Gaming Standards Association An Introduction

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Gaming Standards AssociationAn Introduction
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Agenda

• Global Trends
• What is GSA?
• Why Standards?
• What are Gaming Standards?
• GSAs three standards BOB, S2S GDS
• GSA Certification
• Q A

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Global Trends

• Gaming Transformation from Standalone to
  Distribution Channel Methodology
• Remote Configuration (supported by current
  technology)
• Initial game setup
• Download will drive new floor network technology
• Payload code (game or peripheral - firmware/OS),
  Wave file, Templates
• Game themes
• Server based gaming
• Linking of players to enhance community
  experience
• Operators
• Streamline Operation
• Increase Interoperability
• Have Exit Strategy
• Manufacturers
• Network Centric vs Game Centric - Applications
• Avoid duplication of efforts on non-core
  technology

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What is GSA?
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What is GSA - Our Mission

• GSA is an international trade association
  representing gaming manufacturers, suppliers,
  operators.
• 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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Gaming Standards Association - GSA

• International trade association representing
  gaming manufacturers, suppliers, operators
• Incorporated in 1998 as a non-profit association
  in CA
• Currently 68 global members
• Received member commitment 5.9M in cash and an
  estimated 30M in additional resources
• Developed 3 core communication protocol standards
• Reduced all standards to practice

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Our Platinum Members
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2005 Board Of Directors

• Chair Lyle Bell Seminole Tribe of Florida
• Vice Chair Mark Lipparelli Bally Gaming and
  Systems
• Secretary John Boushy Harrahs Entertainment
• Treasurer Fred Lychock R. Franco USA
• Jeanne Marie Wilkins Argosy Gaming
• Bob DelRossie Aristocrat Technologies
• Joe Bailo Atronic Americas
• Derrik Khoo eGenting
• Steve Sutherland Konami Gaming
• Brendan OConnor Multimedia Games
• Ron Harris Rocket Gaming
• Jon Berkley TransAct Technologies
• Moti Vyas Viejos Gaming
• Rob Siemasko WMS Gaming

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Organization
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Membership Growth
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Membership Composition
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Global Membership
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Association Milestones

• 1998 - Gaming Manufacturers Association (GAMMA)
  formed
• 2001 - Operators invited to join the organization
• 2001 - GAMMA becomes the Gaming Standards
  Association (GSA)
• 2002 - Regulatory Advisory Committee to include
  regulators
• 2004 - Formal standards are released for GDS,
  BOB, and S2S
• 2004 - BOB and GDS simulators are developed
  (alpha test)
• 2005 - Formal implementation training program for
  developers
• 2005 - First S2S installations operational in
  Alabama and Florida
• 2005 - GSA announces its BOB V1.1 and S2S V1.1
  standards
• 2005 - GSA releases GDS toolkit
• 2005 GSA releases BOB Host and EGM Simulators
• 2005 - GSA opens its standards to the world
• 2005 GSA and IGT join forces

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Why Standards?
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Dataflow without Standards
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Dataflow with Standards
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What are our Standards?
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Gaming Standards Drive Business Value
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Enable Communication on Three Levels
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Why Were They Developed?

• To provide a standardized method for
  communication
• To address the problem of having gt30 different
  languages on the gaming floor
• To enable operators to have valuable business
  information about patron activity

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How Were They Developed?

• Developed by members of Gaming Standards
  Association (GSA)
• Operators
• Game and Peripheral Manufacturers
• System and Lottery Suppliers
• Regulators
• Cross-pollination of ideas
• Much richer protocols than can be developed by
  any one company alone

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Result Improved Efficiency

• Better interoperability between different
  manufacturers equipment
• All 3 protocols (GDS, BOB, S2S) work together by
  design
• More better choices
• Buying decisions can be based on quality, options
  and cost-effectiveness, rather than adhering to a
  proprietary solution
• Reduce operational costs
• Simpler, repeatable solutions
• Deploy new technologies quickly
• Maximize utilization of staff resources

