22 replies to this topic

[shajder]

Hi guys,
just wanted to let you know about a couple of things a noticed in an arcade recently and wanted to get some thoughts from whoever wants to reply!

Basically I was in a couple of arcades in Southend and on many occasions, the fruities would pay out a 10p or 20p piece instead of £1 (mostly on the £5 jackpot machines).

Obviously when I raised this with the staff, that gave me the usual "Blah blah blah.........any wins over £3 must be witnessed....blah blah blah" and didn't pay up. Just wondering if anyone else has come across this? It only ever seemed to be on the first or second pound paying out, so I'm wondering if this is a dirty trick played by the arcades?!

They know that the majority of people won't ask for them to check a bank of £3 or more paying out because of the number of times the bank goes over that £3 mark is quite frequent. It becomes a pain in the a*se.

I don't think that they can control when it happens as it comes from the tubes, but I'm wondering if they slip a few rogue coins in the tubes to make an extra buck?!

On another point, I was playing a Bar X machine, which was £10 for the X's and £25 for the Bars. I nudged 2 Bars and it held. I then let it spin expecting £25, but it came in with 3 X's instead. Is this what the machine does sometimes, or is there a bit of trickery here as well?

Problem is, if you suspect something underhand going on, who can you complain to? It's not like you can go to Citizens Advice!!!!!

[CrAzYbAr]

Your first point is a good reason I take vids...fun and records any anomalies:)
Second point if it's Bar deluXe by Empire I think a let em spin does a random win

[Guitar]

Second point if it's Bar deluXe by Empire I think a let em spin does a random win

Bar-X machines can spin in either bars or X's from let em spins. On the flip side I have had x's hold and spin in the bars too.

[Guitar]

Also, if they have a sign about all wins over x must be witnessed, then get a witness. It only takes a few moments and is well worth it if you have a decent sized bank. I usually call them with 1 credit left so it doesn't auto pay out before they get there.

[shajder]

Good point - I did get them over, but it had auto paid by the time I got back. I'll do that next time. Also, good advice on the recording of it on your phone. That way you don't have to walk away and risk having your winnings nicked by a pikey (the ones that watch and reckon they can show you how to win jackpot when you can blatently see you are invincible! They then want a share!)!

[cardie]

the only machines that i no that do this are any qps remakes or empires as they are usually the 2 main companys that use 2 hoppers and whyy the f*** do empire use theem on there club machines i mean come on ffs

[Chris_010292]

This was'nt in Las Vegas by any chance was it? I had a Thunderbirds on £5 Jackpot pay 4 £1 coins and a 5p, I told some man in there and he goes "can't you read that sticker - all wins over £3 must be verified", I basically just looked at him and laughed in his face the feckin idiot. Come on, these places make enough money to give me £1, TWAT.

[Deano]

Also, good advice on the recording of it on your phone.

This can be a bad idea,you may find yourself getting barred.A lot of arcade owners dont like you messing about with mobiles in their establishments.

[shajder]

Could have been Las Vegas.......in fact yes, you are right, it was there and also in the Mr B's or Sunspot (think they have merged now?). The staff are always idiots and take ages to actually acknowledge you.

What also annoys me is when bulbs don't work, so when you get reel blasts, you are fecked!

Also some of the hold buttons don't work or some get stuck. That annoys me.

I'm on a bit of a ranting roll today!

Most annoying thing happened to my mate.....again in Southend. He was on Jewel in the Crown £5. Went higher than a 1 to get jackpot on the trail and it gave him a 1 and lose! He was told by the staff that nothing could be done, but did they turn it off? Did they feck!

[Chris_010292]

Could have been Las Vegas.......in fact yes, you are right, it was there and also in the Mr B's or Sunspot (think they have merged now?). The staff are always idiots and take ages to actually acknowledge you.

What also annoys me is when bulbs don't work, so when you get reel blasts, you are fecked!

