UK gaming machine operators create new technical standards working group

The trade body which represents the interests of Britain’s amusements and high street gaming manufacturers and operators, Bacta, has established a new industry Technical Standards Working Group to ensure that all the gaming machine industry standards are reviewed regularly. It also comprises recommendations made to relevant bodies to keep them up to date, fit for purpose. 

The Group is formed by machine manufacturers and operators as well as the Gambling Business Group, with Alan Claypole, Head of Product at Blueprint Gaming as the Chairman. Matt Ingram, CPO at Reflex Gaming, takes the position of Vice Chair. 

In a press release on Bacta’s website, Claypole spoke about the industry’s needs that led to the creation of the group. 

“The recent emergence of land-based digital gaming has introduced new technologies, applications and enhanced player experiences into the gaming industry. It would now seem appropriate to review the existing BACTA industry standards. Therefore, in the short term the main objective of the Working Group will be to revise, expand and enhance the current standards”, he explained.

“The use of industry- agreed technical standards provides machine operators with certain commonality across different technologies and gaming cabinets, therefore improving serviceability and configuration. The Working Group will have a very good amount of knowledge and experience from across the gaming industry, I look forward to working with the members,” he added.

Bacta’s CEO, John White, also spoke about the creation of The Working Group and said: “This is a big programme of work and we are very grateful to Alan and Matt for taking it on. Until now the industry standards were ably curated by Bos Anderson Director of Technology at Bell-Fruit Games and Bob Lawrence who was formerly at Barcrest but who is now retired. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bos and Bob enormously for their hard work over the years. The fact that many of these industry standards have been successfully employed in machines over many many years is testament to their work. Bos will shortly be leaving the industry and we wish him well for the future”. 

The new group has already made a recommendation to adopt certain versions of the Dataport Standard.