Safe in the House

Slot manufacturers offer a variety of ways to return to operations safely

As casinos continue the process of reopening after two and a half months of the COVID-19 shutdown, technological innovation is clearly easing the way back to operation. Advances like Pro-Tek’s Walk-Thru Thermal Gate, an archway that is both a metal detector and instant temperature monitor, and its Eye-Pod, a freestanding temperature sensor that doubles as a facial recognition monitor – are only two of many products providing a safe entry into casinos as the industry gears back up.

There are several innovations using UV lighting to sanitize chips, dice, and gaming machines, from companies as diverse as London-based TCSJohnHuxley and Las Vegas-based bingo and slot supplier Gaming Arts. There is an electronic system from Acres 4.0 that automatically disables slot machines surrounding an active game to force distancing and automatically alerts cleaning crews when a player is finished playing. There are also new, long-lasting disinfectants like Zoono and Terminator from Dulce Solutions.

Slot manufacturers also have been at the forefront of innovation, many formulating plans to safely return to operations the instant the shutdown began. Gaming Arts, for instance, is headed by an inventor, David Colvin, who has patented UV solutions not only for chips and dice, but also lighting systems on the face of each slot machine that sanitize the entire surface.

But other major slot suppliers also have answered the call to innovation in order to protect from the coronavirus. Some are offering modified hardware; others are modifying their system products to reduce the required touchpoints in the gaming experience. Still others are offering safety products in partnership with outside companies.

Gaining an Edge

One company that has modified its hardware offering with an aim to protect from the spread of the coronavirus is Illinois-based Incredible Technologies. The company recently announced the release of the Universal Jumbo Edge (UJE), a machine edge configured with social distancing measures in mind.

The UJE product is actually a follow-up to IT’s Infinity Edge, which is now proving its value as casinos reopen. “In 2018, we saw the potential benefits of reconfiguring banks to unique shapes while creating distance between players,” said Caitlin Harte, director of product marketing for Incredible Technologies. “When we introduced the Infinity V55 Edge, our data confirmed this belief, as we saw these banks perform on average 25 percent higher than standard configurations.”

As casinos reopen, that configuration is proving even more valuable. “As operators across the country are shutting off every other game, many of our slot banks which utilize edges between games have remained on, due to the built-in social distancing provided,” Harte said. “Previously only available to new installations, our team set out to use our time at home to develop creative solutions to assist with any potential reshaping plans. Because of that, we are now able to offer the Infinity Edge Retrofit Kit — allowing banks already out in the field to be reconfigured with the addition of Edge displays.”

But IT did not stop there. “We wanted to provide a solution that could be used anywhere on the slot floor, not just on our banks,” Harte said. “That was the catalyst needed to start the development of the Universal Jumbo Edge, a slot signage and spacing solution based on our DNA, but compatible with all games and casino floors.”

The UJE is available two ways: “Base,” which mounts to any game stand, and “Cylinder,” a curved stand to create endless slot bank shapes. “Both options create space for players. Just as important, we do it in high-earning potential configurations with dynamic video displays, making slot floors look cohesive and strong,” said Harte.

Harte added that the products will return value even after all the social-distancing requirements disappear. “The Infinity Edge has already proven the performance power of eye-catching configurations that provide players more personal space, and we hope to see similar results with the UJE,” she said. “When we look to the future of gaming, we believe there will be a long-term call to reconfigure and optimize slot floors. The previous trend of large banks in standard configurations — the type of layout that made the slot floor feel like a grocery store — is dead. We will start to see banks being reshaped to smaller pods and carousels, and eliminating underperforming games altogether, to make floors stronger than ever.”

Partnering for Safety

One manufacturer that has promoted safety by partnering with an outside firm is AGS. The company has partnered with Tioli Gaming to provide operators with the Shield for blackjack, poker, novelty, mini baccarat, midi baccarat, craps and roulette tables.

“The VisiDeal Shields are optically clear plexiglass panel player dividers to protect players and casino staff from airborne droplets due to coughing, sneezing or speaking,” said John Hemberger, senior vice president of table products for AGS. “They maintain the social connection and community spirit of table-game play, while reducing the risk of any viral exposure — and they enable casinos to have more players at the table.”

