gaming standards association the drive to protocol standards
DESCRIPTION
Gaming Standards Association The Drive to Protocol Standards . As Nevada Gaming Commissioner Randolph Townsend stated at a workshop: (the Boyd School of Law, Sep 2011) To interest the next generation of casino players, the state has to be on the cutting edge of technology. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Gaming Standards AssociationThe Drive to Protocol Standards
As Nevada Gaming Commissioner Randolph Townsend stated at a workshop: (the Boyd School of Law, Sep 2011)
To interest the next generation of casino players, the state has to be on the cutting edge of technology.
“Its not about the green felt anymore, its not about dealing cards anymore, its not even about slot machines anymore – its all about technology”
The Drive to Protocol Standards
Industry Getting Together Standards Update Regulator Benefits
Spheres of Influences Evolution of Gaming Regulatory Challenges Collaboration
INDUSTRY GETTING TOGETHER
PLATINUM MEMBERS
Industry Getting TogetherHistory / Structure
GSA is an international non-profit trade association of gaming manufacturers, suppliers and operators established in 1998
GSA is funded through corporate membership dues
GSA is organized in committees of members Board of Directors Technical committees (TRA, S2S, G2S, GDS, AOC) Certification and Interoperability Committee (CIC) Operators Advisory Committee (OAC)
Industry Getting TogetherMission Statement
The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association that creates benefits for gaming manufacturers,
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.
STANDARDS UPDATE
GSA Standards
Serial GAT Transport
GSA Standards
GDS – Gaming Device Standards – v1.2 April 2012 USB-based protocol used by Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) to
communicate with peripheral devices. Note acceptors, hoppers, printers, card readers, etc.
G2S – Game-to-System – v2.1 April 2012 Network-based protocol used to communicate between EGMs and
systems. Meters, events, ticket-in-ticket-out, progressives, bonuses, etc.
S2S – System-to-System – v1.6 March 2012 Network-based protocol used to communicate amongst gaming and
non-gaming systems. Player registration, player comps, table games, G2S support, etc.
GSA Standards
Transport – Points-to-Point and Multicast – v1.2 July 2012 A common set of network-based protocols used to communicate G2S
and S2S messages. SOAP, HTTP, TLS, NTP, DNS, DHCP, etc.
Serial GAT – Game Authentication Terminal – v4.0 Oct 2011 Serial protocol used to authenticate software on EGMs and their
peripheral devices. Can also be accessed through G2S and S2S.
GSA StandardsCertification
Streamlines the regulatory process by reducing quantity and variety of test to be performed
Provide assurance to regulators that an end-point meets the requirements of the protocol.
Notes: GSA certification is NOT regulatory certification. Regulatory requirements may go beyond the protocol requirements. Test labs must be ISO 17025 accredited for GSA standards. The technical committees produce a “checklist” of required and optional
features. A product may be certified for a subset of a protocol. Certified products are posted to the GSA website.
Central Monitoring System Recommendations (GSA OAC31 – S2S extensions)
Fixed Odds
Table Games
Parimutuel
Internet
Gaming Machines
Lottery
1. Registration of operators, properties, and EGMs2. Reporting of wagers and winnings3. Reporting of security-related events4. Authentication of game software5. Remote disablement of EGMs
REGULATOR BENEFITS
Regulators Benefits of Standards
First: Allows for more effective Monitoring Second: Provide more accurate Reporting
Access to data that can be used, manipulated and analyzed GSA standards put regulators in control
Owner/Guest host model enables detailed remote monitoring Unbiased access to data directly from the gaming end points On-demand compliance reports showing legality of installed software
versions (GAT) Configuration changes to gaming machines Peripheral firmware download to printers and bill validators Bi directional interrogation of gaming machines for validation of device
configuration Standards will help to better monitor and control the industry Share cross jurisdictional business and technical requirements
Unfettered Data Access for Regulators
Remote Regulatory Monitoring (G2S)
InternetGSA’s G2S Protocol
In-House Servers
RegulatoryServer
Regulatory server needs to be
always available
Remote Regulatory Monitoring (S2S)
InternetGSA’s G2S Protocol
RegulatoryServer
In-House Servers
Remote Regulatory Server usesS2S or existing protocol to
receive accounting meters andevents through in-house serverSite Controller
SPHERES OF INFLUENCES
PLAYER
REGULATOR
PA RT I C I PA N T S I N G A M I N GOPERATO
R
Policy Makers Domain
Consumer Domain
Industry Domain
T H E S TA K E H O L D E R S D O M A I N S
Governments (Tribal, State, Federal), Policy Makers, Regulators, Law Enforcement, Legal systems
Family Members, Morals and Social groups and the Public
Operators, Test Labs, Service Providers, Trade Organizations, Supporting Industry, Unions, Lobby groups
Sets proper behavior - Awareness, Educational Campaigns, Public funding of NGO & Agencies
Expects to be protected as a player and as a consumer through preventive measures and Public Information. In some societies he expects to be compensated also for the cost of remedial measures.
