The Complete Handbook of Slot Machines

I was worried this would be another glossy, salesy book full of pretty pictures. It's not. The chapter on understanding the internal architecture was worth the price alone—it clearly explained how the RNG and the paytable actually interact, which wasn't something I'd found clearly explained anywhere else. I docked one star because I wish there were a few more photos of the physical components, but the text is precise and logically laid out.

As someone who just bought two used machines for a family entertainment center, this handbook has been a lifesaver. The installation chapter is meticulous—it reminded me about reconfiguring the voltage for my building's power supply, which could have been a disaster. It's written with an engineer's clarity but reads easily. This is the first reference I've found that doesn't treat the reader like a mark or a sucker. Absolutely essential for anyone in the business.

This is a solid reference book, and I appreciate that it doesn't tell you how to win, which is nonsense anyway. I found the business opportunities chapter to be quite honest about the work involved in servicing and reselling machines. I gave it four stars because I found some of the troubleshooting sections a bit generic—it can't cover every logic board error code, obviously, but a longer appendix would have been appreciated. Still, it lives on my workbench now.

It's a decent primer, but I was left wanting more depth in a few places. For example, the comparison of different brands' bill validator models felt too concise, and I think it could have included a specific compatibility chart. It also spends a lot of time on things that seem like common sense (like not shoving a machine through a doorframe) that could have been spent on more specific wiring diagrams. It did give me a solid framework for evaluating my options, so it wasn't a waste of time, but it's not the be-all and end-all.

My husband and I bought this before we purchased a vintage Bally to restore. The chapter on understanding slot machines was brilliant at clearing up the confusion about the difference between mechanical reels and the electronic 'symbols' that software determines. It also helped me spot power supply issues in a machine at a local auction that the seller had downplayed. A really useful book for collectors, although I wish it had a few more color photos. Definitely the most practical book on my shelf.

I picked this up hoping for practical data, and it delivered, but it felt a little like reading a legal manual sometimes. The author's voice is dry—I get it, it's not supposed to be fun—but I found the opening chapters on mechanics to be a slog. The later chapters on choosing machines and the FAQ were much more useful; that section alone helped me decide against a few machines that are popular but have a poor ROI in my area. It's a good reference, but you need an engineering mind to enjoy the first third.