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• Electronic Gambling Machines
• Electronic Gambling Machines For Sale
• Hand Held Electronic Gambling Games
• Electronic Gambling Games
• Electronic Gambling Machines For Sale

An important factor in Ontario’s public confidence in gaming is the integrity and fairness of the games and gaming systems in play. The AGCO, through its Technical and Laboratory Services Branch (i.e. “Gaming Lab”), is responsible for ensuring the integrity, security, fairness and audit capability of all electronic gaming hardware, software, associated equipment and gaming systems.

Assessment and Testing of Electronic Gaming Equipment and Systems

The AGCO Technical and Laboratory Services Branch conducts technical and regulatory assessments and testing of gaming equipment and systems against the Registrar’s Technical Standards and applicable Registrar’s Standards to ensure their technical integrity, safety, security, and accounting capability. This work is performed by our team of highly qualified and experienced experts in an in-house lab that is accredited to the international standard ISO 17025:2017, which is considered the international benchmark for excellence in testing laboratories. This achievement sets the AGCO apart as the only known gaming regulator with an in-house accredited gaming lab. The AGCO Gaming Lab was created in 2004 and has been accredited to the ISO 17025 standard since first pursing this accreditation in 2011.

Technical and regulatory assessments and testing of gaming equipment and systems cover a range of activities, including:

• Reviewing system architectures and game designs to identify areas of technical and regulatory risk;
• Assessing the impact of game designs on player fairness and responsible gambling;
• Evaluating sources of potential reliance, including our gaming-related suppliers’ software development processes and 3rd party certifications, to identify areas of greatest risk to focus assessment and testing efforts on; and
• Performing risk-based assessment and testing of gaming equipment and systems to ensure identified technical and regulatory risks have been mitigated.

The assessments and testing performed by the Gaming Lab involve many complex approaches, such as:

• Math: development of custom computer models to perform mathematical simulations and verification of game designs, including theoretical payback and award odds;
• Random Number Generators (RNGs): Statistical analysis of data sets with millions of data points to verify the randomness of both physical (i.e. hardware) and virtual (i.e. software) RNGs used to determine game outcomes and which are central to game integrity;
• Emulation: interrupting the computer programs during game play to force specific game outcomes and verify the accuracy of all game rules and prize payouts; and
• Interoperability: ensuring the interfaces and communication between different components of networked systems communicate and function properly, and are robust in real-world scenarios.

Technical and regulatory assessments and testing are performed for all gaming equipment and gaming systems in Ontario, including: Slot machines, electronic table games, card shufflers, random number generators, gaming management systems, including accounting and security systems, and cashless wagering systems.

Examination of Electronic Gaming Equipment and Systems

The AGCO Gaming Lab conducts technical examinations into suspect gaming equipment and systems by analyzing digital evidence from live games to determine the root cause of technical issues. The Gaming Lab is equipped with the same gaming equipment and systems used in gaming sites in Ontario, and is equipped with state-of-the-art test equipment that allows it to thoroughly analyze and examine all aspects of gaming equipment and systems.

Regulatory Approvals of Electronic Gaming Equipment and Systems

The Deputy Registrar’s Office issues regulatory approvals for gaming equipment and systems in Ontario based on the results of technical assessments and testing by the Gaming Lab. As part of issuing regulatory approvals, the office determines any necessary terms and conditions, field trials, and revocations based on risk.

Technical Standards and New Gaming Concepts Consultation

The Technical and Laboratory Services Branch continually innovates to stay abreast of rapidly advancing technology and game designs and uses this knowledge to evaluate and provide input regarding new gaming concepts, and develop and maintain the Registrar’s Technical Standards.

Applicable Technical Standards by Line of Business

Casino

OLG Charitable

Charitable

OLG Lotteries

Internet Gaming

(For information on these documents in French, please contact the AGCO’s Technical and Laboratory Services Branch at 647 222-3821).

The Gaming Lab also consults with gaming-related suppliers and operators, providing advice regarding regulatory considerations for new gaming concepts, to help ensure regulatory compliance early in the development process of new gaming products. Gaming-related suppliers and operators are encouraged to reach out to the Gaming Lab with any concepts they wish to discuss or any questions they may have.

Costs and Service Levels

The Gaming Lab adheres to a self-funding model, recovering the staffing costs for its services by charging gaming-related suppliers for services it provides in assessing and testing gaming equipment and systems.

The Gaming Lab anonymously surveys gaming-related suppliers and operators regarding the level of service provided by the Gaming Lab annually. The results of this survey consistently demonstrate both gaming-related suppliers and operators are highly satisfied with the quality of service and professionalism they experience from the Gaming Lab.

For decades, table games always featured tangible tables with one or more dealers. However, casinos have introduced electronic table games in recent years.

The most common type includes a stadium-style setup. Up to a dozen gamblers or more sit in front of electronic monitors while a single human dealer handles the game.

Some electronic table games run through machines. These are basically like slot machines with an emphasis on a certain table game. Electronic table gaming makes sense in theory. They allow you to make smaller wagers and gamble in solitude.

Nevertheless, these games aren’t the best choice for gamblers. Below, you’ll see seven reasons why electronic “tables” should be scrapped.

1 – You’re Playing Table Games With Less of a Social Element

One of the primary reasons why table gambling has been popular in casinos for centuries is the social element. You can chat with other players and the dealer while playing.