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Value Proposition

• Visibility
• Standards enable data communication on three
  levels GDS, BOB, S2S and provide 360 degree
  visibility of patron behaviors, playing habit,
  game preferences, dining, hospitality,
  entertainment activities
• Portability
• More choices, simpler repeatable solutions,
  higher quality, Exit option
• Investment Protection
• Open standards are more robust
• Ensures smooth migration path to achieve new
  functionality
• Increased ROI
• Increase revenues by 360 degree visibility on
  customer data
• Decrease costs by using more effective and
  efficient tools to manage, analyze and evaluate
  productivity and profitability of operations

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GSAs Three Standards
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Three Complementary Standards

• GDS EGM to peripheral devices.
• BOB EGM to back-end systems.
• S2S System to system and system to non-EGM
  devices, e.g. kiosks.
• All three standards are designed to work together
  as a total solution.

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Gaming Device Standard (GDS) Protocol
CoinAcceptor
GDS
CoinHopper
GameControl
NoteAcceptor
Printer
TouchScreen
EGM to Peripherals protocol
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Benefits of GDS

• Standardized communications between EGM and its
  peripheral devices.
• Plug and Play USB communication.
• Peripherals from different vendors can be easily
  swapped.
• Peripheral device provides detailed information
  to EGM vendor, product, serial number, etc.
• Coupled with BOB, peripheral device information
  is sent to the host systems.
• Device commands (and code) can be sent from host
  systems through the EGM to the peripheral device.

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GDS Workgroup Update

• First device protocols are complete
• Note Acceptor
• Coin Acceptor
• Coin Hopper
• Touch Screen
• Development suite is complete
• Whats next?
• Note Acceptor code download
• Printer interface and template download
• Standard physical connectors

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Best of Breed (BOB) Protocol
Vouchers
BOB
CoinAcceptor
Player Tracking
CoinHopper
GameControl
Slot Accounting
NoteAcceptor
Printer
Progressives
TouchScreen
Wagering Accounts
EGM
BOB Host Systems
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What Is BOB?

• Communications between EGMs and back-end servers.
• Designed for the networked casino floor
  environment.
• Based on current, proven technology standards
• XML, SOAP, Web Services, etc.
• Consists of three independent components
• BOB Message Standards
• BOB Transport Standards
• BOB Configuration Standards
• Expandable from low-speed (EGM to SMIB over a
  serial link) to very high-speed communications
  (EGM to back-end servers over Ethernet).

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High-level BOB Network Features

• High-speed communications between EGMs and
  back-end systems (TCP/IP).
• Standard network equipment and protocols can be
  used to link EGMs to back-end systems.
• EGMs can communicate with multiple back-end
  systems.
• Different systems can manage different
  applications.
• One Host can manage vouchers while another
  manages player tracking.

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Here is what is on the gaming floor today...
Looks like hex to me
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A BOB Meter Request
A little easier to understand
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BOB Update

• Core Classes
• 1) Devices
• 2) Communications
• 3) Meters
• 4) Cabinet
• 5) Processor

• Additional Classes
• 1) Coin Acceptor
• 2) Note Acceptor Dispenser
• 3) Coin Hopper
• 4) Printer
• 5) Handpay
• 6) Progressive
• 7) Bonus
• 8) Player
• 9) Voucher
• 10) Wagering Account Transfer
• 11) Game Authentication

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BOB Current Activities

• Remote Configuration (member comments)
• Game and Peripheral Download (member comments)
• Central Determination (member comments)
• EGM Virtual Machine (in development
  multi-company effort)
• New classes smart cards, tournaments,
  additional GDS devices.

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System to System (S2S) Protocol
S2S
Voucher Manager
Kiosks
CoinAcceptor
S2S
Player Tracking
CoinHopper
Point ofSale
GameControl
S2S
NoteAcceptor
Slot Accounting
Coin/BillCounters
Printer
S2S
TouchScreen
Class IIServers
Progressive
S2S
EGM
Host Systems and other S2S devices
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Benefits of S2S

• Standardizes communications amongst servers and
  devices other than EGMs.
• S2S complements GDS and BOB a consistent set of
  data is communicated at all levels.
• Supports plug and play for systems and other
  devices.
• Interfacing - all components speak the same
  language.
• Integrating - custom solutions are developed for
  each new conversation.
• Standardization promotes portability,
  interoperability and reusability.

