Remote casino gambling technology is advancing

David Strow

Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 10:04 a.m.

Station Casinos Inc. is preparing to roll out its remote-gambling technology at one of its seven Las Vegas casinos, possibly as soon as early 2002, a Station executive said Thursday.

Through subsidiary GameCast Live LLC, Station has developed technology that enables players to gamble remotely through video terminals, wireless pads, television sets and home computers. It's a technology ultimately positioned for Internet gambling -- but even if Nevada never legalizes Internet casinos, Station is prepared to turn it into a viable business.

Within 45 days GameCast will submit its first system to the Nevada Gaming Commission -- a video terminal designed to be used inside a casino. Assuming the system gets approval, the terminals could start appearing at a Station property by the first quarter of 2002, said Tony Fontaine, vice president of complex business solutions.

GameCast's technology allows gamblers to play slot machines without actually being at the device. Slot machines on the system reside in a "slot farm." The actual slot is little more than a computer screen and several circuit boards sitting in a steel box, with no player in sight. Pressing a button on the terminal sends an electronic signal to the slot and activates the machine -- the images of the outcome are sent back to the terminal by an electronic camera positioned in front of the slot screen.

At the World Gaming Congress & Expo, GameCast showcased the first application of this technology -- a video terminal designed to be used in Station's sports books. A player using one of these terminals can watch a game, place a bet, and play a slot machine all at once. The slot can be played with cash from a sports book account, or bills can be fed into the terminal through a bill acceptor in the side. Payments are made with tickets.

Fontaine said the intent is to license the technology to other operators, both in Las Vegas and elsewhere.

"We'll prove the concept by putting it in our places first," Fontaine said. "We're talking with a lot of people. A lot of people are interested, because it makes sense."

Companies that have been in discussion with GameCast about licensing the technology include MGM MIRAGE, Park Place Entertainment Corp. and Mandalay Resort Group, Fontaine said.

GameCast is now developing a system that allows gamblers to play blackjack with a remote live human dealer using the same method. Players can "talk" to the dealer by typing messages, and hear and see the dealer talking to them. The cards are dealt over an electronic card reader, allowing the system to keep an automatic total of each hand's points. There's even a button players can push to tip their dealers.

The table game technology is about three months away from being viable for commercial use, Fontaine said -- soon enough that it could be available when Station rolls out the sports book terminals.

One of the advantages of the system, Fontaine said, is that a single slot machine can serve multiple terminals, so slot machines in bars, restaurants and sports books can be used more efficiently.

The normal slot machine gets played about two or three hours a day. A machine on this system would get played 10 to 12 hours a day, Fontaine said.

"We figure the margins on these machines would be outrageous," he said.

In addition, once the system is installed, it can be converted it for use on an Internet casino.

Other applications of the GameCast technology have been developed, but are unlikely to appear in Nevada soon. One uses a flat-screen wireless terminal, but this has been developed primarily for the cruise line industry.

Another broadcasts slot machines and table games into a hotel room through a television set; the player plays the game with a remote control. But this can't be used in Nevada currently, as Nevada gaming regulations require all gambling to occur in public.

GameCast is in talks with Nevada gaming regulators about changing this regulation to allow in-room gaming. While the gaming commission considers this, the technology will be marketed to international operators and Native American casinos.

"If Nevada changes its mind (about private gambling), we'll be able to bring it back here," said Judy Rosensweig, GameCast general manager.

The final step is Internet gaming, if Nevada casinos do receive the permission of the Nevada Gaming Commission to offer it. Many people wouldn't be able to use it yet, however, as dial-up Internet connections aren't robust enough to handle a large, live video image and sound.

But that could change with the emergence of fast Internet connections, such as DSL and cable modems, Fontaine said.

"Broadband (Internet connections) don't have enough penetration yet, but it's getting there," Fontaine said.