Craps especially takes the social aspect to a high degree. Many craps players bet with the shooter through pass line and come wagers. As a result, they cheer and jeer together, following wins and losses.

Blackjack also features lots of comradery. Gamblers celebrate together when the dealer’s hand busts out by going over 21.

Electronic games rob you of most of these social elements. You’ll find it more awkward to celebrate with your buddies in a stadium-style setup. Furthermore, stadiums space you out from fellow gamblers and the dealer. You won’t be able to make small talk in these situations.

Machine-based electronic games are even worse from a social standpoint. You likely won’t have anybody around to chat with.

2 – The House Edge Is the Same

Casinos like electronic gaming because they save money by not having to pay dealers. You might think that they’d pass on some of these savings onto the gambler, but they don’t. Their electronic games usually feature the same house advantage as the table-based counterparts.

American Roulette, for example, will offer the same 5.26% house edge on both machines and tables. Likewise, the baccarat banker hand features a 1.06% house advantage on tables and machines.

One bonus to playing electronic versions is that the minimum bets are normally smaller. For instance, you might only have to wager $5 per hand in stadium blackjack versus between $10 or $25, but you’re not gaining any value per dollar wagered if the house edges are the same.

Electronic Gambling Machines

3 – You Could Lose More Money

Even if you’re making smaller minimum bets on electronic table games, you might still lose more money in the long run.

After all, electronic games play faster than the table versions. This factor is especially true when it comes to machine-based versions.

Here’s an example to illustrate this point.

• You play on a blackjack machine.
• The house edge is 1%.
• You bet $5 per hand.
• You play 300 hands per hour.
• 300 x 5 = $1,500 in total wagers
• 1,500 x 0.01 = $15 in hourly theoretical losses
• You play at a table.
• You bet $20 per hand.
• The table sees 60 hands per hour.
• 60 x 20 = $1,200 in total wagers
• 1,200 x 0.01 = $12 in hourly theoretical losses

Despite betting four times as much at the table, you face lower theoretical losses due to the slower playing speed.

Of course, you can always slow your play rate on the machines. But this method feels unnatural and may dull the entertainment value of electronic games.

4 – Some Versions Are Too Much Like Slot Machines

If you’ve ever been in a casino, then you’ve likely played a slot machine. Slots feature their own distinctive playing style that includes both advantages and drawbacks.

Assuming you feel a certain way about slot machines, then your feelings won’t change much with electronic gaming. The main difference between slots and electronic gaming is simply the games.

5 – You Can Just Play at Online Casinos

If you’re going to play electronic casino games, why not just gamble online instead? Internet gaming sites let you enjoy the same style of play without going anywhere.

Electronic Gambling Machines For Sale

Furthermore, you can look forward to lower house edges with online casino games. Some online real money blackjack games, for example, feature house advantages lower than 0.5%.

As covered before, electronic table games feature the same house edges as their table-based counterparts in many cases.

Now, stadium-based table gaming does present a slightly different format than online gambling. You can sit next to other players and see a dealer in the center of the machines.

However, you may still find that stadiums don’t differ enough from internet gaming to be worth the effort.

6 – You Must Travel to Play

What sounds more reasonable?

• Traveling to a land-based casino to play a table game that can’t be replicated online or through a machine
• Traveling to a land-based casino to play an electronic game that can easily be mimicked online

The first point perfectly represents why some gamblers visit land-based establishments in the first place. They want a unique experience that can’t be found beyond a brick and mortar casino.

The second point falls back on the fifth topic covered in this post. Why not just gamble online if you’re only interested in the solitude of electronic gaming?

You may have personal reasons for still visiting a land-based casino to gamble electronically. For example, your friends might be playing table games, and you still don’t feel comfortable with the rules and etiquette.

By and large, though, you’ll find that traveling to a brick and mortar venue just to sit on a blackjack machine isn’t worth it.

7 – You Can Play Live Dealer Games

Live dealer gaming does a great job of blending the best of land-based and electronic gambling. It streams action from a brick and mortar casino to your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

You can enjoy a number of live casino games, including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, three-card poker, sic bo, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

You also have the option to communicate with the dealer via a chat box. This aspect introduces a social element to live dealer gambling.

Hand Held Electronic Gambling Games

If you’re going to play table games away from the tables, live dealer casinos make more sense. They still let you enjoy table gaming in relative solitude. But they also bring social aspects into the fold that aren’t normally present.

Conclusion

Casinos offer electronic table games for a reason—people play them. You may be interested in these options if you’re looking to enjoy table gambling without actually sitting at a table. The electronic versions feature solitude, lower minimum bets, and the chance to control the game speed.

Electronic Gambling Games

However, the downsides definitely outweigh the benefits. The biggest drawback is that electronic gaming takes away much of the social experience.

Electronic Gambling Machines For Sale

Rather than sitting right in front of a dealer and alongside other players, you’ll either be at a machine or casino stadium. You also won’t enjoy lower house edges either. In most cases, electronic versions feature the same house advantages as standard table games.

In the end, you may question the validity of gambling on machines and stadium setups when you can just visit online casinos. The latter offers the same type of gambling but with lower house edges and a wider game selection.

Live dealer gaming lets you play online and still enjoy some social interaction. It’s a great alternative if you love table games yet don’t have the time or money to visit a land-based casino.

Electronic table games still have their place in casinos. However, they shouldn’t occupy a very big place due to their notable downsides.