The shortest answer is NO. Attempting to cheat a slot machine is illegal, and exploiting slot games or trying to gain an advantage can lead to severe consequences.
This doesn’t stop some players from coming up with ridiculous ways of manipulating the games. One of these ways is using magnets. Cheating a modern slot machine with a magnet is impossible since they use the latest technology and are primarily video slots. However, the technique was common for older slot machines that used mechanical reels made of metal.
Although it’s not possible or legal, let’s look at how players attempted to cheat a slot machine with a magnet back then.
Do Magnets Affect Slot Machines?
Magnets no longer affect slot machines because most are video slots, similar to how they appear at online slot sites like Wizard Slots. Players used magnets in older slot machines because they had metal reels. They imagined the magnets could slow down the reels, but this was only attempted on much older slot machines. However, the technique didn’t prove particularly effective.
Using magnets to manipulate the reels was not only a waste of time but was also very noticeable. Therefore, players who adopted this method were easily caught.
Today, with technological advancements, it’s even more difficult for players to cheat slot machines. For example, slots use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to produce random outcomes on each spin. Another example is where some land-based slot machine screens use chemically-stained glass that triggers signals if a player attempts to rig the machine.
So, if you thought it was difficult to cheat a slot machine with a magnet in the past, today, it is impossible. Additionally, the most likely outcome is a permanent casino ban, and there could be even greater consequences on top of this.
Can You Cheat a Slot Machine With a Magnet?
No, you cannot cheat a slot with a magnet. Aside from being illegal, it’s impossible to use the technique successfully, especially with modern slots. That’s because new slots are digital and use modern technology to prevent any rigging, as opposed to the old mechanical slots.
For example, magnets were used to pull mechanical reels in a certain direction. Today, different mechanisms control every slot element, including the visuals, sound, gameplay, movement, etc. It’s also easy for casino security to spot you trying to use a magnet since their systems are top-notch.
We also mentioned the chemical glass earlier that can detect any rigging attempts. In addition, slots also use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to generate vast amounts of number sequences per second that create unpredictable results on each spin.
How Do You Outsmart a Slot Machine?
Unlike some table games that require skill, slot machines are almost entirely chance-based. In addition, the RNGs lead to random results on each spin. Therefore, you cannot predict what any future spins in the game will hold. So, strategies like increasing your wagers, switching machines, etc., could never work since every spin is independent, and the machine doesn’t remember previous actions.
The game’s Return to Player percentage (RTP) also plays a role. RTP is a theoretical value that indicates how a slot game pays out over a long time. For example, if a game has a 96% average RTP, it means that for every £100 wagered, the slot pays £96 back out to players. However, the RTP value is an average and acts as more of a guide on which games have better paying potential instead of a guarantee that you might win a given amount if you play. But, again, due to the unpredictable nature of slots, nothing is guaranteed.
Conclusion
So if you’ve ever asked: can you cheat a slot machine with a magnet? The quickest answer is NO. You cannot use magnets to rig slot machines because they do not use the same mechanics as when this method was first attempted. They are mostly video slots that use Random Number Generators to deliver random outcomes. Additionally, the Return to Player (RTP) percentage can give you a better idea as to how slots behave so that you don’t waste time on schemes like using magnets.