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Gaming Standards Association Brings Solutions To NIGA

NIGA '04 takes place April 4-7 at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M. GSA will be available in booth #811 to discuss the benefits of standards. GSA's Technical Committee recently submitted drafts of two groundbreaking standards – Best of Breed and System-to-System – to the GSA membership for review, and both of these could have tremendous positive impact on Native American gaming and gaming at large when approved.

GSA Native American members include the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Business Development Authority (MBDA), and as a group, they are unified in their support of GSA in the belief that standards will benefit Native American gaming and the industry as a whole.

Ethan Tower, Senior Applications Architect for Foxwoods Resort Casino, said, "Typical casino properties utilize a series of application-focused systems: table games, slots, marketing, hotel, food and beverage, etc. To facilitate customer service and marketing efforts, these systems have been interfaced together to share critical business information. In most properties, few, if any, standards have been used to construct these interfaces. Construction of the interfaces has been time-consuming and expensive, creating a barrier to entry. It has also created a barrier to exit. To switch systems, frequently, new interfaces have to be developed, tested and deployed. Standards break down the barriers. System providers can develop and test their external interfaces to a known standard. Development and testing are done once. Systems become plug-compatible. Interfaces don't become a barrier to entry or exit. Deployment is faster and your options are expanded."

Lyle Bell, Senior Vice President of Information Technology for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, said, "Standardization is a critical issue to Tribes across the United States, particularly in light of the recent major developments in Class II gaming. As operators, we see GSA's work as vital to our success in serving our customers in the best possible manner. We believe GSA is moving forward in the right direction for the industry as a whole and are proud to support GSA as a Platinum member."

Ron Harris, President/CEO of MBDA said, "We believe it is very important for all gaming Tribes to join GSA, as its new standards are being forged that will convert a highly fragmented gaming systems industry to a ubiquitous 'plug & play' industry. GSA membership is particularly important for Class II Tribal operators, many of which are just now beginning to explore the back offices systems needed to combat the inefficiencies of manually interfacing data from multiple vendor systems. The ubiquity to be brought about by GSA standards will inevitably allow lower operating costs to game manufactures, which, in turn, will provide a cheaper product to the end user: the casino operator. We also encourage the many small manufacturers to join GSA as the myriad of existing interface requirements of the current industry solutions stifle the ability of fresh, innovative gaming content to reach the gaming floor. GSA provides a common vision that will benefit operators and manufacturers alike."

GSA President Peter DeRaedt said, "At GSA, we are listening, and we understand Native American operators' concerns. For the past five years, GSA's mission has been to define, develop and implement open standards to enable innovation, education and communication for the benefit of the entire industry. Now, this vision is becoming a reality, and the day of true 'plug-and-play' technology is near."

About the Gaming Standards Association (GSA): The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association representing 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.

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