How to Prevent Unfair Play in Machines: Create a Fair Gaming Environment

Unfair play means a player has an advantage that was not designed into the machine — they are controlling outcomes, manipulating credits, or exploiting configuration errors to win more than probability allows. Preventing unfair play protects both the operator’s revenue (less money stolen) and the legitimate player experience (fair games attract and retain players). This guide covers the complete approach to preventing unfair play.

What Is Unfair Play?

Unfair play falls into three categories:

Category 1: Electronic cheating. Player uses a wireless transmitter to control machine outcomes. This is invisible to observers — the player appears to be playing normally while the transmitter commands the machine. Estimated to account for 70% of unfair play incidents.

Category 2: Exploitation. Player discovers a bug, glitch, or configuration error that gives them an advantage they were not intended to have. Example: a game has a pattern that, when played in a specific sequence, always produces a win condition because of a software bug. This is not electronic attack — the machine is doing exactly what its (buggy) software tells it to do. Estimated to account for 20% of incidents.

Category 3: Collusion. Player works with a staff member to gain an advantage. Staff changes hold percentage before the player sits down and changes it back after they leave. Staff provides the player with information about which machines have faulty payout thresholds. Staff disables bus monitoring devices on specific machines. Estimated to account for 10% of incidents.

Each category requires different prevention measures. All three must be addressed for a complete unfair play prevention program.

Preventing Electronic Cheating (Category 1)

Electronic cheating is prevented at the bus level by validating every signal.

Solution: Bus monitoring device with electrical fingerprint authentication. One device per machine. Device blocks unknown signals while allowing legitimate peripheral signals through.

Why this prevents unfair play: The cheating player’s transmitter produces signals with an electrical fingerprint that does not match any legitimate peripheral. The device detects the mismatch and blocks the signal. The cheating player presses their transmitter button — nothing happens. They try again — nothing. They try different frequencies — nothing. They eventually conclude the machine is “broken” (for their purposes) and leave.

Deployment: Install on all machines. Wait 24-48 hours for learning. Verify all LEDs are green. The electronic cheating vector is now closed.

Preventing Exploitation (Category 2)

Exploitation (players using bugs and configuration errors) is prevented through proactive maintenance:

Firmware updates. Install the latest firmware from the manufacturer. Bug fixes in newer firmware close exploitation opportunities. Check for updates quarterly. Cost: $0 (free from most manufacturers).

Hold percentage verification. Once per quarter, verify that every machine’s hold percentage matches the intended value. Use the configuration menu to check. Document the verified value. If any machine’s hold has been changed without authorization, investigate.

Payout table verification. Once per quarter, verify that payout tables match the factory settings (or your authorized modifications). A changed payout table that increases payout values for specific combinations creates an exploitation opportunity for anyone who discovers the change.

Player observation. Staff should observe players who are winning unusually large amounts. Are they doing something unusual with the machine — pressing buttons in a specific pattern, waiting for specific visual cues, manipulating the machine’s physical inputs in unexpected ways? Players who discover bugs develop ritualized behaviors around triggering the bug. Staff observation often catches this before data analysis does.

Bug reporting. Create a simple process: if a player reports that “if you do X, the machine always pays,” staff logs the report, tests it, and if confirmed, takes the machine offline until the bug is fixed. Reward staff for bug discoveries (small bonus) to incentivize reporting.

Preventing Collusion (Category 3)

Collusion prevention relies on creating accountability and audit trails:

• Change factory configuration PINs. Staff should not know the configuration PIN. Only the owner and one manager. This prevents unauthorized hold percentage and payout table changes.
• Two-person authorization for configuration changes. Two staff members must sign off on every configuration change. This prevents a single staff member from secretly changing settings for a colluding player.
• Configuration change logging. Every configuration change is logged with timestamp and operator ID. Review the log weekly. Any unauthorized change is immediately visible.
• Shift revenue analysis. Track revenue per shift. If a specific shift consistently shows lower revenue across multiple machines, check whether staff on that shift have relationships with specific players.
• Random observation. Owner/manager occasionally visits during different shifts, unannounced. Observe: are staff interacting unusually with specific players? Are staff spending excessive time near specific machines? Is the bus monitor LED on any machine not green (staff may have disconnected it)?
• Bus monitor disconnect alerts. If a device is disconnected, it logs the event. Weekly log review catches disconnections. Investigate: why was the device disconnected? Who was on shift at the time?

Building a Fair Play Environment

The three prevention categories work together to create a fair playing environment:

Electronic protection stops the invisible attacks — players with transmitters cannot control machines.
Proactive maintenance closes the exploitation gaps — bugs are fixed and configurations are verified.
Accountability procedures deter collusion — staff know they will be caught if they help players cheat.

When all three are in place, the only way a player can win more than probability allows is through genuine luck — which is exactly what a fair gaming environment should provide.

Our guide includes fair play audit checklists and staff training materials.

Common Questions

What if a player reports that another player is cheating?

Take the report seriously. Legitimate players are often the first to notice cheating — they see someone winning consistently and recognize it as abnormal. Ask the reporting player: which machine, which player (description), what abnormal behavior did they observe, and when. Cross-reference the information with your data (win rates, bus monitor logs, camera footage). Thank the reporting player. Fair players appreciate venues that actively prevent cheating.

How do I handle a player who claims their win was legitimate but my data says otherwise?

Do not accuse. Show the data. Say: “Our system shows that your win rate on this machine is [X]%, while the expected win rate for fair play is [Y]%. We have installed protection devices that prevent electronic interference. If you are playing fairly, the devices have no effect. If someone else is interfering with your results, our devices now block that interference. We suggest you continue playing and observe your results now that the protection is active.” This approach is truthful, non-accusatory, and allows the player to continue playing without escalation.

How much does a complete fair play program cost?

Bus monitors: $150-300 per machine (one-time). Firmware updates: $0. Configuration audits: staff time (~2 hours per quarter for a 20-machine venue). Accountability procedures: staff time (~30 minutes per week for log review). Total annual cost: bus monitor purchase + approximately 20 hours of staff time per year.

Fair Play Is Good Business

Unfair play kills venues. Legitimate players stop coming when they realize “you can’t win here — the machines are rigged.” (They do not know the machines are rigged by cheaters, not by the operator — they just know they cannot win.) Fair play attracts and retains players. The machines operate as designed. Wins are random and fair. Players feel they have a genuine chance. Prevent unfair play. Create a fair environment. Your reputation — and your revenue — will improve.