Harrisburg – With just over two weeks to go before the state’s first stand-alone casino opens at Mt. Airly, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Mary DiGiacomo Colins, Board members Sanford Rivers and Jim Ginty, along with Executive Director Anne Neeb marked the completion of a new state-of-the-art slot machine testing and certifications laboratory this morning at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Harrisburg office.

The 5,100 square foot facility currently houses more than 75 of the latest slot machines and associated pieces of gaming equipment, and is connected to the state’s Central Control Computer System, allowing the Board’s highly skilled staff to conduct rigorous tests to ensure the performance and integrity of the slot machines at licensed facilities.

The establishment of the lab is a mandate of the Act 71 of 2004, the Pennsylvania Horse Race Development and Gaming Act, which required the Board to create this type of slot machine testing and certification facility.

“I cannot cite a more key element within the law toward upholding the Legislative intent of assuring the public of the integrity and reliability of the slot machines than this new facility,” Colins remarked. “The completion of this laboratory represents an important milestone in the Gaming Board’s investment in Pennsylvania and the gaming industry.”

Colins added the state-of-the-art laboratory capabilities will make certain that as new types of slots machines are developed, the Board will have the ability to quickly test them for compliance with regulatory standards.

The Gaming Laboratory is operated at no cost to taxpayers as is the Gaming Control Board as a whole. The Gaming Act requires licensed manufacturers to reimburse the Board for the cost  of establishing and operating the gaming lab.

Gaming Laboratory Operations consists of 12 employees in four units:

• The Slot Certification unit which is responsible for evaluating gaming devices for compliance with the minimum design standards, modifications to gaming devices, ancillary equipment and conducting investigations of regulatory violations.
• The Systems and Kiosks unit which is responsible for evaluating communication between every slot machine and the Central Control Computer System as well as a slot facility’s in-house monitoring system, analysis of voucher redemption machines and evaluation of the count room equipment.
• The Gaming Equipment Inspections unit which is responsible for monitoring the day-to-day operations of licensed slot operators with regard to software and systems at all slot facilities, including proper connectivity to the Central Control Computer System.
• The Statistical Review unit which is responsible for evaluating the theoretical return for every gaming theme submitted for review, analysis of progressive reward payouts and random number generator analysis.

For more information about the PA Gaming Control Board visit the website at www.pgcb.state.pa.us