Cheating video games and pokies

There are many reasons why people play video games. They offer a perfect chance to make new friends online, or to test your button tapping skills against players all over the world. One area not commonly explored when analysing why people play video games is the "escapism" angle however.

With many people stuck in routines of working long hard hours, the chance for excitement, or a break from the norm is uncommon. When the chance does come around via a video game, the player wants the experience to feel as far away from reality as possible. This in many ways is why "game cheats" have become so popular.

"Cheats" allow the player to make their own rules, implementing complete control and power over proceedings. There are many examples of how fun and liberating game cheats can be.

In "Grand Theft Auto V" a four button combo can grant the player complete invincibility against any object thrown at them.

In "Assassin's Creed 3" a simple cheat can fully kit a turkey in an assassins robe, and the bird will religiously follow you for the rest of the game.

With cheats becoming an increasingly popular addition to video games it is interesting to see how players are trying to incorporate them into the more lucrative business of pokie gaming.

Pokies operate through monetary gambles and rewards, meaning the stakes are higher, and the need for success subsequently greater.

Bearing this in-mind, there have been various examples of how players have tried to "cheat" pokies.

Computer savvy Dennis Nikrasch bought himself a slot machine to practice on at home where he learnt how to modify chips that could trigger jackpot payouts on his command.

Eventually Dennis became tired of winning his own quarters back, and decided to head to the casino to cheat his way to life changing jackpots. Assembling a well organised team, Dennis would pounce on unattended casino slot machines, opening them with a key bought on the black market. Carefully avoiding surveillance cameras, Dennis would replace the computer chip to one modified by him. A member of his team would then immediately sit down to play the machine and trigger the big win.

Nikrasch's style of cheating may have been a little extreme, however there are a wide range of other techniques regularly used by normal punters which cheat these pokie machines.

The machines will often accept fake minted coins meaning all stakes are free and the player cannot lose. Shining a bright light into the machine is also another popular method, as the light reflection can cause the machines sensors to trigger and pay out.

It is fascinating to see how cheating in video games has evolved into cheating on pokie machines. Whilst video game cheating offers fun, humour and above all freedom, cheating on pokie machines can result in some serious profits.

When it comes to online pokies, sites such as the Australian portal Pokies Palace suggest it is almost impossible to cheat given the advanced software and monitoring systems that online casinos have in place. To date, there are very few reported incidents of cheating on online pokies, because they are relatively new inventions, and casinos do their best to prevent stories like this leaking out to the media.