After launching over 20 years ago with a single database, Konami Gaming, Inc.’s flagship casino-management system, SYNKROS, reached 150,000 connections this year, a remarkable achievement that accentuates the gaming industry’s long-standing recognition of the platform’s reliability, marketing tools, and robust data capabilities.
Randy Caron, Vice President of Systems Sales for Konami, has been a part of the SYNKROS team throughout this growth cycle. He possesses unique insight into the remarkable journey of this comprehensive system, which was from the very beginning far ahead of its time in science and technology.
“SYNKROS was created on an Oracle database running on Linux servers, both of which made us very different from the other CMS in the market,” Caron recalled. “It was built on an Ethernet-based architecture from day one.
“Many of the competitor systems that started before us were using old technology, which was slow and had limited capability for the data it could store or even collect from slot machines across the floor. SYNKROS debuted with a high-speed top-of-the-line database to capture more data and give operators the opportunity to react to that data.”
The same innovative strategy and quest for excellence have driven the success of SYNKROS for over two decades, enabling operators to access a 360-degree view of patrons and powering property operations across 400 venues, ranging from large destination casinos to cruise ships and multi-property portfolios.
Caron credits SYNKROS’s revolutionary capabilities from the start and its ability to grow with new functional models through the years as keys to its success, noting, “It was a great platform when it was built, basically using one code base to deliver all critical CMS functions across the casino and not trying to bolt separate products together to become one solution. SYNKROS is one unified system product that we have evolved year after year.”
“System reliability is always critical and one of the more significant pain points with operators,” he added. “Every system outage impacts revenue for the casino. It’s an especially important system attribute, which SYNKROS has excelled in.
“We have always tried to expand the capabilities of SYNKROS based on market demand. We started with smaller properties and we’ve grown to supporting one of the largest casinos in North America running over 7,500 slot machines.”
Caron acknowledges that SYNKROS is important to Konami; as such, investment in it is ongoing year over year.
“We have built a strong reputation in the industry and with our existing customers,” he said. “SYNKROS has proven that once you invest in the system, it is going to continue to move forward. The proven reputation of Konami and Konami’s support model is that you’re going to continue to get new versions, new features, and new functions.”
SYNKROS’s best-in-class marketing toolkit features everything from real-time bonusing to on-demand tournaments, while supporting the tools necessary for smooth slot operations and growth. Also, an integrated Table Management module comes at a price that is the best value in the industry, in addition to the Cage, Credit, & Vault module that allows casinos to control their cash, chip, check, credit, and vault operations.
The ever-changing and ever-evolving nature of SYNKROS ensures its relevancy and is the key to meeting the needs of the casino industry for more than two decades and beyond.
Caron explained that new features and functions are often the products of user groups, which are conducted quarterly online with a focus on table games, a new mobile app for casino operations, or bonusing. The ideas are shared and progress is continually tracked. All customers are welcome to join. Typically, between 40 and 60 customers join the call, depending on the topic.
“Listening to the feedback from our customers and keeping an eye on the market and the new technologies remain a priority,” he said. “We make decisions revolving around what we’re going to build and what we’re going to try to integrate with.
“One example is cashless wagering. We were one of the earlier systems to build that in. We supported multiple Class II operators that were 100 percent cashless for at least 15 years. Then we went to cruise ships, which were all cashless. We excel within the cashless space.
“What we’ve done is open our integration layer to make it possible to integrate into cashless solutions, which gives our casino partners a choice. SYNKROS is super reliable as the core system. We will continue to listen to our customers and build those capabilities.”
The time-tested power of SYNKROS includes such key features as player tracking and marketing with advanced tools for player acquisition, retention, and re-engagement with rules-based bonusing, real-time promotions, and on-demand tournaments. SYNKROS also supports TITO and other slot operations to ensure smooth game play and integration with player-tracking and loyalty programs.
In addition, the platform features digital services such as the SYNKROS Drink System, which gives players the convenience of ordering beverages digitally from slot machines or touchscreens with real-time updates for casino staff.
Caron takes pride in the fact that Konami’s customers have input into features, functions, and branding of the product before it ever comes to market.
“The reputation and consistency of Konami continue year over year,” he said. “The product continues to move forward. I believe that is what really separates us.”
Konami, Caron said, is not in the mobile app for players component, but they do provide an API for mobile app providers to connect to SYNKROS.
“What we are developing for SYNKROS is a casino employee app called Konetic, basically delivering critical system function into the hands of casino operators on the floor,” he said. “We support both Apple and Android platforms to give access to features such as slot dispatch, hosting, and processing jackpots. This allows operators to be more efficient and more responsive to their players while overall improving the efficiency of casino operations. There is also excitement about a new floor-wide progressive management solution that is in beta testing. It will be released before the end of this year.”
Another SYNKROS development that will be showcased this month at G2E 2026 is SYNK31, a comprehensive Title 31/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) system that allows administrators to gather, track, review, and complete all AML requirements.
It leverages SYNKROS’s industry-leading architecture by allowing teams to capture and compile all necessary AML information with robust, near real-time results. It provides true case management, empowering administrators to compile all reporting, time stamped notes, file documents, screenshots, photos, videos, and emails associated with a particular patron or incident in one spot.
