin payout chute. If successful, this would close the gap between the coins and the machine’s internal mechanism, causing the machine to drop two or three coins but count only one. Repeated attempts could extract extra coins from the machine.

Where it appears

Slant-top mechanical slot machines with open coin payout chutes.

On the record

Documented in George Joseph’s slot cheating training materials. This technique required deft hand coordination and was limited to specific machine designs with accessible payout chutes.

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.