By Paul F. Vang
"It' completely on schedule," is how Al Arvish, information technology project manager for the Montana Gambling Control Division, describes the final testing and implementation of the new internet-based system for filing video gaming machine reports.
Over a year ago, Arvish said, in a Tavern Times interview, that he anticipated testing of the new system with the July-September 2006 calendar quarter and hoped that implementation could start as soon as the October-December quarter, but he cautioned, "January 2007 is more likely."
His prediction was right on the mark, as 27 gambling machine locations will go live beginning with the January-March 2007 quarter, plus, Arvish noted, "We have a large number lined up for the next quarter."
As a matter of fact, those 27 gambling machine locations is a cut from the number of locations that were part of the testing process, which actually involved a total of 73 locations. Arvish explained, "One large (route operator) in the Beta testing process cut the number of locations for the first quarter of live reporting to 20, but will then build the locations back up until 100 percent of their locations are on-line."
Arvish expects many other gaming machine managers to be joining the on-line reporting process relatively soon.
"The basic process will be for the local operator to furnish us with a listing of the gaming machines at their location," Arvish said. "We will issue the location a user name and PIN (personal identification number) and when they log onto our secure web-site, they'll establish their own password."
Once logged into the system, users will come to a menu of options for their reporting, as they enter meter readings for each machine that is licensed to the location.
If a machine has been down for servicing or other reasons, there is another page for entering service reports and for reconciliation of any inconsistencies. Another page is an Excel spreadsheet for summarizing all the data.
A feature of the new process that is still being tested is an on-line permitting process. A local operator can report a machine that is being deactivated or enter data for a new machine and get an on-line approval of the machine.
"That'll be one of the best features of the system," Arvish noted. "They'll be able to do a withdrawal of one machine and a permitting of a new machine at the same time."
Another feature of the new system is that within days of filing a quarterly report, local operators can log onto the internet and find out the amount of taxes that are due for the quarter.
"They'll be able to pay taxes on-line with either a credit card or electronic check--or they'll be able to dispute the tax statement, too," Arvish said, pointing out that the state does not retain any bank information with an electronic check.
Arvish reiterated that the on-line permitting and tax aspects of the new system won't happen until the April-June quarter.
"We're still testing, but we want it to be perfect when we do go live. We've tested the daylights out of it so far."
As to how long it might take before all operators switch to the new system, Arvish is cautious.
"I don't have any idea; two to three years, I'd guess. But, as people get to see how it is used they'll be encouraged to come on to our system. I do know that our largest routes will come on real soon--and that'll represent some 50 percent of our workload.
Did the testing process cause problems? Arvish admits, "It was tough on our staff. They had to keep up with their regular jobs, and all these testing exercises were additional work. I know our development staff put in a lot of all-nighters just to keep up with the deadlines."
Major contributors to the process were FAST Enterprises of Denver and Boise, who partnered with the Department of Revenue and one staff member from Gambling Control Division. The new gaming reporting system is tied in with the Department of Revenue's tax computer, as tax revenues are at the heart of the whole process. In turn, the larger system replaces the infamous POintS software system that was best known by its repeated failures and eventual scrapping.
In addition to the development staff, Arvish has had frequent consultation with an industry round-table, where he' been able to bounce questions off machine owners regarding development issues.
"We're excited," Arvish says about actually implementing the new system. "We're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. When we get this process under our belts, we'll be able to expand it to other areas of the gaming industry. We'll be able to move on to other forms of gambling that are under the jurisdiction of Gambling Control Division, such as bingo and card dealers."
Arvish notes that while card dealers may not lend themselves to an on-line reporting system in the same way as machines, he says that dealers must pass a GCD investigation before becoming licensed, though he admits, "I anticipate there may have to be some more legislation to deal with card dealers."
While Arvish is pleased that the whole web-based reporting system was developed and implemented on schedule, he says of his own job, "It definitely needed a project manager. It has needed a lot of coordination."
Looking back to Arvish' interview in late 2005, when he said he was glad to be back in Montana, and hoped he'd have a little more opportunity to go fishing, he laughed at how it all turned out.
"Fishing? I didn't even buy a fishing license last year. I did get in one round of golf--when I went to Boise to attend a wedding. Next year? Maybe."
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Feb., 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.