AboutPhillip Boucher Expertise Author of the book, "Slot Machines: Fun Machines or Tax Machines? A Technician Reveals the Truth About One-Armed Bandits", ISBN 1-55270-049-6 published by Productive Publications under the pen name Ian B. Williams. I can answer any question related to the concept, design, marketing, programming, operation, installation, repair, and maintenance of slot machines, video poker machines, and video lottery terminals, and their related equipment and machinery, within the regulated gaming industry. I WILL NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WHATSOEVER RELATED TO THE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF GAMING MACHINES, INCLUDING QUESTIONS SUCH AS "I JUST BOUGHT A SLOT MACHINE AND IT DOESN'T WORK...". I can help dispel all the myths and misconceptions that have permeated the print and news media about slots over the years. I can also answer questions related to gambling addiction in general and slot machine addiction in particular. Each question will be answered truthfully, without bias, whether the answer is what the questioner wants to hear. I will not propagate the myth that there are secrets to winning or beating slots, because there are none. There are no methods or tricks or other such nonsense that a lot of people think there are. I`m sorry, but reality in regard to slot machines can be a big letdown! I won`t lead anyone on. Want to know the real truth? Just ask. I can also answer general questions related to casinos except for table games.
Experience I have over eleven years experience as a slot machine technician for two major North American casinos, one racetrack slot facility, and am a Certified Gaming Machine Repairperson. I am the author of, (writing as Ian B. Williams), "Slot Machines: Fun Machines or Tax Machines? A Technician Reveals the Truth About One-Armed Bandits", ISBN 1-55270-049-6 published by Productive Publications.
Question QUESTION: bally 351-00, bally 5000 plus
My slot machine has a problem, when I power it up a code on the wins screen come up with a 82 code.
what does that mean?
does it mean door open/power down?
hwo do I fixs this?
ANSWER: Mark, sorry, but I do not answer questions related to the private ownership of gaming machines. Phil
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QUESTION: then what is your web page good for?
how do i get help?
Answer Mark, my web page is intended to provide answers to questions related to how slot machines are designed and how they operate within a licenced and regulated gaming venue. As per my profile, this page is NOT for answering questions from people who privately own slot machines. Electronic Gaming Machines are regulated devices and the private ownership of these is illegal in many jurisdictions. Anyone who buys a slot machine is in for a rude awakening.
When, and not if, when the machine goes into a tilt mode, locks up, or stops functioning, there are specific methods and testing equipment that must be employed to troubleshoot them. Half of troubleshooting involves swapping good known parts with suspected bad parts. That means you need to have spare parts on hand. Since parts are ONLY sold to licenced and regulated venues, it is EXTREMELY difficult if not impossible for private individuals to obtain these parts, let alone the service manuals and schematics, or to pay for any of these as even small parts can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars each. In addition, specific testing equipment is required which private individuals are not able to obtain. Again, testing equipment can cost tens of thousands of dollars each. Any private person who buys a slot machine will eventually end up with an expensive paperweight when it malfunctions.
Do to the jurisdictional factors of the legality of private gaming machine ownership, the immense expense to even correct a minor problem, and the hunderds of similar questions I get each and every week, I do not and will not answer any question remotely related to the PRIVATE ownership of Electronic Gaming Machines.
