Peppermill Casino agree to $1 million fine over use of slot machine reset key

You sure don't hear about something like this everyday?

http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/peppermill-casino-owners-agree-1-million-fine-over-use-slot-machine-reset-key

 

Interesting. My first thought was how did the Peppermill think they could get away with this. Then I read they've been doing it since 2011. That's crazy.

I wonder how they got away with it for so long without anyone questioning them?

 

The Peppermill Reno is owned by the Seeno family of Sacramento. Do a search on Albert Seeno, Jr.

 

The funny part is...peppermill already has the best paybacks in town...with that key though, on a game king, you could turn up the payback on video poker (insert key, cycle to payback % screen, tap tap tap, cycle key, done)

 

I wonder who has the balls to buy a "reset" key on eBay, then test it out at the local casino, to learn hold percentages of machines.

I'd love to play with the slot menus (and especially learn the payback %), but I'm guessing that could probably get someone arrested.

 

Wow, I'm such a dope with this kind of high technology! Could someone please explain how this "bad" million dollar mess affects me from getting rich on one of Wendover's slot machines? Needless to say a fine that large, the offense must have benefitted the Peppermill Corp somehow so somebody got screwed.

 

No way with just that key alone. On most machines to be able to make any kind on changes you need to have at least one of the main doors open, usually the logic/motherboard door. Some machines you even need another "security key" which is just a programmed USB thumb drive to give you access.

The 2341 key is only gonna let you view the bookkeeping.

It's not gonna effect your chance of getting rich at all. Peppermill was just looking at their competitors machines to see how much money they were taking in, how much they were paying out, what games are getting played the most etc. I guess I'd compare it to breaking into your competitors file cabinet and looking at all his book keeping records.

 

While "not nice," is that truly proprietary information?

If it was truly proprietary, then seems to me, the machine makers should produce proprietary keys for each property, but the fact of the matter is, as proven here, that anyone with a little knowledge and a simple universal key can obtain basic systems information.

Again, "not nice," but not a major crime, IMO

 

So is it illegal for one of us to use that key on a machine? This guy didn't get arrested, he didn't commit a crime. He did violate GCB rules as an employee of a competing casino and thus the fine.

 

Manufactures mass produce these machines and put their standard factory locks on them. It's up to the buyer to change the locks/keys if they want to, its takes a whole minute to replace those kinds of locks.

I agree, it's not a major crime and am really surprised they got slapped for a million bucks. They should of said "Hey! knock that shit off, if we catch you again then you'll be in trouble".

 

NV Gaming CB vs Peppermill Casinos

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this, but I am. It will be interesting to see what the punishment/fine is for something like this.

http://gaming.nv.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=8653

 

There is already a thread about this, called "Reset Key"
The fine was $1M

 

Pleasanton? Whoo-hoo... I lived in Pleasanton!

 

Thanks Auggie- sorry I missed that.

 

As a computer guy I always just figured that everything was automated. I figured they were all on a network and controlled/adjusted/reported as needed.

Im sure they are but I am kind of shocked after reading this that anyone can pull this data.
If its so easy to pull the data, I wonder how easy it is change data...

 

Just checking: the last time Caesars Entertainment was fined for allowing underage gambling the fine was only $100,000... so $1,000,000 just for reading somebody else's stats seems a bit high.

 

in before someone hacks penny slots to give 250% payback

 

Read my previews post #7. You need more keys than just the 2341 key to make any kind of changes to these machines.

 

Not on most game-kings...but then again, it limits payback to the "known" max (101%)
Still dont mean you'll win! Lol

 

Really? I've never seen a single machine where you could make any changes to the program without having at least a main door open. Even on the Game King logic board there is another key you have to make any changes. At least this is for all the machines I have worked on, they could be different in NV.