Transcript GSA 2007 Operator's Forum - Gaming Standards Association

GSA
OPERATOR’S FORUM
August 22, 2007
www.gamingstandards.com
Agenda
• Opening Remarks / GSA Overview (9:00 am)
– Don Karrer, Penn National Gaming
• The Power of GSA Standards (9:10 am)
– Don Karrer, Penn National Gaming
• Vendor Product Release Schedule (10:15 am)
– Peter DeRaedt, GSA President
• Break (10:30 am)
• Preparing for the Implementation Process (10:45 am)
– Lyle Bell, Seminole Gaming
– Moti Vyas, Viejas Enterprises
• Manufacturer’s Roundtable and Lunch (12:00 pm)
– Manufacturer’s Representatives
Who are we?
• Who is GSA?
- We are a non-profit organization established in May 1998
• Who are we affiliated with?
-
Australian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association
Macao Polytechnic Institute
Multi-State Lottery Association
UNLV
• How many members do we have?
- A total of members = 71
 13 Platinum, 20 Gold, 29 Silver
 5 Advisory, 4 Affiliate
Who are we?
• Vision
- To be the leading standards forum that creates value by facilitating
innovation and efficiencies for the gaming community.
• 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.
• Values
- We will operate with integrity, fairness and transparency
- We believe that open standards benefit our industry because they
provide speed to market, innovation, value, and extended useful life
Global Membership
Oceania
11%
Europe
14%
Asia
8%
Americas
67%
Membership Composition
OEM 7
11%
Affiliates 4
6%
Advisors 5
8%
Manufacturers 40
56%
Operators/Hotel 16
23%
Education
• Donated funds to UNLV Foundation to establish a GSA
Certified Engineering Program
- International Gaming Institute & School of Informatics at the UNLV
- Two GSA Affiliate Professors of Gaming Technology
• Collaboration with Macau Polytechnic Institute
• Course focus: XML & Web services, Game Play,
Configuration & Player Management
• Certification Levels:
- G2S Intern (G2S-I), G2S Certified Engineer (G2S-E),
- GSA Certified Engineer (GSA-E)
Why are we holding an
Operator’s Forum?
• To educate our members and member prospects on the
existing capabilities and unlimited potential of the protocols
• To share implementation experience of early adopters
• To discuss G2S migration strategy
• To announce the formation of a GSA Operator’s Advisory
Committee consisting of some of the leading gaming
operators
• Ensure alignment between the operator and manufacturer
communities
The Power of
GSA Standards
Topics
• Introduction to the protocols
• Review current capabilities
• Determine future requirements
GSA Protocols
Introduction to the GSA Protocols
• G2S - Game to System
• S2S - System to System
• GDS - Gaming Device Standard
Intro to the Protocols
• G2S - Game to System Protocol
– Used to connect Gaming Devices to back of house systems
– SAS Replacement
• S2S - System to System Protocol
– Used to connect servers to servers
– In the field connecting EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine) Central Servers to a
Central Accounting server
Intro to the Protocols
• G2S and S2S protocols are made up of “classes”
– The classes separate the protocol into smaller parts with each performing a specific
function
•
The name of the class is typically the function it provides
– Some classes represent physical devices (money acceptors, printers etc.)
– Some class functions represent a business need (such as vouchers or handpay)
– Some represent a protocol function (such as Communications, or registerClient)
Intro to the Protocols
• All Classes have at least one Host
– Owner host - the computer/Server that owns and is responsible for managing a class
– Guest host - primarily a “listen only” computer/server that can subscribe to events and
request meters status, logs and profile information from a class (G2S Only)
• Guest host capability varies by class
Intro to the Protocols
• G2S and S2S protocols generate events
– Everything that happens on the floor generates an event. For example: money in,
money out, coin jam, game started, game ended, secondary game started, player
card activity, hot player threshold reached, etc.
