Gaming Standards Association

PLATINUM MEMBERS

Third-Party Game Interface

Traditional View of an iGaming System

iGaming PlatformPlayer

Registration

Geo-Location

Player Accounts

Game Services

Other Services

Single Monolithic

System

Evolving View of an iGaming System


Registration

Geo-Location

Player Accounts

Game Services

Other Services

Player Verification

Location Verification

Payment Processing

Independent External Systems

Current View of an iGaming System


Registration

Geo-Location

Player Accounts

Game Services

Other Services

Player Verification


Game Services Payment Processing

Externalization of Game Services

Multi-Game Support


Registration

Geo-Location

Player Accounts

Other Services

Game Service #2

Multiple Game Services from Multiple Manufacturers

Game Service #1

Game Service #3

Multi-Platform Support

iGaming Platform #1

Player Accounts

Game Service #2

Multiple iGaming Platforms Accessing the Same Game

Services

Game Service #1

Game Service #3

iGaming Platform #2

Player Accounts

Why Is This Good? Accountability!iGaming Platform

Player Registration

Geo-Location

Player Accounts

Game Services

Other Services

Player Verification


Game Services Payment Processing

Independent Roles and

Responsibilities

Why Is This Good? Accountability! Game Services can be controlled and

operated by independent third-parties.

This creates an arms-length relationship between the iGaming operator and the game supplier.

Activity reported by Game Services can be audited and reconciled against the activity reported by iGaming Platforms.

Game Services and iGaming Platforms can be independently tested and approved.

Why Does This Sound Familiar?

Slot Machine Wagering Accounts,Ticket-In-Ticket-Out,Progressive Jackpots

Independent Audit and

Reconciliation

Standards!

Where Does GSA Fit In? In 2013, GSA started the Online Gaming

Committee (OGC). The OGC plans to address a wide range of topics, including: Third-Party Game Interface – integration of third-

party game services into iGaming platforms.

Central Monitoring – regulatory monitoring of iGaming operations.

External Interfaces – interfaces between iGaming platforms and geo-location providers, payment processors, etc.

Brick & Mortar – integration with existing land-based operations.



Registration

Geo-Location

Player Accounts

Game Services

Other ServicesThird-Party Game Services

iGaming Console

Third-PartyGame Content

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TerminologyThird-Party Game Interface

Terminology Player Session

A player session is established when the player successfully logs onto the iGaming Platform.

The player session ends when the player logs off or is disconnected from the iGaming Platform.

Player Account A player may have multiple accounts on the iGaming

Platform. For example, a dollar-denominated account and a Euro-

denominated account. Each Player Account is denominated in a single currency.

Account Balances A player may have multiple balances within a single

Player Account. For example, a cash balance and a promotional balance.

Terminology Skin

The brand offered by the iGaming Platform. Each Player Session is associated with a specific Skin. An iGaming Platform may support more than one Skin. A Third-Party Game Service may also support more than one Skin.

Affiliate The marketing channel responsible for bringing the

player to the iGaming site. For example, an external licensed intermediary. Each Player Session is associated with a specific Affiliate.

Jurisdiction The gaming jurisdiction in which the player is located.

Each Player Session is associated with a specific Jurisdiction. The Jurisdiction may change during the Player Session.

Terminology Distribution Channel

The distribution channel through which the game can be played.

For example, PC, tablet, mobile, etc.

Presentation Format The presentation format in which the game can be

rendered. For example, HTML or Flash.

Betting Configuration A specific configuration for the game.

Maximum bet, minimum bet, bet increments, etc. Defined by the manufacturer; cannot be changed.

Terminology Game Session

A Game Session is established when a game is launched on the Third-Party Game Service.

Multiple Game Sessions can be launched during a Player Session.

Game Cycle A Game Cycle is started when a player places a wager

on the game. Multiple bets can be made during a Game Cycle. The Game Cycle ends once the outcomes of the bets are known.

Game Cycle Group Multiple Game Cycles may be dependent of the same

outcome. For example, roulette, sports betting, etc.

TerminologyPlayer Session #1

Game Session #1Game Cycle #1

Game Cycle Group #1

Game Cycle #3Game Cycle Group

#2

Game Session #3

Game Cycle #5

Player Session #2

Game Session #2Game Cycle #2

Game Cycle Group #1

Game Cycle #4Game Cycle Group

#2

Launch URLThird-Party Game Interface

Launch URL


Registration

Geo-Location

Player Accounts

Game Services


iGaming Console


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Launch URL

Launch Parameters The Launch URL contains a series of

standard parameters. Third-Party Game Service Identifier iGaming Platform Identifier Skin Identifier Game Identifier Betting Configuration Identifier Distribution Channel Type Presentation Format Type Player Account Identifier Locale (Language) Code Currency Code

The Launch URL may also contain manufacturer-specific parameters.

