This questionis for all you SMCHers (Slot Machine Coin Hunters)

[cyberdan]

How many coin hoppers are there in a slot machine?

I know if I put in paper money and cash out I will start emptying out the coins.

But, what if I start feeding the clad back into the same machine?
Will they just fall on the top of the pile I am trying to empty?
Or, do they go into their own hopper?

I don't want to go through the same coins twice.

How many halves does a full payout hopper hold?

I am sure I will be going to Lost Wages (Las Vegas for those of you East of the Mississippi) within the next month and want to be prepaired.

My parents and half my brothers and sisters live there. It is a four hour drive and I do it once or twice a year.

 

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[CaptJohn]

At the Ms. Casinos I've seen two hoppers. If the first one gets full, I think it drops them into the other Hopper that they collect once a day, or else the coins you put in go into the hopper that gets collected. So I don't think you will be getting the ones you put in. But, you can only put in the coins for one spin, If the machine takes up to 3 for one spin, you can't put in more than 3 per spin. But your right, you can put in a Hundred dollar bill, and cash out, BUT MANY in Ms. NOW Print you out a Cash TICKET!!! I have seen them re-fill a machine. Say you cash out with 100 credits in the machine, and it runs out. They will put in $1000.00 into that top hopper, (refilling it), and while they were doing that I've seen coins in the bottom hopper or its more like a box, that they can slide out forward when they collect them each nite. I have not searched them before, but I will try some coin hunting on my next trip. But now after Katrina, they have added some new machines, and these new ones print a cashout ticket that you take to the cashier.

 

[Immy]

CaptJohn pretty much nailed it. There's a 50/50 shot the coins you put in will go into the hopper that dispenses (the one they fill) or the one that collects below the machine (the casino's profit that's emptied each night). The coin slot acceptors routinely switch back and forth between where it goes.

When the techs fill the hopper $500 seems to do it completely but I've seen casinos that use $400 & $300 amounts.

There's a good likelihood you'll be getting the same coins if you feed your searched coins. Putting bills in and cashing out guarantees fresh stuff.

 

[jwquattro]

Cyberdan: Good questions. Are you just wanting to check halves? You will need to find a casino that still has half dollar machines. Up here in Northeastern Nevada, they pulled all of the half dollar coin machines out. They are strictly Dollar token slots, quarters & nickels. Everything else is paper in, paper out & multi-denominational. You may want to make some phone calls. I would start with the 1-800 info lines. Talk to the slot manager or assistant slot manager or anyone else working in the slot area.

I was recently checking the nickel slots, & what I wanted to do was mark a few coins. The casino may / will frown on this if you blatantly do it. I would take a break & mark some coins somewhere in private. Ultra fine Sharpies are great. Better yet, bring a few clad in that are already prepared.
The coin hopper on a pre-2000 year slot machine is huge / so is the spaces in the reel with the winning symbols. I remember emptying out a quarter poker machine on a good day, & it easily ate a $500 refill bag. There was plenty of room for more quarters. I think they act like a propane tank. You do not want to overfill it. I am not a slot technician, so these are just my observations. I also believe all slot machines only have one main hopper. Check the max coin payout on the front of the machine & that will usually tell you the coin limit of the machine.
Best of Luck in your Coin Hunting. JW

 

[cyberdan]

Are you just wanting to check halves?

Yes, they are easy to check and seem to have the highest ratio of clad to silver.

Everything else is paper in, paper out & multi-denominational.

That is what I have been reading. Same thing out here in So CA indian casinos, from what I hear.

Where are all the old coin machines going? I am sure they are not being thrown away and there are too many to sell on ebay. Do you think some smaller casinos might be buying them?

...I wanted to do was mark a few coins. The casino may / will frown on this if you blatantly do it. I would take a break & mark some coins somewhere in private

Bring some premarked coins with you. White spray paint would not be too obvious to any one but you.


Thanks for all the good advice. I am sure one or two of my brothers, that live in LV will know the casinos and reccommend those with real slots. Even grocery stores have slots at the front door.

 

[Immy]

Where are all the old coin machines going? I am sure they are not being thrown away and there are too many to sell on ebay. Do you think some smaller casinos might be buying them?

That's a good question. I just discovered that Binion's Horseshoe mothballed ten machines recently, bringing the total in the Downtown area to around 40. Got a feeling my 50¢ machine hunting days are numbered.

 

[cyberdan]

I just discovered that Binion's Horseshoe mothballed ten machines recently, bringing the total in the Downtown area to around 40. Got a feeling my 50¢ machine hunting days are numbered.

Immy, do you have connections in the casino business? Can you ask around and see who is buying those old machines? I wonder if they are going out to smaller places that can't affors the new paper machines?

Have you checked for 50 cent machines off the strip? Henderson? (and way off in Primm? or Laughlin?)