– An application / operator can elect to subscribe to any event of interest and can elect
to include the data affected by the event
– When an event occurs, a message is sent to all who subscribe to the event
Intro to the Protocols
• Transport Protocol
–
–
–
–
Applies to G2S and S2S
The Transport is the cargo truck – the cargo is the G2S and S2S messages.
Provides security (SSL) for both protocols
Ensures the G2S and S2S messages get to the correct destination
• Point to Point: guarantees delivery
• Multicast: broadcast to select group of games (e.g.: progressive updates…)
Intro to the Protocols
• GDS – Gaming Device Standard
– Internal to EGM
– USB protocol which connects peripherals (note acceptor, card reader, printer, etc.) to
the main computer board in the EGM
• SAS – Slot Accounting System
– This protocol is the most widely used in the industry
– GSA Certification process for SAS currently in place (Operators are now starting to
require certification from their manufacturers)
GSA Protocols
Current Capabilities
What can they do today?
Current Capabilities
• Real-time or Scheduled Software Download to EGMs
Major benefits:
– More flexible floor, allowing dynamic addition of the games patrons want to play
– Software downloading for peripheral devices such as printers and note acceptors is
next
– Reduced down time by not having to shut down individual games
Current Capabilities
• Central management of EGMs
Major benefits:
– Allows for theme, denomination and pay table changes
– Denomination changes on slot machines are now as easy as denomination changes
on table games
– Changes to any G2S enabled EGM can be made from a central server, independent
of the EGM manufacturer
Current Capabilities
• Provide 3rd party application access to floor data
Major benefits:
– Reduce reliance on a single vendor solution
– Offer solutions at the speed of business
– Ability to react to events as they happen
• Locate hot players while they are still hot
• Locate un-carded big players while they are playing
• There are 5 “Hot Player” levels; event indicates card number when one is present
Current Capabilities
• Improved access to machine meter information
Can be sent
•
•
•
•
on demand
on periodic intervals
at end of day
as result of a particular event
Major benefits;
– Reduce audit timing variances due to more flexibility in meter requests
– Any G2S host can request the meters they need
Current Capabilities
• Player tracking integration
-
Player tracking functionality is fully integrated into the protocol
Player peripherals can be on the EGM or on the SMIB
Prevents loss of partial ratings
Any G2S host can find out information about players of the game
Current Capabilities
• Secure off-line voucher validation
-
Allow players to continue to cash-out and redeem vouchers securely when the EGM
is offline
- Vouchers can be patron coupons or tickets
-
Allows for a potential relaxing of current offline regulations and MICS
Current Capabilities
• New software can be downloaded to the printer
– Coupons, comp slips, and marketing greetings can be printed on the fly
– Player specific information can be printed on the ticket
• Print the player’s name on the ticket or coupon
– New printer templates can downloaded to the printer
• A template is a printed layout with graphics and blank fields to fill in
Current Capabilities
• New software can be downloaded to the note acceptor
– Provides for easy updates as new bills are released
– Saves labor costs and reduces downtime
– The note denomination ($5, $50, etc.) accepted can be adjusted from a central host
computer for the entire floor
– Ability to quickly disable specific bills when new counterfeits come out in order to limit
exposure
– Ability to turn on/off voucher acceptance
– Support for multi-coin acceptors
Current Capabilities
• GAT – Game Authentication Terminal
– Provides validation of EGM software
• At the EGM, or the Server, or from a remote location
– Reduce completion time and effort to perform regulatory software verification
requirements
– Benefits:
• Software in EGM can be validated automatically, as often as needed
• Could compare results to those obtained by regulatory lab – be assured you are running
legitimate code
GSA Protocols
Future Requirements
What Do You Want Next?
Here are a few ideas for consideration…
Future Requirements
• What additional capabilities do you need to…
– Enhance your patron experience?
– Enhance your ability to reach your players?
– Gather information required to make your business more successful?