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S2S Update

• S2S Message Classes
• 1) Player Registration
• 2) Player Rating
• 3) Table Games Accounting
• 4) Complimentaries
• 5) EGM Registration
• 6) EGM Accounting Meters
• 7) EGM Events
• 8) Vouchers
• 9) Wagering Account Transfers
• 10) Jackpots And Handpays

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S2S and Class II

• In a Class II environment, each manufacturer
  provides their own server for central
  determination and other game functions.
• The Problem three game manufacturers means
• Three separate accounting reports,
• Three player tracking feeds, and
• Three voucher systems.
• vouchers are only redeemable on the same
  manufacturers games.
• vouchers are only redeemable at the same
  manufacturers cashiering station.
• Class II presents many of the same challenges
  that will be encountered with server-based gaming.

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Class II Before S2S
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The Vision
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The S2S Solution

• Each host server now talks S2S to a central
  consolidation server, which provides
• Consolidated accounting,
• Central management of all vouchers,
• Central player tracking and reporting,
• And, happier players and casino management!

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Class II Today
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GSA CertificationRegulator Benefits
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GSA Certification

• GSA Compliance testing is NOT Regulatory Approval
• Independent testing by 3rd party lab using GSA
  tools and pre- defined test scripts
• 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
  USB device)

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GSA SAS 6.01 Compliance

• Current SAS implementations are all different
• Interoperability Requirements Specification
  (Operators Checklist)
• Section 1 Minimum Required Accounting and
  Security
• Section 2 Advanced Accounting
• Section 3 Ticketing
• Section 4 Real Time Events
• Section 5 Progressives
• Section 6 System Bonusing
• Section 7 Cashless
• Section 8 Tournament
• Section 9 Authentication
• Section 10 Miscellaneous and Legacy Support

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Benefits for Regulators

• Independently monitor EGMs (not going through
  other systems) review machine behavior
• 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

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GSA Standards / Tools for Regulators

• GSA Standards are available for free
• GSA Tools / development suites are available for
  free from RAC committee
• Please contact sec_at_gamingstandards.com or visit
  our web site www.gamingstandards.com

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Key Features of GSA Standards

• Offer 360º visibility of data communication
• Support all existing features operators are used
  to today
• Designed to meet the needs of casino, lottery and
  central-determination (class II) applications
• Offer advanced features
• Remote floor configuration
• Video Lottery Extensions
• Central program authentication
• Detailed diagnostic data
• Support server based gaming
• Dynamic game configuration
• Peripheral and game code downloading
• Program authentication
• Extensible

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Companies supporting GSA Standards

• Aristocrat
• Asahi Seiko
• Atronic Gaming
• Bally Gaming Systems
• CashCode
• Coin Mechanisms, Inc.
• Cirsa
• Harrahs Entertainment
• IGT
• JCM
• Konami Gaming
• Mars Electronics

• MGM
• MoneyControls
• Multimedia Games
• NRT
• Nova Gaming
• Progressive Gaming
• Revive Partners
• R Franco
• Rocket Gaming
• Seminole Tribe
• WMS Gaming

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Q A
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See You All At G2E
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What About My Existing Machines?
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Operators Using GSA Standards

• Seminole Tribe Florida
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Hollywood
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Coconut
  Creek
• Poarch Creek Band of Alabama
• Riverside Entertainment Center Wetumpka
• Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma
• Multi property linking

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Migration Challenges

• The industry also needs an open protocol for
  older games.
• Some existing games cant handle XML and/or
  Ethernet.
• Serial is not as fast as Ethernet.
• Goal - use existing SMIBs to implement BOB now.
• Need a protocol that works on an embedded
  processor.
• Retain the BOB data model, if possible.
• Continue to use open standards.

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The sBOB Solution Set

• Continues to use the BOB data model.
• Only changes the transport method.
• WBXML - encodes XML into binary representation.
• PPP - Standard for TCP/IP communications over
  Serial.
• Can be implemented now on traditional EGMs.

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sBOB - BOB over a serial link