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What would you do??
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 3:03 am
by clarkey1984
Long story short, a mate went on a fruit that is usually most profitable, but this time he lost a packet playing it, and just how the thing was acting, it wasnt normal behaivoir for this.
We have since managed to obtain info (from a VERY good and reliable source) that the owner admitted that he has bought and fitted a very cheeky (and very illegal i expect!!) percentage key off of ebay which runs at 30% and therefore ultimately rapes anyone that plays it.
So, theres 3 people in talks about what to do, so three trains of thought for this situation, one wants to glue the mech up in order to disable it, one wants to report the owner via a tip off to the antics of the owner (bearing mind that it is illegal to have any machine sited in such a place), and another wants to go in there in the daytime (when its turned off) fully balaclavad up and smash the machine to bits as fast as possible, before running for their life to a getaway car tucked away in order to escape capture.
So, FC crew, what would you lads do?
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 3:07 am
by bowie
0121 230 6666
Or
Confidential intelligence reporting line (0121 230 6655)
This line allows individuals to make anonymous reports to help the Commission tackle both illegal unlicensed gambling and non-compliant licensed gambling. The line is staffed by our intelligence experts between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday (a message can be left outside of these hours).
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:09 am
by Houston
I reported a company that refuses to fix a button on one of its fruit machines to the Gambling Commission, expecting them to put the company (Ivor Thomas) in its place.
After speaking for around half an hour, they concluded that there was nothing in the rules to say that a machine has to be in full working order to be sited.
On another note, they also said that there was no minimum percent payout either - not even if it is displayed on the cabinet.
So there we have it. If professional players can win out of a machine fairly, they have the right to install a new program (which doesn't go through the same scrutiny as the original in the machine in which it's replacing), but if a machine is broken so that it's unfair towards ANYONE who plays it, then that's just tough luck on the punter.
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:36 am
by betchrider
A pal reported a faulty machine to bacta and they were VERY interested
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:37 am
by BFK
The machine does not have to be on 70% min.
But it's now law that the %age it's set on MUST be displayed.
I mentioned this to the manager in my Gala when I noticed that a GGG was only on 78% but on the front it was displaying 92%.
On my next visit it and every other machine had been amended including nearly every lo-tec displaying a disgraceful 80%.
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:40 am
by BFK
I don't know about everybody elses but my Yates have put all their machines down to 74% from 78%. Nice
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 9:19 am
by bowie
I've noticed Gamestec have dropped there's across the board.
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 9:34 am
by moterwayplayer
What about the 70% graveyards
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 12:44 pm
by ma71lda
With the amount of grief you guys get from Landlords these days, I for one would not be turning a blind eye, that's for sure.
But I was brought up not to grass on anybody. Ruin the machine and any subsequent machines sited there - eventually no supplier will touch him - send takeaways, 3am phone calls, you name it.
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 12:58 pm
by Mr McStreak
Ring BACTA.
Smashing the machine up in this situation is fucking stupid, any 'getaway' car might be on CCTV.
What machine was it?
Also why is it illegal to have it in there?
Finally how badly stung did you and your friends get? Was it a case of taking it on at the wrong time and therefore losing heavily, or was the machine blatantly not performing as it should?
If it was the former you should just take the loss.
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:58 pm
by clarkey1984
The machine in question is an old red £25jp, seemingly flying from the off (ARB-1) and full after about a tenner in, which took about 50 to go in for a tenner top, but still redding after so a re wrap cost nigh on 100 quid and paid a £20 top, and then totally on its arse, 1 maybe 2 red features and crap boards from cherries killing 2nd or 3rd gamble on good numbers, it had just gone totally dead.
On something like a DOND 70jp that would be textbook behaviour, but on an old £25jp, that never usually 'fakes' if its redding it means it, well, it used to anyway, you could read it like a book before, if you went on it and it was ARB-3 or better, then it would usually go after 10-15 quid in, usually for a tenner or twenty quid top, so go for it again and usually after that back in and maybe another 15 to 20 odd it would often do the 50 or 60 top, think it did the (apparently rare) 90 top once that i saw, although it did take the 20 from the earlier JP back plus about 40 odd that time.
Oh yeah, and the reason its illegal to be there?? Im sure you arent allowed a cat c fruit in a kebab house or anywhere similar that under 18s are liable to congregate, in fact im not sure your'e even allowed a fruity at all anymore in such place.
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 7:37 pm
by mr lugsy
you're not.
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:57 pm
by Spyder
£25 reds can do exactly what you just said..
and as it did a £20 top it must be an early legal tender or clone.. we had horror stories that £300 could go in without a proper top...
chances are someone got lucky and got a couple of red hiddens jsut before you went on, take two jackpots from there and you're not seeing a real top for ages...
either that or it did a £60+ top... also resulting in no play after...
and jsut to remind you the £25 reds of this era would go "ARB1" once they were £10 ready...
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:59 pm
by Spyder
oh yeah... fake backing (alternating hoppers) were available for these reds too....
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:15 pm
by Matt Vinyl
Heard of a pub near me that has since shut, which was found to have these dodgy 'chips'. Hence the closure.

I took the story with a pinch of salt at first, but it does seem to have had a ring of truth.