The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has announced stringent timelines for slot machine suppliers to comply with its new Technical Standards for Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) Version 1.1. Suppliers must ensure their games adhere to the new standards by specific deadlines.
Key Deadlines and Compliance Requirements
- Approval Deadline: Slot machine suppliers will not be allowed to submit non-compliant games to PAGCOR for approval after December 31, 2023.
- Sales Deadline: Non-compliant machines will not be permitted to be sold in the Philippines after June 30, 2024.
- Existing Machines: Machines already on gaming floors by mid-2024 are exempt from compliance with the new standards and do not need to be removed or updated.
PAGCOR revealed these details during the recent IAG Academy Summit in Manila, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the new standards. The timeline for implementation is tight, but suppliers expressed confidence in their ability to meet the requirements.
Supplier Insights
- Ken Jolly, Vice President and Managing Director, Asia for Light & Wonder, highlighted that the Philippine standards are similar to those in other markets worldwide, making compliance relatively straightforward. He noted that the changes introduced in Macau’s 2.0 standards, such as flashing clocks, presented more significant challenges.
- Michael Cheers, IGT Sales Director, Asia, acknowledged that suppliers would need to adjust their tests and rewrite software for popular games to meet the new standards. He also pointed out that regulatory changes could drive the need for redundant machines, leading to replacements or upgrades.
Key Updates in Technical Standards 1.1
The updated Technical Standards for EGMs 1.1 include the following key requirements:
- No Truncation of Wins: Any win awarded in any game element or sequence of game elements must not be truncated.
- Security Seal Slot: EGMs must have a slot for the plastic security seal, which must be installed before the machines are put into operation.
- Spill Resistance: All EGMs must be made spill-resistant to ensure that liquid spills applied to the outside of a machine do not affect its normal operation or compromise the integrity of stored information.
Raymond Luna, Senior Manager of the Slot Machine Department at PAGCOR, emphasized that these new standards are necessary due to technological advancements and aim to ensure fairness, security, and technological compliance. PAGCOR is committed to aligning its regulations with global best practices to attract investment and promote innovation in the gaming industry.