Is this legal!

[gashy]

Popped down the coast yesterday and had a wonder into a tatty looking arcade's with me lass! Went on one machine and noticed the money i put in fell straight to the bottom. won £3 and put another £1 in and it fell straight to the bottom again after i collected the £3 out!!! Hmm...???
Turns out this happened to another 3 machine's after that one so it seemed apparent that the bloke or women who owns the place has rigged the machine's so everytime you put a £1 in it falls straight to the cash box.
Is this legal and if he was found out would he get prosecuted?

p.s. the 3rd machine i went on was empty and he was not to happy in having to give me £9 even though money was falling to the bottom

Think its wise by staying away from there in future

[levartemit]

Cant see how it would be illegal. I cant think there would be a law stating that coins have to fall into the hopper until full! I do admit it does sound a bit underhand. Probably locals were goin in, findin all machines not ready to pay then walkin out. I would think that as long as any shortfall is paid (not doing so is stealing when there is proof), and the internals of the machines have not been tampered with (under percentage etc) then he can do what he likes.

[stew]

Still registers the input so not very bright if they are trying to fiddle the books...deliberate bypassing of the hopper eh

[DannyC]

Red machines are and always have been infamous for this...

[stew]

Was going to mention Red's false backing but mech mentioned