Monkey Paw Slot Machine
Canada has the world’s first — and possibly only — randomizing antique book vending machine. For only $2 the Biblio-Mat will spit out an “old and unusual” book at random. It resides at The Monkey.
- Slot machine technology had advanced during his spell in prison and therefore he had to change his methods. Carmichael bought one of the new machines and set about designing a new device that he could use to cheat. He came up with something that has since been called the monkey paw, or slider.
- One of his primary inventions is a monkey’s paw or slider. By using this wire, he inserted the tool into sweepstakes machine’s payout chute and changed the system. He tripped the microswitch of the slot machine, which made it hit the jackpot. He was using monkey’s paw during the times when sweepstakes slot machines were not so complex.
- The monkey’s paw was one of the early devices used by slot cheats. Since then other devices that can tamper with a slot machine’s coin comparator have also been invented and used. Such devices, when inserted into the machine, could generate fake signals so that credit would be registered without any coins being inserted.
Tommy Glenn Carmichael was born in the mid-1950s during a time when technology was starting to advance more rapidly. Even as a child, knowing how and why a piece of technology works the way it does interested Tommy, which is probably why he decided to open a television merchandise and repair shop in the 1980s.
His shop was located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and it was called, “Ace TV Sales and Service.” Tommy’s business was an instant success, as it was the first of its kind in Tulsa, but as more and more stores like it started to open up, Tommy soon was losing too much revenue to stay afloat.
His business was breeching a shutdown around the same time that his third divorce was being processed. In addition to that, Tommy was still doing community service for his earlier convictions of drug possession. His life was falling apart right before his eyes but he was determined to turn things around.
Tommy’s friend from High School, Ray Ming, showed up to save the day.
He was certainly right! In the trunk was a miniature slot machine and a classic cheaters tool: a top-bottom joint.
Carmichael took the machine apart and started to learn the mechanics of the slot machine, so that he could truly understand how to use the top-bottom joint to his advantage. After many hours of practice, Tommy was finally ready to try out his new methods on a casino in Las Vegas.
Since it was his first time, Tommy decided to use this strategy on one of the nickel machines, somehow managing to win thirty-five dollars in just a matter of minutes. He then moved on to other machines in various casinos across Las Vegas, winning nearly ten thousand dollars in one weekend.
Of course gambling is not a good habbit but cheating is the worst! But in history, many people have figured out a good couple of ways how to cheat slots. Below you will find 10 of them. Be aware, none of these methods will work online gaming sites like Slots Heaven!
10 – Cheat Code
Ronald Dale Harris was a talented software engineer who was working for the Nevada Gaming Commission. His job was to programming computer chips for slot machines. Since he was the programmer, he did left a cheat code like a signature of him. The code was activated by a specific combination of coins something like ‘’5 coins, wait, 2 coin, wait, 6 coins, etc.’’ and the machine would automatically pay out. Brilliant!
09 – Light Wand
Golden Nugget
Back in the day, when slot machines started using the optical sensor technology, Tommy Glenn Carmichael invented a light wand that could blind these small, magical sensors. It was something like battery-powered mini light attached to a wire.
08 – Fake Coins
As simple as counterfeiting. Using advanced machinery, cheaters pressed counterfeit slot machine coins out of hardened metal dies.
07 – Software Glitch
Las Vegas
Sometimes the cheat comes with the slot machine built in. The most known slot machine with its glitch was ‘’The Game King’’. To exploit the glitch, the gambler would put more money into the machine after the “double up” prompt and then switch back to the original game they were playing for $1.00. Then player would then up their stakes to the highest allotted amount and cash out.
06 –Top-bottom Joint
The top-bottom joint was a trick created by Tommy Carmichael and Ray Ming. The duo created a slider, which was made of a guitar wire and a piece of spring steel. They would snake the payout chute using the top-bottom joint until tripping the switch. Once the switch was tripped, the slot machine would empty out its payload.
05 – Computer Chip Replacement
Computer Chips
Dennis Nikrasch bought a computerized slot machine and played with it in his garage till he found a method to manipulate the computer chip inside to give him a jackpot whenever he wanted. For this purpose, he ordered the standard chips from a real manufacturer. Then he team up to obtain keys on the black market that opened slot machines. After that he would be able to open the machine to replace the chip under three minutes!
04 – Shaved Coins
As slot machine technology advanced, machine manufacturers changed optic verification sensors to prevent scams. Improved mechanisms use a beam of light to register payment as the coin dropped in. Ironically, this innovation was used against itself to perform a cheat. Shaved coins are registered by the machine but once it gets to its comparitor new mechanism which is the piece of equipment that measures the size and weight of the coin, it will be immediately kicked out because of the coins minute size discrepancy. Of course then you can use it again…
03 – Piano Wire
Piano wires
Cheating The Slot Machines
This method dates back to 1982. At the Caesars Boardwalk Regency in Atlantic City, a group of cheaters surrounded a slot machine. Each of them had a job. One of the cheaters dubbed the mechanic, pried open the front and inserted 20-inch piano wires into the slot machine’s whirring guts. The group used the piano wires to jam the clock that timed each wheel’s rotation. With the help of this method, he was able to manipulate and spin the wheels till he wins.02 – Monkey Paw
The monkey’s paw was one of the early devices used by slot cheats. The mechanism was essentially a guitar or piano string attached to a bent metal rod. Cheater would jam it into the machine through an air vent and fish around for the switch that released the coin hopper.
Monkey's Paw Slot Machine
01 – YO-YO
Chips