1. Gaming Standards Association
The Year of Implementation and Value CreationApril 29, 2004
Introducing S2S: GSA’s System to System Protocol Russ Ristine, VP, Radical Blue Gaming

2. What is GSA?
The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association that benefits gaming manufacturers, suppliers, operators, and regulators.
GSA facilitates the identification, definition, development, promotion, and implementation of open standards to enable innovation, education, and communication for the benefit of the entire industry.
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

3. System to System (S2S) Protocol
Gaming Standards Association
The Year of Implementation and Value CreationApril 29, 2004
System to System (S2S) Protocol
S2S
Voucher Manager
Kiosks
GDS
G2S
Coin Acceptor
S2S
Coin Hopper
Player Tracking
Point of Sale
Game Control
Note Acceptor
S2S
Slot Accounting
Coin/Bill Counters
Printer
S2S
Touch Screen
Class II Servers
Progressive
S2S
EGM
Host Systems and other S2S devices
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

4. Current Challenges
Changing a system related device is a major architecture project
Does current vendor support the new POS system
How long will it take to get a new interface built?
What if I don’t like the new product, how do I go back to the old one?
Consider a kiosk replacement (ticketing, marketing)
Alternately, a new POS system (Casino System, accounting system, hotel system)
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

5. Current Challenges
How easy is it to get information moved into your in-house systems for analysis?
What if you could go to a gaming show, see a product, and have it in your casino the following week?
Wouldn’t it be nice to have the diagnostic info captured by each note acceptors available at your desk?
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

6. Benefits of S2S Standardizes communication between servers
A new vendor only has to write one interface to get into the market, vs. 4 to 6 that they have to do now
Casinos benefit from new innovations
Vendors Benefit from reduced complexity
(More time for new features)
Supports “plug and play” for systems and peripheral devices
Try out a new product
If you don’t like it, return it!
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

7. Benefits of S2S
S2S is developed with GDS and G2S, so back end servers can interact with note acceptors
Innovation – Note Acceptor Vendors can now do something completely different
Retrieve diagnostic information
Distribute new software electronically
Standardization promotes portability, interoperability and reusability
Vendors can write one interface and use it everywhere
Reduces testing (and problems in the field)
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

8. The Seminole Story GSA Moving at the Speed of Business

9. Seminole Tribe
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
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10. S2S and Class II
In a Class II environment, each manufacturer has their own server for central determination and other game functions
The Problem: Four game manufacturers means
Four separate accounting reports,
Four player tracking feeds, and
Three voucher systems
Vouchers are only redeemable on same manufacturer’s games
What about the cashier booth? (four redemption terminals…)
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

11. Seminole Tribe - Vision
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
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12. Seminole Tribe - Today Game Servers Accounting Player tracking
Vouchers
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
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13. S2S and Class II - the solution
EGMs still talk proprietary protocol to their host servers to minimize scope of change
Each host server now talks S2S to a central consolidation server, which provides
One accounting report
All vouchers are processed through a central database
All systems communicate using common protocols
Happier casino management!
Since the switch to S2S, they’re ready for the future
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

14. Future Solution with G2S
EGMs talk to host server for game outcome (proprietary or G2S)
EGMs talk directly to central server for accounting and vouchers (G2S)
EGMs talk directly to player tracking system for player activity (G2S)
S2S or G2S doesn’t matter as long as the pain is gone
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

15. G2S Solution 2006 - The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
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16. S2S: Digging a Little Deeper
Gaming Standards Association
The Year of Implementation and Value CreationApril 29, 2004
S2S: Digging a Little Deeper

17. General S2S Classes Communications
Web services & SSL
Messages to start and maintain a conversation
Configuration - Share configuration information
Patron Class
Move Patron information between hosts
Register Client - Used to communicate info on devices other than EGMs
Info Update - Communicate information changes, other than for EGMs (employee, tables, kiosks, etc.)
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

18. S2S Classes for Table Games
Open / Close - Table Chip Inventory transactions
Fill / Credit - Move chips to/from gaming tables
Marker - Patron Credit and Front Money messages
Player Rating - Rating transactions for table games
Jackpot - communicate jackpot info between systems
Comp Class - process player complimentaries
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

19. S2S Classes for EGM activity
EGM Registration - share slot info between systems
Events - notify central systems when events occur
Accounting Meters - centralize accounting
Vouchers - all systems use a central voucher system
WAT - messages to process Wagering Account Transfers between systems
Player - move slot player messages between systems
Handpay class - Attendant paid wins, etc.
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

20. S2S Update S2S Version 1.2 – recently released
Incorporates all changes requested by existing systems
Currently servers are using S2S 1.1.5, , with extensions; 1.2 brings everyone together
New ATM kiosk apps are implementing S2S as a single communication method
S2S 1.2 simulators and development tools are available
Four S2S 1.2 Central System Vendors by Q1 2007
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

21. GSA Certification

22. Gaming Standards Association
The Year of Implementation and Value CreationApril 29, 2004
GSA Certification
GSA compliance – independent testing by 3rd party lab using GSA certified tools and pre-defined test scripts
GSA Compliance testing is NOT Regulatory Approval
All parties benefit through
Improved speed to market for products
Products work together when they show up on your floor
Plug and Play (easier installs, reduced service calls)
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

23. GSA Certification
Protocol certification streamlines the regulatory process
Reduces the quantity and variety of tests that must be performed
If both devices are certified, they should work together the first time they are connected (like your PC and printer)
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

24. GSA’s New Certification Program
Goal = Correct and consistent implementation of GSA’s standards
Formal process for the testing and certification of
Gaming Products
Testing Agencies
Test Suites
Products passing certification will be published in the Certification Register on GSA’s web site
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

25. Testing Centers
Interoperability Centers will be available for manufacturers
Test Authority (Open Group) will certify Test Suites and Testing Agencies
Test Suites will be commercially available to anyone
Like UL testing, GSA testing can be done in any certified Test Agency
Test Labs
Casinos
Manufacturers
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

26. S2S Certification
S2S testing will be part of the GSA certification suite
GSA Standards provide a secure, reliable, and documented way for systems to communicate with each other
Certified Test Labs ensure that the protocols have been properly implemented
Goal
Certified Systems
Certified Kiosks
Certified System Peripherals
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

27. Plug and Play Goal for Systems
Quick recap:
Systems move from proprietary solutions to standard communications
Vendors spend less time maintaining protocols
Single Protocol – Much easier to test
Operator doesn’t have to wait for their version to get modified
Easy to try a new peripheral (kiosk, currency counter, POS system)
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

28. Additional Benefits of a Standard
With a single standard, third party tools become viable
Test Suites - Ensure the protocol has been properly implemented
Latency Testers - Automatically check response time every X minutes, send an if there’s a problem
Regression Testers - retest everything every time there’s a build
Available to Manufacturers, Test Labs, or Operators
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

29. When can I get S2S? S2S release 1.2 has been completed
Simulators are available (and are being used by several development teams)
Certification planning and definition are in progress
Encourage your vendors to move to S2S to give everyone more flexibility in the future
Exciting times are ahead!
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006

30. [Now is the perfect time for questions or comments]
The Ending Note
For on-going questions or inquires on protocols, please contact
This presentation is available on GSA’s Website:
[Now is the perfect time for questions or comments]
The Year of Implementation and Value Creation!
CasinoFest 2 San Diego 2006