Statistics, compacts, AARS, 'innovative' game features and a goodbye
Pub Date: 1/1/2003
Huntington then briefed the council on current gaming statistics, including tax collections that had moved ahead by 6.6 percent or $3.3 million, down from the previous year's 8.5 percent, $3.9 million pace. (See complete story elsewhere in this edition.)
Huntington also told the council the governor's office is taking a firm lead in negotiating new tribal gaming compacts, and has added a specialist for this purpose. He said negotiations for the Ft. Peck Reservation would be commencing at the end of September.
A new consultant to the division, Al Arvish, made a PowerPoint presentation to the council illustrating all the "pieces of the puzzle" that must be fitted together to implement an automated web-based reporting and accounting system. Arvish was the one who designed back in 1986 the original database still in use at the GCD.
Carson said the system should be forward leaning, anticipating the future need for in-house data acquisition systems that would utilize a universal communications protocol while also functioning as a ticket validation system, as win-ticket fraud is becoming more prevalent and sophisticated.
Carson also warned of potential problems with a rumored new game that features displayed payout percentages for any given wagering scenario. He said he feared player misinterpretation of the calculations, noting such a display would also have to be thoroughly tested to assure complete accuracy.
Howlett advised the council he was attending his last meeting and had tendered his resignation in order to serve in other un-named capacities. He thanked the council for allowing him to serve and for their comradery, then advised that they work through the Indian Affairs Coordinator to find a replacement for him.
"Indian gaming issues aren't going away," he said.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Oct. 2005, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.