62 gaming
focus will fall on how they are regulated,
certified and policed.
Slot of concern
A lawyer who works in the casino
industry, who prefers to remain anony-
mous has raised a red flag over how slot
machines are regulated, certified and
licensed. He believes the situation as it
exists in Macau at present could create
problems for players, casino operators and
even the city as a whole.
“Macau may have some problems
with the slot machines,’’ the lawyer says.
“Most people don’t know the slot ma-
chine rules and is not easy to determine
how to certify a machine and what the in-
ternational criteria used and accepted by
the government actually are. Although the
machines are tested and certified by inde-
pendent companies, it is an opaque proc-
ess which lacks in clarity.”
However, Manuel Neves, the Director
of the Gaming Inspection and Coordina-
tion Bureau (DICJ), says that moves for
Macau to develop its own standards for
cerification are in the pipeline.
“Meanwhile, the process of approval
of slot machines for the Macau market is
presently governed by an instruction, is-
sued by DICJ in February 2004,’’ said
Neves.
“The process is well understood by
both concessionaires and manufacturers.
Machine security and integrity are the
focus of technical standards used for slot
machines in all gaming jurisdictions, and
Macau recognises the generic standards.
“It is likely that Macau will eventu-
ally develop its own technical standard,
but at present DICJ accepts that testing
against globally recognised standards is a
proper basis upon which to approve slots,” Singapore authority will grant gaming li- plies to the gaming machine dealer, seller,
Neves adds. censes for machine manufacturers, suppli- technicians, advisers and testing facility.
ers and test labs.
Global practice The procedures are pretty much the Macau’s situation
same as those of the Nevada Gaming
Gaming jurisdictions elsewhere Commission, which covers Las Vegas. By the end of last year Macau had just
regulate their slot machines to differing Technical standards for gaming de- under 12,000 registered slot machines.
degrees. vices and on-line slot systems and those This number is expected to grow substan-
For example, in Singapore which related to manufacturers, distributors, tially when the economy picks up, after
opens its first ever casinos resorts later this operators of inter-casino linked systems, all, slots are a low-cost money-spinner for
year, the Casino Regulatory Authority’s gaming devices, new games inter-casino casinos.
website boasts a full document listing the linked systems and associated equipment In general terms, the certification of
technical standards for slot management are published on the Nevada authority’s slot machines aims to ensure that they are
systems, which was released on January website. fair, random, give a certain percentage
15, covering are aspects of slot machine In New South Wales, Australia, the back to the player, and that they meet local
management. regulator requires direct licensing by regulations.
Among other responsibilities, the downloading application forms. This ap- According to the DICJ, at present
february 2009
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