GSA Overview to GREF January 2006

GSA Overview to GREF January 2006

2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation! 2006 GREF

What is GSA?

Future Technology Realities in Our Industry

GSA’s three standards: GDS, G2S, and S2S

GSA Certification

General Q & A

Agenda


What is GSA - Our Mission

The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association that creates benefits for

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.


Our Platinum Members


Companies supporting GSA Standards 3M Touch Systems AGMMA Alliance Gaming Systems American Gaming Systems Aristocrat Technologies Aruze Gaming America Atronic Americas Atronic Systems Bally Gaming and Systems Belatra BMM CashCode Company Dakota Gaming Nation Detroit Entertainment E-Genting Holdings Euro Games Technology Flint & K Foxwoods Resorts FutureLogic GameLogic GCI Giesecke & Devrient GLI

Global Payment Technology Harrahs Entertainment Himecs Co Holland Casinos HTNG IGT Intralot JCM Konami Gaming Mars Electronics Money Controls Multimedia Games MSLA Nick Farley & Associates Nidec Sankyo OLGC Penn National Gaming Progressive Gaming R Franco Radical Blue Gaming Rocket Gaming Systems Scientific Games

Seminole Tribe of Florida

(Hardrock) ShuffleMaster Standing Stone Gaming Summit Amusement Transact Technologies Unidesa Gaming and Systems UNLV Video Gaming Technology Viejas Casino WMS Gaming


Global Membership

N. America62%

Europe19%

Australasia10%

Japan9%


Membership Composition

Operators/Hotel19%

Manufacturers48%

OEM17%

Affiliates6%

Advisors10%


Organization


Member Commitment

Members continue to support GSA – to date: $8.2M in cash and $35M in additional resources

Developed 3 core communication protocol standards - new classes continue to be developed

Developed tools for implementation


Association Milestones

1998 - Gaming Manufacturers Association (GAMMA) incorporated

2000 - Operators invited to join the organization

2000 - GAMMA becomes GSA - Gaming Standards Association

2002 - Regulatory Advisory Committee formed

2004 - Formal standards are released for GDS, BOB, and S2S

2004 - BOB and GDS simulators are developed

2005 - Formal implementation training program for developers


Achievements 2005 BOB “Under the Hood” – Formal implementation training program for developers

GSA Road Show – Operator, Manufacturer and Regulator updates held throughout the world

S2S installations operational in Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma

GSA releases BOB V1.1 and S2S V1.1 standards

GSA releases GDS toolkit

GSA releases BOB V1.1 Host and EGM Simulators

GSA establishes the Architectural Oversight Committee

GSA establishes a separate Transport Committee

GSA makes its standards open and available to the world

BOB ‘virtual machine’ project: first inter-company initiative led by Bally

GSA and IGT join forces and target G2S (BOB/SSAS integration) by Q1/2006

Future Technology Realities in the Gaming Industry


Future Technology Realities FROM TO

Proprietary machine design

Many hardware platforms Many proprietary operating systems

No backward compatibility

Non-standard peripherals

Few content providers

Physical distribution of game content

Machine software personality manually installed, causing incorrect configuration of games

PC-like slot machines

Fewer hardware platforms Fewer standard operating systems

Backward compatibility Standard peripheral command sets and protocols, allowing for interchangeability Many content providers Centralized distribution of game content via intranet Machine hardware and software personality broadcast from the system automatically


Future Technology Realities FROM TO

Slot machines are single purpose

Game centric Numerous proprietary communication protocols Multiple wired network connections

Simple methods of employee and player identification Difficult to interface disparate systems

Transaction content not fully available

Slot machines will become multi-function Network centric Computer industry standard communication protocols Single wire/wireless network connections Biometrics Standards allow for simple “plug and play” addition of various systems All transaction information made available to operators and regulators

