Demonstrations Highlight Potentially Sweeping Positive Changes to Gaming
Industry
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Industry advocate Gaming Standards
Association (GSA) will conduct three revolutionary demonstrations at the
upcoming Global Gaming Expo (G2E), held in Las Vegas September 16-18.
The demonstrations showcase GSA's members' cooperative work on Gaming
Device Standards (GDS), the Best of Breed project and SAS(TM) Toolkit and
highlight the potential for positive changes to the entire gaming industry by
strengthening protocol standards. Standards have the potential to streamline
the industry and save untold dollars in development and research, and reap
rewards for operators by ensuring that devices can and do communicate
correctly. Standards also can shorten the time to market for vendors and
suppliers.
The demonstrations take place in GSA's booth #455 and bring to life GSA's
theme for the trade show: "Celebrating Success." GSA Board Chairman Gregg
Solomon of Mandalay Resort Group said, "Over the past five years, GSA has been
working diligently to bring order to the often chaotic world of gaming
devices. These demonstrations celebrate the success GSA has had in uniting the
industry, and in moving forward toward creating real, comprehensive standards
that will benefit the entire industry."
SAS(TM) Toolkit
GSA's SAS(TM) protocol facilitates communication between gaming machines
and gaming systems by defining the system/game communication protocol.
Because SAS(TM) is currently the core of communication in a casino, this
newest release of the protocol gives operators greater certainty of machine
and system interoperability. The toolkit demonstrated would ultimately be used
by manufacturers to see how a machine behaves before it goes to testing,
ensuring SAS(TM) functionality.
Version 6.00 of the specification was adopted in July 2002, and just six
months later was named one of the Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Products by
Casino Journal. In July 2003, GSA issued its SAS(TM) Version 6.01
Specification, which added several new features including additional SAS(TM)
progressive functionality, custom AFT ticket extensions and enhanced pay-table
information reporting. Version 6.01 also features full compliance with new
Nevada technical standards for gaming devices, online slot metering systems,
and cashless wagering systems adopted in May 2003 by the Nevada Gaming
Commission.
The Best of Breed Project
GSA's Best of Breed project is the development of a worldwide protocol
that ensures secure communication between gaming devices and gaming systems.
The standard as envisioned will accomplish this critical function by
encompassing existing best of breed protocols in standard technology, namely
TCP/IP and XML.
At its most basic level, the Best of Breed defines the application layer
-- what messages gaming machines are sending to gaming systems -- and
standardizes the communication so machines and systems of different
manufacturers can communicate correctly with each other. Further, the
developing standard is intended to be free of third party licensing
requirements, which allows greater access by more suppliers without additional
cost burdens.
GSA President Peter DeRaedt said, "Imagine if a casino floor were an
office with 3,000 different computers. You would expect that each terminal
could receive email, print documents and communicate with a server.
GSA's Best of Breed project is anticipated to bring those basic
expectations to reality on the casino floor. "It also means freedom -- freedom
of choice for the operator. With Best of Breed, operators will be able to
choose whatever game mix and system they desire, without the worry of whether
or not the games and systems will communicate properly."
GSA conducts the Best of Breed demonstration utilizing equipment from
Aristocrat Technologies, Atronic Americas, Bally Gaming and Systems, Konami
Gaming and WMS Gaming. Notably, Atronic Americas has provided significant
technological and engineering capabilities for the demonstration.
Gaming Device Standards (GDS) Project
Prototype devices for the Gaming Device Standards project, or GDS, will
also be available for demonstration. The GDS project proposes a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) solution to the problems presented by adding peripheral
devices, such as printers, to a gaming machine. The GDS will define connector,
power, and communication standards built on USB technology. Despite
intellectual property held by third parties, the GDS Committee membership
recently unanimously agreed to continue to support and pursue this line of
solution. The demonstrations will be jointly conducted by note handlers Global
Payment Technologies and JCM American; coin handlers AstroSys International,
Coin Mechanisms and Money Controls; hopper manufacturers Asahi Seiko and
Himecs; and touch-screen manufacturers 3-M Touch Systems and Elo Touchsystems.
Solomon said, "The fact that so many manufacturers have come together
speaks volumes about the importance of GSA, its work, and the need for these
standards to go forward. As an operator, it is very exciting that these
efforts will give properties the freedom to build their casino floors as they
best see fit, not by what games and what systems might communicate. GSA has
led us to a turning point in the history of gaming, and is now producing
tangible results on the gaming floor. GSA continues to play a critical role in
defining the future course and direction of gaming technology."
About the Gaming Standards Association (GSA): The Gaming Standards
Association (GSA) is an international trade association representing gaming
manufacturers, suppliers, operators and regulators. The organization
facilitates the identification, definition, development, promotion, and
implementation of open standards to enable innovation, education, and
communication for the benefit of the entire industry. Since its incorporation
on May 6, 1998, GSA has grown to 54 members representing a wide cross section
of the global gaming industry. Platinum members include Aristocrat
Technologies Inc.; Bally Gaming and Systems (AGI); Harrah's Entertainment
(HET); Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (ISLE); Mandalay Resort Group (MBG) and WMS
Gaming Inc. (WMS). Other members include: 3M Touch Systems (MMM); AGMMA -
Australasian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association; Alliance Gaming
Services.; AstroSys International Ltd.; Atronic Americas LLC; BMM North
America; Boyd Gaming Corporation (BYD); Cadillac Jack; CashCode Company Inc.;
Casino Management Association; Cirsa Interactive; Coin Mechanisms Inc.; Elo
Touchsystems; Ensico d.o.o.; European Gaming Organization; Foxwoods Resort
Casino; Friedberg & Associates; GameTech International, Inc. (GMTC); Gaming
Consultants International; Gaming Laboratories International, Inc; Giesecke &
Devrient; GGS; Global Payment Technologies Inc. (GPTX); Glory USA Inc.; Gold
Club; GTECH (GTK); Himecs Co, Ltd.; JCM American Corporation; Konami Gaming
Inc.; Loto-Quebec; Mars Electronics International; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
Business Development Authority; Mikohn Gaming Corporation (MIKN); MIS Group;
Molex Incorporated; Money Controls; Octavian International, Ontario Lottery &
Gaming Corporation; Park Place Entertainment; Scientific Games (SGMS); Sierra
Design Group; Sigma Game Inc.; Soanar; Spielo; Transact Technologies (TACT);
Unidesa Gaming; Universal Distributing of Nevada and UNLV International Gaming
Institute. For more information, visit http://www.gamingstandards.com.
NOTICE: The Gaming Standards Association has not adopted the Gaming
Device Standard ("GDS") or Best of Breed as a protocol, specification or
standard, and they are currently works in progress. There is a possibility
that the use or implementation of the GDS or Best of Breed may implicate
intellectual property rights owned by parties who have not authorized such
use. No position is taken by GSA or its Members with respect to the existence
and/or validity of the intellectual property rights of others or the terms or
conditions, if any, under which such rights may be made available from the
holder of any such rights. GSA encourages potential users of any protocol,
specification or standard to independently evaluate and respect the
intellectual property rights of others.
SOURCE Gaming Standards Association
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.gamingstandards.com
CONTACT:
Peter DeRaedt, President of Gaming Standards
Association, +1-775-829 2336, or pres@gamingstandards.com; or
Paul Speirs, VP Corp. Comm. & PR of Hall Communications,
+1-702-260-4700, or pauls@hallcomm.com, for Gaming Standards
Association
|
