Gaming Standards Association
NAGRA Conference – Charlotte, SC
April 23, 2002
Bruce Rowe
Board of Directors, Gaming Standards Association
Vice President Corporate Slot Operations,
Research and Development , Harrah’s Entertainment
Vision and Mission Statement
Vision: To be the leading standards forum that creates
value by facilitating innovation and efficiencies for
the gaming community
Mission: GSA is an international trade association
representing gaming manufacturers, suppliers,
operators and regulators. We facilitate the
identification, definition, development, promotion,
and implementation of open standards to enable
innovation, education, and communication for the
benefit of the entire industry.
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Members
Platinum
Acres Gaming, Aristocrat Technologies, Harrah’s Entertainment, IGT,
Mandalay Resort Group, WMS Gaming
Gold:
Bally Gaming, CashCode, JCM American, Konami Gaming,
MARS Electronics, MIS-Group, Money Controls, Shuffle Master Gaming,
Slot-Tickets
Silver:
Atronic Americas, Austrian Gaming Industries, Boyd Gaming, Cirsa
Interactive, Coin Mechanisms, Global Payment Technology, Gold Club,
Mikohn Gaming, Namitech, Park Place Entertainment, Sierra Design
Group, Sigma Game, Spielo Manufacturing, Unidesa
Affiliates:
Casino Management Association, European Gaming Organisation,
Friedberg & Associates, HITIS, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)
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History of Technology
Telephones Typewriter
Banking
Slot Machine
Crank Phone
Rotary Dial
Touch Tone
Cash
Checks
Credit Cards
Mechanical
Electromechanical
Video
Mechanical
Electric
Word Processor
CUSTOMER EMPOWERMENT
Digital
PC
Cashless
PC Based
Cellular
Video
P.D.A.
Multi-tasking
Video
Multi-media
Debit Card
Smart Card
E-Commerce
Multi-game
Multi-media
Full Video
Direct Connect

Networked

Wireless
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Floor of Today
Presentation
&
Game Logic
Multiple Communications Protocols
Slot Management
Systems
Other Systems
Proprietary
Operating
System
Proprietary
Hardware
Slot System
Processor
•Over 15 Manufacturers
•Multiple Platforms per Vendor
•49 Protocols
•Bally SDS
•C.D.S.
•IGT IGS
•Acres
•Dacomm
•Casino Management Systems
•Paging Systems
•Etc.
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Issues & Reality
• Protocols are a barrier to entry
• Regulators challenged by a need for more:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Education
Speed
Confidence
Reciprocity
Effective model for collaboration
Strategic v.s. Tactical direction
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Inevitabilities
• Casino floor will mimic technology found outside the
market
• Customers will become more comfortable with new
technology
• Bundled products will become a niche – not the norm
• Data demand will dramatically increase
• Security issues will increase and become more
complex
• Useful life of products will be harder to predict
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Floor of Tomorrow
Presentation
-----------------------Game Logic
Computer Industry
Standard
Communication
Protocols
Paging Systems
Casino Management
Systems
Standard Operating
System
Open Bus
Hardware
Platform
Slot System
Network Interface
Card
Etc.
Slot Management
Systems
Etc.
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Future Technology Realities
FROM
TO
•Proprietary machine design
•PC-like slot machines
•Many hardware platforms
•Many proprietary operating
systems
•Fewer hardware platforms
•Fewer standard operating
systems
•Unbundled hardware &
software
•Bundled hardware & software
•Few content providers
•Many content providers
•No backward compatibility
- Game library to choose from
•Backward compatibility
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Future Technology Realities
FROM
•Slot machines are single
purpose
•Game centric
•Network as requirement
•Numerous proprietary
communication protocols
•Multiple wire network
connections
TO
•Slot machines will become
multi-function
- Kiosks/browser enabled/
video concierge
•Network centric
•Network as the enabler
•Computer industry standard
communication protocols
•Single wire/wireless network
connections
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Future Technology Realities
FROM
•Machine software personality
manually installed, causing
misconfiguration of games
•Physical distribution of game
content
•Static game licenses
•Game centric physically
secure environment
TO
•Machine hardware and
software personality broadcast
to the system automatically
•Centralized distribution of
game content via intranet
•Dynamic seat licensing
•Client/server based gaming
with wide area network security
requiring:
–Encryption
–Authentication
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Future Technology Realities
FROM
•Static game content
•Non-standard peripherals
•Non-standard physical
configurations
•Limited monetary transactions
TO
•Dynamic game content
•Standard peripheral command
sets and protocols, allowing for
interchangeability
•Uniform physical standards for
base requirements, installation
and ergonomics
•Cash, coin, TITO, EFT, B2B and
smart card transactions
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Future Technology Realities
FROM
TO
•Bill validators accept
•Simple methods of employee
and player identification
•Bill validators recycle
•Biometrics
•Difficult to interface disparate
systems
•Standards allow for simple
“plug and play” addition of
various systems
•All transaction information
made available to operators
and regulators
•Transaction content not fully
available
- Employee/Player Identification
- Authorization of Jackpots/Fills
- Player identity tracking for Title 31
and Reg. 6 requirements
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Statements of Direction
by Operators
• Games should broadcast hardware and software personality to the
system
• Peripherals should have standard plugs, auto-configure and have same
command message set for operations
• Transaction content (per game)
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
•
Game being played
Denomination bet
Coin-in/coin-out
Number of games played
Coins
Par
Uniform product design for base footprint
Single wire network
Network centric
5-year backward compatibility
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Implication for Operators
• Better tools increase bottom line
• Flexible “plug and play” components with wider
choice of vendors and products
• Smoother installations resulting in fewer operational
disruptions and reduced service costs
• More creative game content
• More advanced technology available
• Easier to create customized features
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Implication for Manufacturers
• New installs will work the first time at a customer site
(less finger pointing when problems occur)
• Will grow the market - we can spend less time on the
mundane and more time on innovation
• Can concentrate on added value
• Defined specifications and verification services mean
faster time to market and lower development cost
• Roll out of enhancements are planned versus
incompatible chaos
• Faster approval cycle
• Reduced cost to integrate systems
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GSA
Opportunities Today
• Bridge the gap between existing protocols and
games, systems and peripherals
– Assure games and systems provides all information available
to the operator
– Identify the difference between required and optional
features in existing protocols
• Secure commitment from GSA members to implement
standards
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Implication for Regulators
• Common features across all jurisdictions
• Simplification of testing and approval
• Built in compliance increases security
• Fewer resources required to verify compliance
• Focus approval resources towards games
• Simpler training for field regulators – fewer protocols
• System activities easier to regulate
• Access to a vendor-neutral technology forum
• Improvement in regulatory capability via new technology will
prevent scandals and enhance public trust
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Statements of Direction
by Regulators
?
?
?
?
?
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