Also some of the hold buttons don't work or some get stuck. That annoys me.

I'm on a bit of a ranting roll today!

Most annoying thing happened to my mate.....again in Southend. He was on Jewel in the Crown £5. Went higher than a 1 to get jackpot on the trail and it gave him a 1 and lose! He was told by the staff that nothing could be done, but did they turn it off? Did they feck!

Jewel In The Crown? Never seen that at Southend before lol, they now must have more machines! Unless you are getting confused with Jackpot Gems in Fantasia arcade?

[shajder]

Pretty sure it was Jewel in the Crown, but could be wrong. The higher than a 1 then 1 lose definately happened though! Maybe that's a sign to stop playing....for good!

[Chris_010292]

Pretty sure it was Jewel in the Crown, but could be wrong. The higher than a 1 then 1 lose definately happened though! Maybe that's a sign to stop playing....for good!

Probably was:) Was it in one of those "Bumpy cabinets"? Red Gaming? Must have been as Fantasia always seem to really care for their machines.

[aaamusements]

Re your original post, if you do have a legitimate complaint that is not addressed then you can go to the Gambling Commission.

Home · Gambling Commission

[Dougsta]

If the machines are poorly maintained or not playing fair then really, just don't go back there. The arcade will soon get the message and get rid of the machine(s) or just plain go out of business.

This used to happen regularly on a Red Alert in an Arcade I used to waste my money in years ago. Lower than a 12 for the 11th Heaven feature only to see it roll in a 12 and lose! The arcade is no longer there and has turned, ironically, into a £1 bargain store. I wonder why...

[Deano]

As said before its better to play in a place where the machines are well looked after.Ingoldmells is the same,machines not paying properly,rubbish staff,empty machines etc.Usually its the smaller places which put crap machines in and dont bother servicing them and run them to the ground to make their money with minimum effort.If I do play I use the big fancy arcades with polite staff and well maintained games,only use the smaller places if they have any old retro games in.

[straekseims]

i have had this happen to me and i gotta admit its a bit suspect 5p and 10p coming out instead of a quid next time it happens tell them you got 80p but it gave you 8 pound coins instead and follow it with but you cant have the money because its in my pocket and they was not there to witness it lol also going higher than a 1 for a 1 does happen but only on two machine that i know of 1 is pinball wizard which is lose. 2 is hotcash but hotcash gives u a skill move instead of lose hope this helps

[shajder]

Cheers for the comments all. Unfortunately there are no well-maintained arcades in Southend that I know of, so there's no where else to go!!!!!!

Some places have already shut down, so maybe the rest will follow if they don't sort it out.

I also remember playing a machine where the Collect button worked exactly the same as the Start button. Everytime I got on the board and tried to collect something, it would gamble on and always lose. I guess you would have had to call someone over if you reached the end of the board as you couldn't collect, but I never got there to find out!

[lovespuds]

well never bin to south end but first all bar-x machines made by electrocoin when gave a let em spin can decide on what they give you either a set of x's or bars just depends on what the machine feels like giving, but if got a conversion usually give the win you nudge in.
2nd try towyn they are the worst machines i've ever played down there, taking cancels off machines, no bulbs, hoppers always on low coins even though the machine thinks its full.

but some machines can have routing problems and might slip the odd 10p or 20p in the pound coin hopper by accident but if its a re-occuring thing get them to check all wins to blow them out!!

[Chris_010292]

Cheers for the comments all. Unfortunately there are no well-maintained arcades in Southend that I know of, so there's no where else to go!!!!!!

Some places have already shut down, so maybe the rest will follow if they don't sort it out.

I also remember playing a machine where the Collect button worked exactly the same as the Start button. Everytime I got on the board and tried to collect something, it would gamble on and always lose. I guess you would have had to call someone over if you reached the end of the board as you couldn't collect, but I never got there to find out!

Have arcades shut down in Southend? If so, which one(s)?