Tracking cheating losses is essential for understanding the financial impact of cheating and measuring the effectiveness of your anti-cheat investment. A simple spreadsheet — updated weekly — provides the data you need to make informed security decisions. This article shows you how to set up and use a cheating loss tracking spreadsheet.
Spreadsheet columns: Machine ID, Machine Type, Date, Revenue (cash collected), Expected Payout Rate (programmed %), Actual Payout Rate (calculated from meter data), Gap %, Cheating Loss Estimate (Revenue x Gap %), Anti-Cheat Device Installed (Y/N), and Notes.
How to use it: Update the spreadsheet weekly for each machine. Calculate the gap between the expected and actual payout rate. Multiply the machine’s revenue by the gap percentage to estimate the cheating loss. Compare machines with and without anti-cheat devices installed — the difference is the measured impact of protection.
Example: Fish table generating $3,000/week. Programmed payout: 35%. Actual payout: 45%. Gap: 10%. Cheating loss estimate: $300/week. After Gen2 installation, actual payout drops to 36%. Gap: 1%. Cheating loss: $30/week. Saving: $270/week. Device pays for itself in under a week.
If your arcade is showing signs of tracking cheating losses, send me a message with your machine model and a photo of your setup. I will do a quick remote check for free.
WhatsApp / WeChat / Phone: +86 158 1582 1587 — Engineer Wang
To discuss the best anti-cheat strategy for your specific arcade setup, message me directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often should I update the spreadsheet?
A: Weekly updates provide enough data for trend analysis without being too time-consuming. Daily updates are better if you have the resources.
Q: Can I use the spreadsheet to predict future cheating losses?(
A: Yes. Once you have 8-12 weeks of data, you can identify trends and predict future losses based on the patterns.
Q: What should I do with the data?(
A: Use it to justify anti-cheat investments, identify machines that need protection first, and measure the ROI of devices you have already installed.
Q: Do you provide a spreadsheet template?(
A: Yes. Contact me directly and I will share the template I use with my clients.