Server-based gaming, or SBG, is a solution employed by video lotteries and casinos to operate

Video Lottery Terminal A video lottery terminal (VLT), also sometimes known as a video gaming terminal (VGT), video slots, or the video lottery, is a type of electronic gambling machine. They are typically operated by a region's lottery, and situated at licensed establis ...

s (VLTs) and Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs), the latter commonly referred to as

slot machine A slot machine (American English), fruit machine (British English) or poker machine (Australian English and New Zealand English) is a gambling machine that creates a game of chance for its customers. Slot machines are also known pejoratively a ...

s. An SBG system includes a central system and gaming terminals which connect to the central system. SBG systems may be operated locally over a LAN or span large geographical areas, even entire nations, over a WAN, such as the Internet. SBG systems differentiate themselves from other types of

video lottery A video lottery terminal (VLT), also sometimes known as a video gaming terminal (VGT), video slots, or the video lottery, is a type of electronic gambling machine. They are typically operated by a region's lottery, and situated at licensed establis ...

and casino systems by centralizing both game logic and

Random number generation Random number generation is a process by which, often by means of a random number generator (RNG), a sequence of numbers or symbols that cannot be reasonably predicted better than by random chance is generated. This means that the particular outc ...

. Game terminals in an SBG system must per definition be authorized and connected to the central system in order to function, something that is not true for systems where all critical game components reside locally in the terminal.

History

SBG shares its roots with Server Supported Gaming (SSG). Both types of systems are examples of server centric gaming, which means that they share some similarities. Server centric gaming combines classic

video poker Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw poker. It is played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine. History Video poker first became commercially viable when it became economical to combine a television-like moni ...

and

with features of a modern client-server computer network. Compared to traditional standalone

s, SBG and SSG systems facilitate automated remote game and configuration management for example. SBG further builds upon the server centric gaming concept with technology and design principles from thin client computing and online gaming, thus making it fundamentally different from SSG, which employs

thick client In computer networking, a rich client (also called heavy, fat or thick client) is a computer (a "client" in client–server network architecture) that typically provides rich functionality independent of the central server. This kind of computer ...

game terminals that have more in common with standalone terminals. The development of SBG has been driven by technological advancements and the benefits made possible thereof. "For example, a system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,602 is known as a casino game system of this sort. This system comprises a server and a plurality of clients, and the server can execute a plurality of game programs. Each client can access the plurality of game programs that the server executes, and a game image created by the accessed game program is displayed on a display unit of the client. Thereafter, a player can play a game from the game program being executed by the server by performing the game operation to the client. A typical conventional casino game system comprises a plurality of independent game devices, and each game device independently executes a game program. According to the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,602, most of the functions that each game device in this typical conventional casino game system is equipped with can be centralized in the server. In this way, each client only needs to be equipped with minimum functions, i.e. user interfaces (display unit and operation accepting unit) and a communication function that enables communication with the server. This dramatically reduces the costs for both hardware and software in the entire casino game system." "CASINO GAME SYSTEM AND CASINO GAME TERMINAL THAT CAN BE USED THEREIN", United States Patent Application 20070213134, "Background of the Invention" section.

Benefits

SBG represents a paradigm shift from both standalone terminals and SSG because game logic and RNG reside on the server in an SBG system. Frequently mentioned benefits of SBG include:SBG Products
Casino Review #62, pages 48-49Server-Based Games Are the Future, says Lars Buttler
GameDaily * Multi-channel gaming, which allows players to access games on other platforms as well, such as mobile phones for example. * Linked gaming content, support for wide area multiplayer and

progressive jackpot A progressive jackpot is a jackpot (a gambling grand prize or payout) which increases each time the game is played but the jackpot is ''not'' won. When the progressive jackpot is won, the jackpot for the next play is reset to a predetermined value ...

s. * Instant access to any game available in an operator’s catalogue, enabling a long tail effect. This can be compared to standalone gaming terminals, which require games to be installed on location by changing a computer chip (or

EPROM An EPROM (rarely EROM), or erasable programmable read-only memory, is a type of programmable read-only memory (PROM) chip that retains its data when its power supply is switched off. Computer memory that can retrieve stored data after a power s ...

), or SSG, which requires that the complete game is downloaded before it can be played. * Personalization through the use of player profiles. * Lower hardware, software and maintenance costs for game terminals, due to their thin client nature. * Real-time monitoring of game terminal status and game transactions. * Higher security, since the RNG and game logic can’t be manipulated at individual game terminals. * More control – software, hardware and peripherals can be disabled if digital signature verification fails. Compared to standalone and SSG terminals, unauthorized SBG terminals can’t be operated since they rely on the central system in order to function. * Responsible gaming features that require advanced monitoring capabilities. * Reduced risk of piracy, since only the client components of games are stored locally in game terminals.

Certification and legality

GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) has created a standard (GLI #21)GLI #21
/ref> which includes requirements and definitions for Server Centric Gaming systems, referred to as Client-Server Systems (CSS).GLI #21
page 10 GLI differentiates between Server Based Gaming Systems (SBGS) and Server Supported Gaming Systems (SSGS). GLI defines SBGS as “The combination of a server and client terminals in which the entire or integral portion of game content resides on the server.” SSGS is defined as “The combination of a server and client terminal(s) which together allow the transfer of the entire control program and game content to the client terminal(s)…” GLI certifies SBG and SSG systems according to the GLI #21 standard, something which is a requirement by many operators and

jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels. Jur ...

s for them to consider and allow such systems. Currently, SBG systems are allowed in several countries and US states, both through GLI certification and local legislation.

SBG systems in operation

There are several server centric systems in production all over the world. Most of these are SSG systems, though they are often referred to as SBG systems. The

system of the Norwegian state owned lottery

Norsk Tipping Norsk Tipping is a Norwegian gambling company headquartered in Hamar, Norway. Founded in 1948, Norsk Tipping is owned by the Norwegian government and administered by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture. The company offers a wide range of lottery ...

is an example of an actual SBG system currently in operation.Norsk Tipping AS
Lottery Insider

References

{{Reflist Gaming devices

History

Benefits

Certification and legality

SBG systems in operation

See also

References