Future Requirements
• Employee class (S2S, G2S)
– Provide performance information
• Total resolution time for machine related issues, such as; tilts, hand pays, jackpots, etc.
– Automate the “meal book”
– Automate the tracking of mechanic’s play activity at each EGM
• Point Of Sale class (S2S)
– Issue a comp for food or beverage directly to the outlet
– Purchase show tickets with points
Future Requirements
• Entertainment class (G2S, S2S)
–
–
–
–
–
–
Make restaurant and show reservations
Enter sweepstakes / promotions from the EGM
Apply sweepstakes / promotional winnings to the EGM as non-cashable credits
Call for your car from valet
Reserve a table game from the EGM
Receive notification when your car or your table is ready
Future Requirements
• Shopping class (S2S)
– Use player points to make purchases in retail outlets
– Use retail purchases to accumulate player points
• Smart Card class (G2S, S2S)
– Card can be loaded with personal information such a as game preferences, play
history, comp level, birthday, etc.
– Information can be available and updated every time the card is inserted or removed
Future Requirements
• Estimated Completion Timeline example for adding a new class or
feature set
- 6 – 12 months for protocol enhancements
- 6 – 18 months for manufacturer EGM and Systems implementation after the features
have been incorporated into the protocol
- 3 - 6 months for regulatory approval
- Overall estimated time frame; 15 to 36 months
- The above example assumes the operators and manufacturers priorities are in
alignment and have worked together on requesting regulatory approvals
• We need more operators to actively participate in driving
innovation as opposed to waiting for others to make it happen
Future Requirements
• Now think about 3 years from now, what capabilities will be
required relative to
–
–
–
–
–
–
Player tracking
Table Games
Multi-player games
Others?
What new types of devices will be connected to the EGM?
What new technologies will you be attempting to loosely/tightly integrate into the
EGM?
– What new businesses will you be building?
Future Requirements
There is no limit to what
can be accomplished using
GSA standards
We need to start thinking outside the box!
Vendor Product
Release Schedule
How to achieve Interoperability
• How do we know that vendors have all correctly implemented the
standards?
– Validation through GSA’s Certification program
– Standard Version implementation
• Aiming towards G2E interoperability demonstration for minimum agreed
upon functionality
GSA Standards Implementation
What does it mean to the Operator?
What does it take to prepare?
A few Cold Hard Facts
• Every manufacturer is aggressively implementing G2S in its games
• SAS funeral is 1/1/11
• Most server-based games will use G2S and require a high speed
network
• Existing slot floor networks are obsolete
• G2S-based games will have cool new features that every casino HAS
to have to remain competitive
Cost Justification
• GSA has commissioned a case study to assist in justifying the
investment to senior management
• Costs/Benefits aside, the change is inevitable
• History repeats itself
– Bill Acceptors
– Ticket-In Ticket-Out
Major Migration Issues
• G2S game features likely to be available on premium games before
“Legacy” slot accounting, player tracking and TITO systems can
support G2S (a Bell Supposition, completely unsupported by
substantiated facts but consistent with past industry experience
in major new innovation)
• Impossible to make overnight conversion from Legacy to new G2Sbased floor system. Time frame is multi-month to multi-year
Major Migration Issues (continued)
• Legacy and G2S-based systems MUST operate in parallel
and harmony with each other to continue normal operations
