Beat fruit machines

[vzjunction]

Was playing some poker and stayed in a nice hotel my friend runs. Some customers, 4 irish guys, were saying their goodbyes. Big smiles on their faces as they headed off for their cab.
She says that they come to the mainland once every fortnight, and go round pubs, and make upwards of 5K over the weekend. They pool some of the profits and buy a new machine when it comes out, and basically play it/pull it apart in their living room, until they find some kind of flaw/pattern that they can then exploit. Didn't seem that they had any reason to BS her.
Is this actually possible with these machines?

[bobAlike]

I have no idea but it would not surprise me in the slightest.

[Tal]

If it is a computer program, it's beatable. If someone can get into the CIA website, I expect the Bullseye game in the Dog and Duck could be hiding a black spot or two.

[craigbetts]

If it is a computer program, it's beatable. If someone can get into the CIA website, I expect the Bullseye game in the Dog and Duck could be hiding a black spot or two.

You are not cracking the crystal maze! Gold is cold.

[Tal]

If it is a computer program, it's beatable. If someone can get into the CIA website, I expect the Bullseye game in the Dog and Duck could be hiding a black spot or two.

You are not cracking the crystal maze! Gold is cold.

Gold is cold?

[craigbetts]

If it is a computer program, it's beatable. If someone can get into the CIA website, I expect the Bullseye game in the Dog and Duck could be hiding a black spot or two.

You are not cracking the crystal maze! Gold is cold.

Gold is cold?

Always 155 gold and 230 silver despite accruing more time than fergie time!

[Tal]

If it is a computer program, it's beatable. If someone can get into the CIA website, I expect the Bullseye game in the Dog and Duck could be hiding a black spot or two.

You are not cracking the crystal maze! Gold is cold.

Gold is cold?

Always 155 gold and 230 silver despite accruing more time than fergie time!

Is this a fruit machine or just the game itself on telly? Blooming loved that show.

[craigbetts]

If it is a computer program, it's beatable. If someone can get into the CIA website, I expect the Bullseye game in the Dog and Duck could be hiding a black spot or two.

You are not cracking the crystal maze! Gold is cold.

Gold is cold?

Always 155 gold and 230 silver despite accruing more time than fergie time!

Is this a fruit machine or just the game itself on telly? Blooming loved that show.

More a quiz machine with games of mental, physical, skill and mystery whilst travelling around the zones.. this was the end game.

[Tal]

Brilliant.

No Cluedo, tho.

[craigbetts]

this chap thinks so...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2231919/Man-makes-60-000-year-playing-pub-quiz-machines-funded-university-fees-wedding-it.html

[vzjunction]

I'm thinking there may have been more than one Crystal Maze game, I played it a lot in the 90's and did quite well, the gold:silver ratio went up the longer it went without paying, and there was no 'start the fans' message or rotating wireframe background.
If you found a loaded machine you would just take 50 quid out of it over an hour.

[El Sid]

Some fruit machines (mainly older machines) may well be beatable, but because of the time involved, those who play fruit machines for a living do not achieve much, most of the protagonists that I have come across sleep on other peoples floors and would earn more working for McDonalds. Also "fruit machine operator" does not look that good on a CV.

Betting shop roulette machines are definitely unbeatable - the average of two grand a week profit from each machine proves that conclusively. - Anybody who has a problem with these machines should read my book - available on Kindle - How To Stop Gambling Now -

[LonOhRay]

Used to be hoards of people doing it and using the P+O ferries for actual fruit machines, not quiz machines. I think I read somewhere Luke Schwartz started off pro gambling via fruit machines at school.

Not sure it's as common now but still have a few friends who have it as a secondary income going round pubs/clubs on friday/saturdays for 100-200 a night.

Pretty surreal watching them play losing £x on purpose changing stakes and guaranteeing a jackpot off a £1 on another stake.


Was at Hunstanton once when I was ~10 (tiptoes to put coins in) watched a Cafe worker in the arcade play one machine, 10p spins win £20 worth of £5 jackpots in 5 minutes and get told to get off the machine by a collegue, ran back to the car to get some money off Mum and took 65 out of it until it was clean empty, got the last £10 from the guy working the whole place and ran back with them all bundled in my t-shirt. Great memory, perhaps not the best introduction to gambling though. Can remember the machine now, generic board but with a big thumb in the centre wheel that activated feature.

[LonOhRay]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=216311261857728

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[Cf]

Well, there's a reason I don't play poker much anymore...