Secure Token The Launch URL also contains a Secure

Token.

The Secure Token uniquely identifies the specific instance of a game that was launched for a player.

The Secure Token is included in most requests from the Third-Party Game Service to the iGaming Platform.

For added security, the iGaming Platform can change the Secure Token when it responds to a request from the Third-Party Game Service.

Secure Token

iGaming Platform

Third-Party Game Services

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Secure Token

Secure Token Generated

Secure Token Verified

Launch URL The Launch URL is formed by appending the

parameters to the base URL of the Third-Party Game Service.

The Launch URL is presented to the Third-Party Game Service in an HTTP GET command.

If the Launch URL is valid, the response to the HTTP command contains the Third-Party Game Content (or a loader for the game content). If the Launch URL is invalid, the response contains an

appropriate HTTP error code.

Launch URL Example

http://www.gameService.com/playGame

?gsId=ABC&igpId=Operator&skinId=OurSkin&gameId=ABC_1234&presentType=3PI_internet&channelType=3PI_HTML5&secureToken=A1B2C3D4E5F60718&accountId=Z100187&localeCode=en-US&currencyCode=USD

Game PlayThird-Party Game Interface

Third-Party Platform Interface


Registration

Geo-Location

Player Accounts

Game Services


iGaming Console


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Third-Party Platform Interface

Game Session Start Starting a Game Session is a two-step

process.

First, the player and game information presented in the Launch URL is verified by the iGaming Platform.

The iGaming Platform identifies the Affiliate and Jurisdiction in its response.

The iGaming Platform may also include player-specific information in its response, such as nickname, gender, etc.

Second, the Third-Party Game Service starts a new Game Session for the player, reporting the information about the Game Session to the iGaming Platform.

If necessary, the iGaming Platform can force the Third-Party Game Service to terminate a Game Session. For example, the player moves to another jurisdiction.

Game Session StartiGC 3pGS iGP

Launch URL

verifyPlayerSession

startGameSession

playerSessionAck

Create Game Session

gameSessionAck

Verify Player Session

Record Game Session

Launch Game

Monetary Transactions During game play, Monetary Transactions

are initiated by the Third-Party Game Service and then approved by the iGaming Platform.

Secure Token. Player Account Identifier. Game Session Identifier. Game Cycle Identifier. Game Cycle Group Identifier.

Transaction Identifier. Transaction Amount. Transaction Type – Debit or Credit. Transaction Category – Wager, Win, etc. Transaction Description.

Multiple transactions per

command are allowed

Monetary Transactions If a Monetary Transaction is approved, the

iGaming Platform assigns: Reference Identifier. Transaction Day.

If necessary, the Third-Party Game Service can request that the iGaming Platform cancel specific Monetary Transactions (or a whole game cycle). Cancellation Identifier. Cancellation Day.

Monetary Transactions When the Game Cycle is finished, the Third-

Party Game Service sets a special indicator in the Monetary Transaction. Game Cycle Finished.

In its response, the iGaming Platform assigns: Revenue Day.

If the Game Cycle finishes abnormally, the Third-Party Game Service can include an exception code.

Simple Game Play3pGC 3pGS iGP

Start Game

moneyTransactionsEnd

Game Cycle

moneyTransactionsAckRecordTransactions

Game Result

DetermineGame

Outcome

Start Game Cycle

RecordApproval

Transaction Day

Revenue Day

Complex Game Play – Part 13pGC 3pGS iGP

Initial Wager

moneyTransactions


Confirm Wager

Start Game Cycle

Additional Wager

moneyTransactions


Confirm Wager

Transaction Day

Complex Game Play – Part 23pGC 3pGS iGP

Wagers Complete


Game Cycle


Game Result

DetermineGame

Outcome

Revenue Day

Unfinished Game CyclesThird-Party Game Interface

Unfinished Game Cycles Unfinished game cycles are inevitable!

The player closes his/her browser. The player loses his/her internet connection. The game outcome is determined at some point in the

future, i.e. sports betting.

This leaves the Third-Party Game Platform with three choices:1. Void the Game Cycle and cancel any Monetary

Transactions already recorded for the Game Cycle.2. Auto-complete the Game Cycle and record any

additional Monetary Transactions required to finish the Game Cycle.

