Hoppers

A hopper is the device that holds the pound coins as you put them into the machine (you might've noticed that all the other coins fall straight into the cash box). As well as taking your money, it also pays it out so therefore if your coins are going straight into the 'Dennis' it could suggest that the machine could have recently payed out a few large wins and therefore it may not be a good time to play it.

Backing/Dropping

A machine is said to be backing or dropping when the coins are bypassing the hopper and going straight in the cash box at the bottom of the machine. This indicates that the hopper is full and as long as it hasn't been recently refilled, is a good sign that it may be ready to pay.

Streak

A streak is a run of big wins. If a machine is backing, it is likely that it is below its payout perecentage and therefore could be ready to pay out some big wins, a win streak. The trick is to know how to trigger the streak. On some machines a top feature jackpot can trigger a streak, but on others it may be other started by taking other features.

Emptier

An emptier is a technique where by a large sum of money can be won on a machine. Emptiers are usually included in the programming of the machine and can allow a player to virtually empty the hopper in the fruit machine. Everyone wants to know emptiers, but they can be hard to get hold of and expensive if bought.* Buying can be a risky business and if you choose not to part with your cash for emptiers, is won't be until you've made some good contacts anhave knowledge to trade, that you will come across them.*

True skill/Pseudo skill

Almost all fruit machines will have one or more features which has an element of 'skill' to it. However, a large percentage of these gambles are pre-determined by the machine. Before you press the button the machine already knows whether or not it will let you win. this is termed pseudo skill.and is termed 'pseudo skill'. Once you have reached the amount the machine is willing to pay out, you will lose the gamble. Therefore if a 'skill' feature appears to jump, it probably has.
However, true skill gambles do occur and dpending on the machine you are playing can be indicated by a flashing button or a message on the LED display. Always try pressing cancel or other buttons to slow down a gamble.

Handy hints

Ensure you have a starting fund of at least £20 in pound coins. Changing up notes in a pub can arouse suspiscion and should be avoided if possible.

Likewise, if you have a big win, don't change your coins up at the bar, get yourself some money bags and cash it in elsewhere.

Some players prefer to let their winnings mount up in the bank and take it all out at once. Not only does this draw attention, but is unneccesary as the machine has already accounted for the money it is due to pay out to you.

discussion boards- Information can be invaluable and is rarely given away freely by players. If you are looking for information on a machine, the more specific you can be when asking questions, the more likely you are to get a reply. Questions such as 'How do I win on .......' or ' has anyone got any tips on......' will be ignored by most players and the only reply you can hope for is the suggestion you check out some playing guides.

refill keys- When inserted into a fruit machine, a refill key will tell you how much money is in the hopper, and the value of the last win collected.
While not illegal, 'keying' is seen as such by most landlords. Therefore, be sensible and limit its use to places out of sight. Remember, a landlord needs no excuse to bar you!