and minimize impact on casino operations
• Cold Hard Fact: Senior Management expects a
transparent migration with no revenue interruption and a
continuing level of superb customer service
Migration Strategies
Option 1
• Buy G2S games when Senior Management wants them,
wire floor as required for new games and continue
purchasing SAS-based player tracking hardware for the
next few years
• Wait for somebody to create an innovative, simple migration
solution; or retire soon
Migration Strategies
Option 2
• Wait a year or two and plan a massive, multi-million
dollar Big-Bang conversion by perfectly executing a
project plan which, in reality, can only be
accomplished with Mythical Man Months
• Develop contingency career plan
Migration Strategies
Option 3
• Work with your system vendor to implement S2S
solutions for bridging the gap between Legacy and
G2S floor systems
• DEMAND GSA-certified G2S games and S2S
interfaces
Migration Methodology
Legacy Systems
Player
Tracking
Ticketing
Accounting
S2S
Gateway
S2S
Gateway
S2S
Gateway
S2S Protocol
S2S
Gateway
Proprietary
Protocol
GTM
Legacy
GTM
S2S Protocol
G2S
Floor Network
G2S
G2S
Floor
GTM
SAS-to-G2S
GTM
SMIB
GTM
G2S
Games
GTM
SAS
SAS
G2S
Organization Impact From New
GSA Protocol Capabilities
Traditional Silos
GM
Marketing
Slot
Operations
IT
Overlapping Responsibilities
Marketing
Promo
Setup &
Control
IT
Promo
Execution
GM
Keep
Floor
Alive
Slot
Operations
Network Dependency
• Operating the Network is like flying an airplane
– 99% Boredom
– 1% Sheer Terror
– “When the crew received the instruction, the main
landing gear was on the ground. According to the
crew statement, they noted the urgency in the
controller's voice so they knew they had to get the
aircraft airborne. FAA reported DAL1489 flew over
UAL1544 by less than 100 feet.”
Source: NTSB report Fort Lauderdale near miss 7/11/07 (Lucky Day)
Inter Property Wide Area Network
Intra Property VLANS’s
Appendix 2: Logical Layout
Seminole
Hard Rock Casino & Hotel
Hollywood
Internet
2650 Router
x.x.x.x
2650 Router
x.x.x.x
VLAN62
10.27.62.x/23
Conference
Rooms
VLANXX
x.x.x.x
Outside
Cat 6513 MSFC
Cat 6513 MSFC
PIX 525
Cisco PIX
VLAN 33
10.27.33.0/24
Office VLAN
Vlan 20
10.27.20.0/24
Servers
Vlan 24
10.27.24.0/24
Printers
VLAN 40
10.27.40.0/24
MVS VLan
Vlan 53
10.27.53.0/24
InfoGenesis
VLAN 41
10.27.41.0/24
MICS
Vlan 201
10.201.0.0/16
SDG Net
VLAN 42
10.27.42.0/24
RT860
Vlan 52
10.27.52.0/24
SDG Switches
VLAN 43
10.27.43.0/24
MICS OLAP
Vlan 32
10.27.32.0/24
Accounting/
Execs
Vlan 64
10.27.64.0/20
Hotel Rooms
Vlan 33
10.27.33.0/24
General Office
Users
2610 Rtr
Vlan 19
10.27.19.0/24
Network
Management
Vlan 17
10.27.17.0/24
BackBone
Frame Relay to TribeNet
2610
Router
Intra Property Physical Infrastructure
Everybody’s Best Friend!
…Network Nerd
Key Success Factors for Migration
•
•
Network Planning, with Network owned and operated by the Operator
IT Staff who understand urgency of slot floor problems and Slot Operations Staff
who can work with IT Staff
– Mutual trust, respect, and confidence
– Leave egos at the door
– IT Staff who are not service-oriented and “Slot Mechanics” are obsolete
•
•
•
•
Detailed migration plan developed with vendor support but owned by the
Operator
Insist on GSA certifications - - not negotiable, no variations from the standard
Operator-owned testing facilities
Stress Management skills
GSA 2007 Operator's Forum
Manufacturer’s Roundtable
Discussion And Lunch
Interoperability of GSA
Standards
• Aristocrat Technologies
Jim Morrow and Jamal Azzam
• Atronic Americas
Graham Falvey and Ken Bossingham
• Bally Technologies
Bruce Rowe and Walt Eisele
• Cyberview Technologies
Thierry Brunet and David Kern
• IGT
Rich Schneider
• WMS Gaming
Rob Siemasko