Demands higher economic benefits
Increases product awareness and facilitates accessibility
Controls the gaming market by setting the parameters on legal rights through licensing, performs Integrity checks, establishes standards and procedures, carry our continuous monitoring and supervision of the industryDemands share of control, Self regulation
BALANCING THE FORCES
PLAYER
Regulating Land Based Gaming
GAME
Gaming Establishment
Full Control of POINT OF
PRODUCTION
Full Control of POINT OF
CONSUMPTION
Same political jurisdiction THE LOCATION OF THE
WAGER IS WHERE IT IS • OFFERED,• ACCEPTED, &• RECORDED
REGULATOR
OPERATOR
O N L I N E G A M I N G R E G U L AT O R Y M O D E L
The Internet
Gaming Server
Plays Remotely
Manages the Gaming Services
Remotely
Point of Production
Point of some Economic Benefit
Point of Consumption
Point of Real Economic Benefit
THE LOCATION OF THE WAGER IS WHERE IT IS: • OFFERED,• ACCEPTED, &• RECORDED
Location of an Online Wager
The 3 locations of the wager is where it is Offered, Accepted and Recorded.
These locations may be in different political/judicial boundaries
Currently all jurisdiction regulates the location where the wager is offered
Jurisdictions that control their gaming markets insist that these locations must be one and the same
EVOLUTION OF GAMING
Evolution of Gaming
Stand Alone EGM Accounting / Player Tracking /
Security
TITO / Download / Remote Config
Online Gaming / Cloud
0123456789
10
Complexity
GSA formationOperators, Test Labs
GSA a Platform for Global Collaboration
Protocol Standards / Interoperability
Cross Jurisdictional standard reporting, Online player protection
INDUSTRY DOMAIN
POLICY DOMAIN Monitoring / Reporting/Transparency
Multiple Standards
Evolution of Gaming Regulation
• Game Centric • System Centric
• Gaming Policy focused on games played within controlled environment• Technical Standards re cabinet, assoc. equipment, communication• Testing & Certification• Investigation & Audit• All gaming activity within licensed property
• Online gaming challenges principles of existing regulations• Gaming device outside controlled environment• Everything is happening on the system• System parts can be located outside jurisdictional control• Focus of regulatory control needs to be on the system
Approach to Regulatory Policy
• Prescriptive
• Risk-Based
ENFORCING RULES
e.g.: Suitability as operator – check everything about the candidate
When operating a casino, a regulator does not check every game. Operator does that based on a set of proceduresThere are a set of check/balances
?
How do we achieve a balance?
A Standards Based Approach
• Standards
• Prescriptive• Risk-Based
• Transparenteveryone aware of same requirements/obligations
• Subjective No interpretation to the rules• Collaboration Wikinomics based on open standards• Reduce costs As control systems are standards based• Drive innovation Easier for community to develop new technologies based on open standards
A standards based approach to regulations is ideal for regulators and operators since it is:
REGULATORY CHALLENGES
Challenges for RegulatorsTechnology
Rapid technology innovation extending gaming from rigidly regulated platform to public personal device
Game centric to System centric
Regulators are loosing full control of the gaming ECO system
Regulators need better systems to reach out to the game play
Regulators developed standards somewhat in isolation
Challenges for Regulators
Regulators everywhere face the same challenges of collecting, processing and reporting information more efficiently, accurately and cost effectively
Regulators need the tools to monitor the industry and protect the consumer and they need to be preventative rather than curative
The amount of information that needs to be processed is beyond the current resources
Online gaming collaboration between the various stakeholders in the industry is essential to create solid regulations using common standards
Regulators Benefits of StandardsFor anyone in the regulatory community responsible for gathering and preparing large amounts of data for analysis and decision making, standards based reporting offers substantial benefits by:
Improving the quality, accuracy and reliability of information as it enters, is processed within and then reported by regulators
Enhancing the breadth and depth of information that can be included in analyses and reports on a routine basis, with minimal to no added cost
Addressing the need to find long-term solutions to pulling time and costs out of the reporting process
Encouraging stronger ongoing communication and cooperation among members of a regulator’s information supply chain through development and usage of shared information standards
PWC – standards based regulatory reporting / XBRL
Without standards we don’t have benchmark for practices for online gaming
COLLABORATION
MacroWikinomicsAnthony D Williams
MacrowikinomicsMass collaboration – by engaging all stakeholders - is reinventing the way businesses communicate, solve business problems, create value and compete in the new world economy.
We are faced with many global threats that undermine global peace and stability:
Cyber attacks Food security (e.g.: tainted milk) Toxic toys Climate change Water scarcity Emerging technologies Infectious diseases…
http://anthonydwilliams.com/2011/01/20/a-regulatory-system-that-learns-and-improves/A regulatory system that learns and improves
The New World of Collaboration
Collaboration
Todays citizens are armed with information and willing and able to solve these issues. How to make them an extension of the regulatory system and bring the gaming industry together?
GSA has the ability to re-invent itself by moving away from the protocol centric focus and create an environment allowing global collaboration addressing the true needs of the industry. GSA should invite other stakeholders to join on this quest.
Thank you to all GSA contributors
A great book to read - “FATAL SYSTEM ERROR”
“Open Standards give you peace of mind”
STANDARDS
CERTIFICATION
MEMBERSHIP
www.gamingstandards.com