Gaming regulators in Nevada have spent the last few years aggressively updating or eliminating outdated regulations, as well as working on revamping the state’s technical framework.
At its next meeting on October 7, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) will consider proposed revisions to several of the state’s Technical Standards for Gaming Devices and Associated Equipment regulations.
The proposed changes cover everything from accounting for cashless-wagering accounts to cashless-wagering kiosks, race and sportsbooks, and proper accounting for casino cage, credit, card games, and table-games systems.
“The new technical standards are the culmination of significant efforts,” NGCB Chief of Technology Jeremy Eberwein told CDC Gaming in an email. “They are on the October agenda to provide a workshop in which members of industry can provide comments.”
Eberwein said the overall intention of the revisions is to “clarify and redefine” standards that currently exist in multiple places and put them into one area, so they’re easier for manufacturers to understand.
“The select new requirements that have been added were carefully reviewed to ensure they belong in the new standards, as modernization has been a top priority,” Eberwein said.
Revisions to a total of 10 standards will be considered next month. Interested parties can submit comments on the proposals until October 5, according to the control board’s notice to licensees.
Proposed changes to Standard 6 (interactive gaming systems and associated equipment) makes clear that the creation of any interactive gaming account needs the “legal” identity of the individual.
“Optionally, a fictious named to be used during gameplay may also be collected,” the proposed revision states.
The proposed revisions to Standard 6 include a new section requiring a summary report for interactive gaming contests and tournament summaries to be created monthly for each contest or tournament that is either in progress or completed by the end of the month.
Each report needs to include the beginning and ending date of each contest or tournament, name of each contestant, total amount of entry fees or rebuys received by the operator of the event, total amount of winnings paid, and for contests or tournaments that conclude during the month, total amount of revenue.
Proposed changes to Standard 5 remove cashless wagering from the title, instead reading Kiosks and Terminals. Among the changes, kiosks must include means to protect against transaction failure and data loss due to power loss “through either physical or logical means.”
“During AC power loss, the transaction can fail if funds are properly returned to the patron and appropriately accounted,” the proposed revision reads.
Eberwein explained that the 10 standards represent updates to several current technical standards and the migration of technical standards from the control board’s minimum internal -ontrol standards, as well as previous policies and industry notices over a series of years.
“At this stage, there is not a plan to do an immediate update to any other standards, but we are shifting out internal culture to institute continuous review and updates to our standards to keep up with industry and technology,” Eberwein said.
The anticipated effective date of the revised standards is October 23.
