Technical Standards for Skill-based Games

Transcription

1 Technical Standards for Skill-based Games Prepared by: Forest County Potawatomi Gaming Commission Internet Gaming Task Force March 26 th, 2018

2 Disclosure: These technical standards are not intended to serve as a legal basis for game classification within the context of skill or within the context of Class II or Class III gaming pursuant to IGRA. Such classifications will be subject to interpretation by the jurisdictional regulatory authority. Your jurisdictional regulatory authority is usually your TGRA (Tribal Gaming Regulatory Authority) or Gaming Commission.

3 We won t wait for commercial gaming to tell us how to regulate future games... so we consulted with experts and manufacturers of skill-based games.

4 We won t wait for a test laboratory to tell us how to regulate skill-based games so we adopted our own skill-based game technical standards.

5 A Tribal Alliance that serves our common interests built from a position of strength benefits all tribal gaming. Those who go it alone and choose to be different from their peers are often called outliers. And outliers get ignored in this industry.

6 Tribal gaming is 3 times as large as Nevada gaming. It is time for Indian Country to move to the front of the line for all gaming activity.

7 What is a Skill-Based Game? A skill-based game has some element of skill. A skill-based game could comprise very little skill (some games are at 4%) or as great as 100% pure skill.

8 What is a Skill-Based Game? Examples of skill-based gambling games with and without a significant skill element: 52% chance element 92% 48% skill element 8% 100% 100%

9 Display for skill-based games: Rules of play Minimum wager Credits available Payouts Any rake (vigorish) Amount wagered Game outcome

10 Disclosure for skill-based games: Outcome is affected by player skill.

11 Rules of play: Rules clearly describe how game is played. Can be based on public knowledge of the game. Skill types required endurance, education. Do skills change? Dynamic. Rules defined via pay table or game demonstration, or are actively displayed.

12 Player versus player (PVP) advantage feature: May not be gained by making a purchase. Feature is available to all players and its advantage is disclosed. Discloses how players get the advantage. Gives players information to decide to play or not to play.

13 Virtual opponent: Woman vs Machine. Who am I playing against? Machine gets no privileged information. I can choose a real person.

14 Outcome for skill-based games: No game may be altered during play unless disclosed to the player. Games may become progressively more challenging during a game cycle. A player cannot be penalized for being skilled. If a player can make choices between games, the game s paytables or rules of play may change if the player agrees to the change.

15 Player advice features (if supported by game): Advice is not a requirement. Can be disabled. Can toggle on/off. Must be free. Describes what options exist. Reflects the rules. Consistent & fair. Cannot force a player to accept.

16 Peripheral devices for skill-based games: Game must have clear instruction on their purpose, usage, and effect. Peripheral devices include: joysticks game controllers camera systems sound systems accelerometers motion sensors image sensors

17 Game recall for skill-based games: Last 10 game cycles with bonus games, if any. Last 50 events of completed bonus games. A flight recorder may be useful for recording aspects of game history specific to a player s actions. Actions preceding the game outcome need not be reconstructed in a fully accurate manner. Full and accurate reconstruction of game outcome is required. Information displayed is consistent with slot machines.

18 Interruption and resumption for skill-based games: If a game is interrupted, the game shall recover to its pre-interruption state. If a game has multiple players or when game resumption is unreasonable, then game is deemed unrecoverable; and Game shall be voided and wagers returned to any affected players.

19 Default game display for skill-based games: Immediately after a nonvolatile (NV) memory reset, the game shall not display the highest advertised award. Upon entering game play mode from a menu, the game shall not display the highest advertised award. Does not apply to any secondary bonus features.

20 Payout standards for skill-based games: Outcomes are decided solely by skill or a combination of skill & chance. Skill-based games that are connected to a common payoff schedule shall: Be the same denomination and/or amount wagered. Have equal odds of winning the common payoff/award. Outcomes are fair and balanced

21 Payout standards for skill-based games: Minimum theoretical return to player shall be calculated based on the play of the least skilled player. In a game of pure skill, the minimum theoretical RTP could be 0% Maximum theoretical return to player shall be calculated based on an optimal method of play that provides the greatest return to the player. In a game of pure skill, the maximum theoretical RTP could be 100% or higher

22 Payout standards for skill-based games: The predicted theoretical return to player shall be based on the average skilled player. The skill-based game must, on average, theoretically pay out a mathematically demonstrable percentage of all amounts wagered, which shall not be: o Less than 75%, or as determined by the TGRA. o Greater than 100%, or as determined by the TGRA.

23 Inter-casino and intra-casino linked games: Progressive games (wide-area and In-house): Games are compatible. Adequate communications between games. Progressive payoff schedules described for players. OK to encourage participation in skill games: o prize awards for games with different themes allowed; o may use player attributes.

24 Logging requirements for the use of player attributes: A game utilizing player attributes must maintain a log. Basis for assigning a player attribute include, without limitation: Level of player skill. Level of skill relative to the skill of other players. Degree of skill required by the game. Any above combination, including other attributes.

25 Player interaction technology A gaming device must: Enter tilt condition if failure is detected. Provide a mechanism to calibrate the technology. Ensure hardware variances do not advantage or disadvantage a player. A gaming device with player interaction devices that impact game outcome shall: Permit the operator to manually test the device and assure the device meets its designed capability.

26 Player interaction technology: Communication between a gaming device and any wireless player interaction device shall: Prevent unauthorized data access. Detect data corruption. Prevent unauthorized data alteration. Use only authorized wireless interaction devices.

27 Electronic accounting meters: Skill-based games shall have electronic accounting meters that record and retain all applicable accounting transactions. Meters shall be equivalent to electronic accounting meters required in slot machines.

28 Waiver requests: A TGRA may approve and issue a waiver for a skill-based game. Game must achieve a level of functionality sufficient to accomplish the purpose of the regulation requested to be waived. o waiver request is for good cause. o based on alternative or advanced technology. Appeals o The decision of the TGRA is final. o Appeals will not be considered.

29 Advanced Beta Testing (ABT) for skill-based games: A manufacturer may request its new gaming device be considered for evaluation under ABT as an alternative to traditional field testing. TGRA decides terms and conditions of ABT. Gaming operations notify patrons that the new game is part of a beta field test and is being exposed for play prior to finalization of the product.

30 Advanced Beta Testing (ABT) for skill-based games: Utilizing ABT is at the sole and absolute discretion of the TGRA. The TGRA will consider, without limitation, the following to evaluate a new skillbased game utilizing ABT. o the ability of the game to accurately determine, evaluate, and display the game outcome. o the ability of the game to accurately process the acceptance and award of all payments.

31 Advanced Beta Testing (ABT) for skill-based games: While in ABT, a manufacturer shall not modify a skill-based game without the prior written approval of the TGRA. The TGRA may terminate the test period if it determines that the manufacturer or gaming operation has not complied with the terms and conditions of the order allowing Advanced Beta Testing. The TGRA may order termination of the test period for any cause deemed reasonable.

32 Please consider evaluating, improving and adopting gaming standards that make sense for your Tribe and for all of Indian Country.

33 Don t Go It Alone Surround Yourself With Those On The Same Mission As You.

34 Unity and Continuity First Tribal Alliance Roundtable Attended by over 30 tribes and 100 industry professionals on December 12, 2017.

35 Technical Standards for Skill-based Games Disclaimer These standards were drafted based on anticipated technology that is not currently available and may change depending upon the types of games or technology that may be offered in the future.