What Does a Magnet Do to a Slot Machine?

Emma crossick casinotopsonline
Emma Crossick
Senior Author
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Everybody wants to know the secret of how they can trick a slot game into paying out. Several tricks and tips are making the rounds on the internet. People have tried almost everything to try and trick slot machines. 

The most common trick is using a magnet. We carried out some research to find out whether this trick is actually effective.

Slot Machine Mechanics

Slot machines were primarily mechanical. All slot machines used to be entirely made of metal, and the first machines used to have mechanical handles on the side. Players used to pull these handles in order for the reels of the machine to spin. 

With advancements made in technology, slot machines became electromechanical. Motors replaced handles, and players could spin the reels by pressing a button on the machine. These motors do have metal components, which makes them also magnetic. 

Many high-technology and modern slots can be found everywhere these days. Today, slot machines don’t have any mechanical components that spin the reels. Slot machines have been upgraded to have CPUs (central processing units) or microchips. 

CPUs and microchips are programmed with software that randomly generates results and determines when the slot machine will pay out. In addition, the components of each slot machine, including the movement of the reels, the mechanics of the game, visuals, and the sounds produced by the machine, are controlled by the machine’s software. 

Do Magnets Work on Slot Machines 

Many professional cheaters invented different ways that they thought would trick slot machines. The magnet was the most popular and preferred tool, and the story goes that they obtained their magnets from Russia. These magnets were small and powerful and could easily be sneaked in and out of land-based casino venues. 

Players would use these magnets to cheat slot machines in three ways. They would place the magnet at the machine’s side or the front of the reels. Placing the magnet at the side of the machines where the coins should be inserted would confuse the currency validator within the machine. Cheaters would then be able to accumulate more coins to play. 

The other method was to place the magnet in front of the reels. Theoretically, the magnet would slow down the reels to create winning combinations. Using the third method, a scammer would play the slot machine as usual until they obtained a winning combination. 

They would then place the magnet in front of the reels and give them another spin. However, with the magnet in place, the reels wouldn’t spin at all, confusing the slot machine into thinking that another combination has landed and then paying out. 

Although these methods had no proof of being very successful, slot machine designers quickly changed their designs by making reels out of plastic. They also started placing sensors in front of slot machines. This instantly stopped many scammers from using magnets to manipulate slot machines. 

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that magnets don’t have any effect on modern-day slot machines. In fact, using magnets to trick vintage slot machines was never really successful despite numerous attempts by cheaters. The best advice from our experts at Casinotopsonline is to give up on trying to find ways to cheat slot machines. It’s best to remember that playing slot machines should be a fun experience.

Emma Crossick

Emma Crossick

Contributor & European Market Expert

34 Articles
Focused on boosting the online gaming experience for players from all around Europe. Emma's articles bring solid wisdom and tips, she gives her honest opinions and accurate information to improve player safety and their online casino experience. 
Expert On:
European Online Casinos
Gambling Market for EU Players
Responsible Gambling
EU Gaming Strategies

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