GSA’s Three Standards


Gaming Device Standard (GDS) Protocol

GameControl

CoinAcceptor

CoinHopper

NoteAcceptor

Printer

TouchScreen

GDS

EGM to Peripherals protocol


Benefits of GDS Standardizes communications between EGM and its

peripheral devices Easily change between peripherals from different vendors Plug and Play USB communication Peripheral device provides detailed information to EGM Coupled with BOB, peripheral device info is sent to the host

systems Device commands (and code) can be sent from host systems

through the EGM to the peripheral device


Game To System (G2S) Protocol

GameControl

Progressives

Slot Accounting

Vouchers

Player Tracking

G2SCoin

Acceptor

CoinHopper

NoteAcceptor

Printer

TouchScreen

EGM Host Systems

Wagering Accounts


What Is G2S? The industry’s protocol for the networked casino floor

environment Communications between EGMs and back-end servers Based on current, proven technology standards; XML, SOAP,

Web Services, etc. Expandable from low-speed (G2S messages between an

EGM and SMIB over a serial link) to very high-speed communications (EGM to multiple back-end servers over Ethernet)

Consists of three independent components:G2S Message StandardsG2S Transport StandardsG2S Configuration Standards


The Merging of Two Protocols

IGT creates SuperSAS, GSA develops BOB

September 2005 - IGT rejoins GSA

IGT and GSA agree to merge their two protocols

Result is Best of Both = Game To System (G2S)

Analysis is complete

Core Class documents are being developed

Development Tools will follow shortly


Here is what is on the gaming floor today...

[Looks like hex to me…]


A G2S Meter Request EGM Response

<meterInfo metertype =“onDemand”><perfMeter

Metername="coinIn" denomid=”5”meterValue=“50015”/>

<perfMeter Metername="coinIn" denomid=”25”meterValue=“1003525”/>

<perfMeter Metername="coinIn" denomid=”100”meterValue=“2504100” />

</meterinfo>

Host Request <getMeters> <getPerfMeters

meterName="coinIn" themeId = “sum”paytableId=”sum”denomId=“all”

/> </getMeters>

[A little easier to understand]


System to System (S2S) Protocol

GameControl

Progressive

Slot Accounting

Voucher Manager

Player Tracking

Coin/BillCounters

S2S

S2S

S2S

S2S

CoinAcceptor

CoinHopper

NoteAcceptor

Printer

TouchScreen

EGM

Host Systems and other S2S devices

Kiosks

Point ofSale

Class IIServers

S2S


Benefits of S2S Standardizes communication between servers and devices

With S2S, G2S, and GDS, note acceptor info is available to a back end server

Standard server protocols open up new solutions

Supports “plug and play” for systems and peripheral devices

Interfacing - all components speak the same language

Integrating - Custom solutions are developed for each new conversation

Standardization promotes portability, interoperability and reusability

GSA Certification


GSA Certification GSA compliance – independent testing by 3rd party lab using

GSA tools and pre-defined test scripts

GSA Compliance testing is NOT Regulatory Approval

All parties benefit through Improved speed to market for products Products work together when they show up on your floor Plug and Play (easier installs, reduced service calls)

Protocol certification streamlines the regulatory process Reduces the quantity and variety of tests that must be performed

If both devices are certified, they should work together the first time they are connected (like your PC and printer)


GSA’s New Certification Program Goal = Correct and consistent implementation of GSA’s

standards Formal process for the testing and certification of

Gaming Industry Products Certified Testing Agencies Certified Test Suites

Interoperability Centers will be available for manufacturers Third Party Testing Authority will certify Test Suites and

Testing Agencies Products passing certification will be published in the

Certification Register on GSA’s web site


What Regulators Said Standards would improve the time for regulatory approval of devices

and/or software Agree 93%

Are regulators in favor of the move towards standardization in the gaming industry Agree 90%

Standardization of Metering functions would help regulators Agree 86%

Creating standards for gaming technology would make training regulators easier Agree 93%

Common features among manufacturers would simplify testing and approval Agree 90%

Centralized verification of games and peripherals would make regulation easier Agree 85%


Benefits for Regulators 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


Moving Forward

In November 2005, the Australian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association (AGMMA) recommended GSA’s G2S as the Protocol Standard for New South Wales, Australia

January 2006 - GSA’s Regulatory Advisory Committee was redefined to provide a high quality communication channel for regulators.

For on-going regulatory questions or inquires on protocols, please contact [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Q & A

Documents

GSA Overview to GREF January 2006