Server based gaming - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

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

Video Lottery Terminal

A Video Lottery Terminal or VLT is a gaming machine that allows gamblers to bet on the outcome of a video game.A VLT is similar to a slot machine, in that each terminal is a stand-alone device containing a random-number generator...

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

Slot machine

A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...

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

Local area network

A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...

or span large geographical areas, even entire nations, over a WAN

Wide area network

A wide area network is a telecommunication network that covers a broad area . Business and government entities utilize WANs to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from various geographical locations...

, such as the Internet.

SBG systems differentiate themselves from other types of video lottery

Video Lottery Terminal

and casino systems by centralizing both game logic and Random number generation

Random number generation

A random number generator ) is a computational or physical device designed to generate a sequence of numbers or symbols that lack any pattern, i.e. appear random....

. 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)

Server Supported Gaming

Server Supported Gaming, or SSG, is a solution employed by video lotteries and casinos to operate Video Lottery Terminals and Electronic Gaming Machines , the latter commonly referred to as slot machines. An SSG system includes a central system and gaming terminals which connect to the central...

. Both types of systems are examples of server centric gaming

Server centric gaming

Server centric gaming is a term used in the fields of video lottery and casino gaming. Server centric gaming combines classic video poker and video lottery with features of a modern client-server computer network...

, which means that they share some similarities. Server centric gaming combines classic video poker

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:...

and video lottery

Video Lottery Terminal

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

Slot machine

A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...

s, SBG and SSG

Server Supported Gaming

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

Thin client

A thin client is a computer or a computer program which depends heavily on some other computer to fulfill its traditional computational roles. This stands in contrast to the traditional fat client, a computer designed to take on these roles by itself...

and online gaming

Online game

An online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems...

, thus making it fundamentally different from SSG which employs thick client

Fat client

A fat client is a computer in client–server architecture or networks that typically provides rich functionality independent of the central server...

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

Server Supported Gaming

because game logic and RNG

Random number generation

A random number generator ) is a computational or physical device designed to generate a sequence of numbers or symbols that lack any pattern, i.e. appear random....

reside on the server in an SBG system. Frequently mentioned benefits of SBG include:

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
Progressive jackpot
A progressive jackpot is a jackpot for a gaming machine where the value of the jackpot increases a small amount for every game played...

s.
Instant access to any game available in an operator’s catalogue, enabling a long tail effect
The Long Tail
The Long Tail or long tail refers to the statistical property that a larger share of population rests within the tail of a probability distribution than observed under a 'normal' or Gaussian distribution...

. This can be compared to standalone gaming terminals, which require games to be installed on location by changing a computer chip (or EPROM
EPROM
An EPROM , or erasable programmable read only memory, is a type of memory chip that retains its data when its power supply is switched off. In other words, it is non-volatile. It is an array of floating-gate transistors individually programmed by an electronic device that supplies higher voltages...

), or SSG
Server Supported Gaming
Server Supported Gaming, or SSG, is a solution employed by video lotteries and casinos to operate Video Lottery Terminals and Electronic Gaming Machines , the latter commonly referred to as slot machines. An SSG system includes a central system and gaming terminals which connect to the central...

, 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
Random number generation
A random number generator ) is a computational or physical device designed to generate a sequence of numbers or symbols that lack any pattern, i.e. appear random....

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) which includes requirements and definitions for Server Centric Gaming systems, referred to as Client-Server Systems (CSS). 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

Server Supported Gaming

systems according to the GLI #21 standard, something which is a requirement by many operators and jurisdiction

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...

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 video lottery

Video Lottery Terminal

system of the Norwegian state owned lottery Norsk Tipping

Norsk Tipping

Norsk Tipping AS is the national lottery in Norway, located in Hamar. The company offers a wide range of lottery, sports and instant games in the Norwegian market. Norsk Tipping is owned by the Norwegian government and administered by Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs...

is an example of an actual SBG system currently in operation.

History

Benefits

Certification and legality

SBG systems in operation

See also