Hemberger says the VisiDeal Shield products will outlast COVID-19, and will be useful in promoting health for the long term. “We are selling the VisiDeal Shields, not leasing them, to customers, which means we feel they have long-term value and use,” Hemberger said.

“By helping to mitigate exposure to airborne droplets, VisiDeal reduces the risk of exposure to any virus — COVID-19, flu, and the common cold. No one wants to get sick. We feel these provide a level of security to players while still allowing the casino to offer a great player experience. The VisiDeal Shields can be removed at any time and stored for future use.”

Contactless Solutions

Scientific Games’ response to the COVID crisis is a suite of “contactless gaming solutions” designed to support enhanced sanitation protocols and help with social distancing.

“Our… contactless solutions includes the Unified Wallet cashless gaming experience, a Social Distancing Module, and Automated Game Sanitization,” said Siobhan Lane, chief commercial officer for Scientific Games.

Unified Wallet provides a cashless gaming experience, giving players the power to instantly access funds to play slots and tables through an app on their personal mobile device. “This is not only convenient for guests but cost-effective and efficient for casino operators,” said Lane, “eliminating lines at ATMs, kiosks and casino cages and reducing costs on machine maintenance including bill validators, ticket printers and ticket redemption kiosks.”

The Social Distancing Module provides three distinct features. Dynamic Distancing disables all games within close proximity once a player cards in, helping operators to facilitate social distancing measures. The EGM Scheduler allows operators to quickly upload a list of games they wish to enable on the casino floor, and the Resort Reserve and Game Reserve allow players to reserve their favorite game during their visit, which provides them a seamless experience and the ability to stay safe.

Automated Game Sanitization was developed with both team members and guests in mind. This solution eliminates the manual task of searching for games that need to be sanitized on the casino floor by quickly identifying games that require sanitization after active play. Operators also have the option to schedule sanitization at regular intervals.

“These solutions respond to the needs of operators to implement social distancing and sanitization measures in a post-COVID-19 world,” Lane said. “It’s a challenge all operators have been up against, and we are in a prime position to assist them in reimagining the player experience.”

Lane said many of the solutions were in development long before anyone could foresee what impact COVID-19 would have on the industry. “Not only do these solutions provide a seamless experience for guests, but they are cost-effective and efficient for operators. In many ways, particularly in regard to Unified Wallet, COVID-19 has accelerated innovation in the industry and moved us closer to leveraging cashless technology and moving the player experience closer to what they encounter in other industries.”

System Advantage

Supplier International Game Technology also is leveraging system technology to reduce contact points necessary with traditional play.

“One way IGT can significantly help our customers reduce dependency on cash and minimize the need for in-person interactions is through our IGT Advantage systems portfolio,” said Khin, IGT’s chief operating officer, gaming. “Our customers who leverage the Advantage CMS can remove or reduce dependency on cash and physical loyalty cards by deploying our Cardless Connect, Resort Wallet and IGTPay mobile systems solutions.”

Cardless Connect can be leveraged independently to eliminate the need for a physical loyalty card, or be combined with Resort Wallet and IGTPay to generate the option for cash-free gaming. These solutions also reduce a player’s need to visit high-contact areas within a casino such as casino cages, player’s clubs, offers kiosks and ATMs.

“We also have a suite of mobile systems products that help casino service staff reduce in-person interactions on the casino floor,” Khin explained. “For example, IGT’s Mobile Host and Mobile Responder systems technologies enable casino staff to monitor a range of slot KPIs and service notifications remotely from mobile devices.”

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IGT added EGM sanitation notification functionality to the Mobile Responder solution. “When a casino patron ends a play session, Mobile Responder will send an alert to the casino staff’s mobile device and indicate that EGM sanitation is required,” Khin said. “Similarly, IGT’s Floor Manager provides operators with remote visibility to all casino floor slot activity and enables operators to power slot machines on and off based on demand and social distancing requirements.”

