Private slot-machine ownership is a legal and practical question before it is a decorating decision. Laws can distinguish possession, sale, transport and operation, and an antique exception in one jurisdiction may not exist in another.
1. Cold-start video
Ask for fresh photographs of the exact machine, including the back, inside of every accessible door, labels and the power cord. A continuous cold-start video is more useful than a clip of a machine that was already warmed up and staged.
2. Dead pixels and burn-in
Make dead pixels and burn-in part of the written buying file. Record the evidence, note anything that still needs confirmation and decide in advance what finding would make you renegotiate or walk away.
3. Touch accuracy
Power the machine from cold and watch the entire boot sequence. Check displays, touch response, sound, buttons and service menus, then inspect boards and connectors for corrosion, overheating, leaking batteries or modifications that make future parts support harder.
4. Backlight condition
A shiny front can hide a rough cabinet. Inspect the base, seams, hinges, lock areas and internal surfaces for swelling, rust, smoke residue or amateur repair work, because those clues often predict the real restoration workload.
5. Model-specific connectors
Electronic cabinets can be complete physically and still depend on a missing board, dongle, software image or casino-network component. Identify every board and connector before buying replacements, and never bypass an interlock or safety device just to make a fault disappear.
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