New AARS rules out
Pub Date: 6/1/2006
A 10 a.m. June 8 hearing has been scheduled at the Gambling Control Division conference room in Helena to solicit public comment on proposed new rules and statutory changes required to implement the long anticipated automated accounting and reporting system for the state's gaming machines.
The rules draft, available in full from the division, mirrors discussions and consensus developed before the Gaming Advisory Council over the last two years.
Rich Miller, executive director of the Gaming Industry Association,says the draft contained no surprises, though there may be a couple of minor wrinkles that could be ironed out.
Miller said there has been some concern expressed over the requirement that system interface board (SIBs) be powered independently of the machine's power supply. The division stated this has been proposed because several machine manufacturers have expressed unequivocal opposition to having any peripheral device designed and manufactured by another entity hard-wired into machine components.
It was noted during the last Gaming Advisory Council meeting that some locations already have marginal or even inadequate electrical wiring and requiring separate power outlets to run the SIBs could create complications and unneeded expense.
Mark Staples, Montana Tavern Association government affairs counsel, said, What you ve got here is 10 years worth of thought on the subject comprehensively condensed into a few pages. There are bound to be refinements needed, but GCD has been very open to constuctive thought throughout this process. I m sure that won't work.
Ronda Wiggers, speaking for the Montana Coin Machine Operators Association, agreed with Miller that nothing in the proposed rules is apparently troubling, though her members had some questions regarding the continued use of spread sheet programs already developed for business accounting purposes.
She noted the state is designing a downloadable spread sheet that could be used by location operators or small vendors and may provide a solution to the spread sheet issue.
New Rule I sets standards for licensing vendors of in-house accounting packages designed to work with the state's central accounting system. Vendors will be required to purchase a $1,000 annual license, and pay another $1,000 license processing fee. Applicants will also have to provide fingerprints and all the usual documents, including financial statements, required for an investigation.
However, a provision has been added to allow waiver of the application and processing fee if "the applicant is licensed as an operator, distributor, manufacturer of legal or illegal devices, or a route operator, and if the applicant is substantially the same and has not added strangers to the license."
New Rule II specifies standards and requirements for both Tier I and Tier II systems.
Tier I systems would "electronically communicate information from individual video gambling machines" automatically, "using the logical interface communications protocol provided in ARM 23.16.1920, and forward the information to a state-sponsored internet provider via internet connection."
Tier II systems would "electronically communicate video gambling machine information directly to a state-sponsored internet site" after being manually collected and download to a business computer.
New Rule III provides the specifics for the process of getting state approval of subsequent modifications made to approved accounting systems.
New Rule IV prohibits using the automated systems for the purposes of player tracking, and New Rule V provides for agreements between the state and vendors for the testing of systems.
New Rule VI outlines the process required of an operator to actually implement an automated accounting system including: "The owner or operator must demonstrate the ability to effectively operate the approved system..."
New Rule VII allows for the continued use of an approved system when a system vendor's license lapses.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, June, 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.