Really Old Hand

[kendodd]

I'm a nwbie here and can't contribut much but you may be amused by the following true story:

I don't play the fruits much these days (I'm an old grey beard) but once upon a time . . . .
I was the first punter to crack the King Tap, the first of the progressive jackpot machines. Once you got the jp you had to put ten sixpences in and each play would pay one check worth five shillings. Checks had to be exchanged for goods, usually booze or fags.
The reels were projected like a film on to about 3/4 inch squares. There was one jp bar on the first reel, two jp bars equi-distant on the middle reel and a jp bar and a wild symbol equi-distant on the third reel. Under the windows were three buttons and a sign on the flash saying "Press buttons to stop desired symbol." (The law required it to be a game of skill in those days!)
I had great reactions and found I could time the reels and stop the wild on the third reel 95% of the time. That increased my chances of three fruits enormously, which paid five shillings in sixpences. When I had enough tanners in the tray I would stop the wild symbol and the jp symbol on the middle reel before the front reel stopped -- I think about a 13-1 odds.
I increased my chances by checking which sybol preceded the jp bar on the front reel. It differed from machine to machine but usually it came off the same symbol. Since there were six pairs of fruit (and an extra cherry) that reduced the odds to nearer evens. Before long I had a cupboard full of booze and fags and quite a few pubs I couldn't use without first giving the guvnor a couple of jackpots to boost his takings!
One publican in north london called the police who turned up with a patrol wagon, a sergeant, three pcs, a dog handler and an inspector. I allowed them to search me for magnets, drills etc. and then demonstrated to the inspector eactly what it said on the flash "Press buttons etc." and proceeded to do just that. Out popped another jackpot. By this time the publican had called time and refused to exchange my checks for goods saying it was after time.
The Inspector (who was pissed off about being called out for nothing) said if he didn't exchange my checks he's have him for obtaining money by false pretences. The publican complained: "But it's against the law of averages!"
The inspector said: "I'm sorry sir, that's one law I cannot enforce."
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I'm enjoying reading your posts, but please, tell me what the following mean:
backing ; IM ; dump ; RR ; streak ; force

Many thanks and best wishes to you all -- keep emptying those m/cs

[kidgloves]

"I'm enjoying reading your posts, but please, tell me what the following mean:
backing ; IM ; dump ; RR ; streak ; force "

I like that story. Makes me feel young.

Backing: A machine which diverts coins into the cash box because the coin unit or 'hopper' is full. The cash box is where profits are collected from on a weekly basis. A 'backing' machine will make a different type of sound as the coin is diverted through the various mechanisms than one that is not full. Each company's backing sound is slightly different and you have to listen through experience for the sound.

Dump: a variety of meanings: a technician can 'dump' a machine by opening a door and activating a hopper dump which empties the machine of all coins. A players 'dump' can be just collecting a large bank or another word for the machine paying out a large amount whilst streaking.

Streak: An enriched period of play where wins come in close and often, usually Jackpots are easily obtainable during this cycle. Most machines have some form of streak in them, if only to keep players punting for thos elusive Jackpots. Most modern machines are actually dumbing down the streak idea so the concept is not as good as it was say 5 years ago.

Force: Refusing all wins until a Jackpot is achieved. This hard core style of play is not for the faint hearted or clueless. Most players do this in the hope of an ensuing streak but modern machines are again coded to be quite rigid on releasing a streak if forced. You really need to know your machines well in order to know which ones are worth forcing and which are not. Some are even coded to recognise a forcing technique and subsequently play dead to allow greater profit in the cashbox.

[kendodd]

Thanks for that kidgloves. Makes the posts more understandable when you know what the jargon means. Any other terms that might help, anybody?