Floor Manager also enables operators to offer a multi-game video slots menu, which maximizes floor space and quickly addresses player content preferences. “Most of these products have been integral to IGT’s systems portfolio for some time now, but the selling climate for our cashless and contact-reducing solutions has shifted from a ‘push’ to a ‘pull’ in recent months,” said Khin. “Our customers and their players are readily asking for these products and are motivated to adopt and adapt to new technologies.”

As with other suppliers, the IGT innovations are designed for the long term. “All of the IGT products and solutions that we’ve discussed in relation to post-COVID-19 demands are designed to benefit our customers in the short, medium and long term,” said Khin. “Although health concerns and changing consumer behaviors have accelerated the demand for cashless wagering and mobile services, we believe that once players and operators become more accustomed to the cashless environment, cashless casino transactions will become the preferred option over time.”

Tailored Return

Konami Gaming’s credo in helping customers return to safe operations has been to remain flexible. “In speaking with our global casino customers, we understand every organization has their own unique approach for return,” said Thomas A. Jingoli, Konami’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“What works for one, may or may not suit another. Konami’s role is to provide clear communication, knowledgeable insight, flexible product solutions, and true collaborative partnership. I believe those core commitments are essential to supporting both our games and systems customers in the immediate period.”

In the case of hardware solutions, Konami has worked with a number of third-party suppliers in developing social distancing barriers for use between Konami slot machines.

“We’re actively working with casino customers to leverage these preferred third-party barrier solutions, as determined by the properties,” Jingoli said. “For Konami’s premium leased games like our new All Aboard linked progressive series, we’re covering the cost for casinos to procure barriers of their own choosing up to a set amount. In addition, Konami representatives are working one-on-one with customers to explore banking options and different layout solutions to address distancing considerations.”

Konami also is offering touchless and cashless solutions through its Synkros casino management system. “For years, Synkros has supported cashless wagering at slot machines through its cashless wagering module, Money Klip,” Jingoli said. “Players simply load funds to their loyalty account at the cage or an interfaced TITO kiosk, for easy, fast and secure digital transactions directly at the gaming machine.”

The company’s system even allows patrons to spend their digital funds at non-gaming outlets like property restaurants and bars through interfaced point-of-sale systems. “These cashless features provide players a seamless way to play, without having to handle physical cash or tickets,” said Jingoli. “For properties that wish to offer an alternative to physical player tracking cards, Synkros’ SynkConnect Player mobile app enables players to log in at a slot machine or table game using their mobile device.

“It is a completely contactless solution—supporting authentication via QR code or Near Field Communication (NFC)—so there is no physical card needed. Moreover, comp vouchers are handled digitally and can be displayed as barcodes on the player mobile app for a paperless redemption experience at table games or point-of-sale touchpoints.”

Mobile solutions are also available for casino staff and administrators through Konami’s Konetic Employee App, so staff can perform voucher redemptions and cash-outs quickly on the floor, reducing lines at the cage and ticket redemption kiosks. To streamline jackpot processing, Synkros offers players the option to download jackpot winnings directly to the slot machine’s credit meter and have a consolidated W2G delivered via email.

“Synkros customers are also leveraging a mix of system-delivered communications and alerts to support slot machine sanitation processes,” Jingoli added. “Players can request slot machine cleaning from the player tracking LCD display, which triggers email, SMS text or administrative alerts to cleaning crew members. After a player has finished their play session, the machine will switch to automated ‘Waiting to be Sanitized’ messaging.”

Once a cleaning crew member has completed cleaning, the machine will switch to automated “This machine has been sanitized” messaging with a last-cleaned time stamp.

As per the norm for manufacturers, all the solutions have long-term value. “Contactless and cashless technology enhancements have a clear value over and above important safety considerations,” Jingoli said.

“For the player, it provides them with the same customer conveniences they have in other areas of their daily life, like when they use a mobile loyalty card at the grocery store or pay for their morning coffee with a digital wallet. For the operators, it can potentially provide a lift in revenue, either through increased spend of players or decreased dependence on manual processes.”