Gaming Equipment Companies Want Nevada Regulators To Work Faster

Article by : Erik Gibbs Oct 4, 2023

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Gaming equipment manufacturers are pushing against state regulators to expedite the approval process for their products and technology in casinos.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board, in a nearly three-hour meeting, continued to work on regulatory changes aimed at streamlining the process, following up on a similar workshop held in March.

The specifics of these changes are yet to be determined, pending the lifting of Governor Joe Lombardo’s freeze on new regulations.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Kirk Hendrick highlighted the focus of the discussion, which revolves around reducing the number of field trials and simplifying the gaming approval process.

For new games, they’ve already introduced a policy stating that if a similar regulatory system to Nevada’s has already approved a machine and had it operational on the casino floor with at least ten machines for 30 days in another state, it will be deemed approved in Nevada.

These recent efforts have included reducing foreign gaming requirements, eliminating pre-approval for installing system games, and simplifying field tests for new gaming devices.

This showcases a commitment to being “risk-tolerant” and accommodating innovation while staying within statutory and regulatory boundaries.

Hendrick stressed the importance of speed in the industry and Nevada’s desire for radical change through collaboration.

He noted that there have been suggestions that Nevada lags behind other states in deploying new gaming equipment, and he encouraged suppliers to provide concrete examples to support these claims.

The aim is for Nevada to be a leader in the field, offering an efficient regulatory framework that allows for quicker implementation of gaming innovations.

The proposed changes aim to make it easier for manufacturers to find trial properties and reduce the workload by requiring only a weekly batch of reports, thus enabling them to focus on selling their products. At the same time, the Board handles the administrative aspects.

Jim Barbee, Chief of the Gaming Control IT Division, highlighted that some operators will transition to software as a service in the future, and the state’s approach will facilitate a more rapid rollout.

The Board aims to implement these changes in November, considering industry input and other states’ insights.

Daron Dorsey, Executive Director of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), emphasized the importance of fostering a positive dialogue, especially when there was a time when it was lacking.

The primary goal for manufacturers and suppliers is to achieve approval for their products or processes.

In contrast, Massachusetts lacks its testing lab and relies on Michigan’s independent-lab framework. The critical question is how Nevada can align itself with the “ideal jurisdictions” within its legislative and regulatory framework to lead in deploying and approving gaming products and technology.

Patrick Bland, Chief Technology Officer for Acres Manufacturing, which offers casino loyalty and other solutions, expressed his excitement about recent developments since the March workshop.

He appreciated the willingness to introduce more flexibility.

Bland pointed out that regulatory bodies don’t exert control over software in the financial services and securities industry, where trust is placed in handling billions of transactions without the need for testing lab approval when making system changes.