3. Suspend the Game Cycle and let the player complete it later.

Unfinished Game Cycles Suspended games will remain unfinished

until:1. The player returns and completes the Game Cycle.2. The Third-Party Game Service terminates the Game

Cycle.3. The iGaming Platform directs the Third-Party Game

Service to terminate the Game Cycle.

Game design, as well as operational and jurisdictional requirements, will determine whether unfinished Game Cycles should be voided, auto-completed, or suspended. Likewise, game design, as well as operational and

jurisdictional requirements, will determine whether terminated Game Cycles should be voided or auto-completed.

Unfinished Game Cycles

Game Cycle

Interrupted

Game CycleSuspended

Game Cycle Voided

Game CycleAuto-

Completed

Game Cycle Restored

Game CycleTerminated

Game Cycle Auto-

Completed

Game CycleVoided

Reconciliation Commands Reconciliation commands are used to

complete unfinished Game Cycles.

Reconciliation commands are the same commands as used for Monetary Transactions except that no Secure Token is required. It is assumed that the Game Session has ended and that

the Secure Token may have been discarded. A Game Session and Secure Token are required to start a

Game Cycle and place wagers, but not to complete the Game Cycle.

Unfinished Game Cycle – Part 13pGC 3pGS iGP

Initial Wager

moneyTransactions


Confirm Wager

Start Game Cycle

endGameSession

endGameSessionAckUpdate Game Session

Communications Failure!

End Game Session

Unfinished Game Cycle – Part 23pGC 3pGS iGP


Game Cycle


DetermineGame

Outcome

Reconciliation Commands – no Secure

Token

Void, Auto-Complete,

or Suspend?

Auto-Complete

Third-Party Content Interface




Registration

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Player Accounts

Game Services


iGaming Console


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Third-Party Content Interface The Third-Party Content Interface is used to

coordinate the activities of the iGaming Console and the Third-Party Game Content.

Account Balances. Game State – Idle/Active. Wager. Win. Mute / Volume. Language.

A JavaScript API is used to communicate the information between the iGaming Console and the Third-Party Game Content.

Game DiscoveryThird-Party Game Interface

Game Discovery The iGaming Platform can query the Third-

Party Game Service to collect information about the games that it supports.

The information supplied by the Third-Party Game Service includes: Game Identifier. Game Type, Game Title, Game Description, & Status. Minimum & Maximum Payback Percentages. Manufacturer, Release Number, Theme, & Paytable. Base URL of the Third-Party Game Service. URL for operator-oriented help information.

Game Discovery For each game, the information supplied by

the Third-Party Game Service also includes: A list of Distribution Channels and Presentation

Formats in which the game is available. A list of Locales (languages) available for the game. A list of Currencies in which that game can be played. A list of Jurisdictions in which the game has been

approved. A list of Betting Configurations available for the

game. A list of additional Manufacturer-Specific Parameters

that can be used when the game is launched.

The game information cannot be changed by the iGaming Platform. It is intended to help operators configure the set of

games offered by the iGaming Platform.

Event ReportingThird-Party Game Interface

Event Reporting The Third-Party Game Interface includes a

very flexible event reporting mechanism.

The GSA, as well as manufacturers, can define events that are reported by the Third-Party Game Service or the iGaming Platform. For example, Game Cycle Started, Game Cycle Finished,

etc.

The events can be reported to the Third-Party Game Service, the iGaming Platform, or a Central Monitoring System.

Event ReportingiGaming Platform

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Central Monitoring System

Events

Event Reporting Standard event information includes:

Event Identifier. Event Code. Event Description. Date/time that the event occurred.

Event-specific information can also be included in event reports. The information is included in a sub-element of the

event report.

For example, the Game Cycle Ended event might include total wagers, total win, total theoretical win, total time played, and total games played.

Event Reporting The set of events to be reported and the

destination are configured through the administrative interface on the Third-Party Game Service or the iGaming Platform.

The choice of events is based on operational and jurisdictional requirements.

Game AuthenticationThird-Party Game Interface

Game Authentication Remote game authentication (GAT) started

with gaming machines.

Game Authentication Terminal

Game Authentication With G2S, S2S, and GDS, game

authentication was expanded onto the network and into peripheral devices.

Game Authentication

Server

Bonus Server

ProgressiveServer

Peripheral Device

Game Authentication The next logical step . . . extend game

authentication to iGaming Platforms and Third-Party Game Services.

Game Authentication

Server

Bonus Server

Progressive Server

iGamingPlatform

Third-PartyGame Service

Game Authentication How does it work?

Discovery – The Game Authentication Server requests a list of software components and supported authentication algorithms from an end-entity (iGaming Platform or Third-Party Game Service).

Verification – The Game Authentication Server requests verification of a particular component using a specific algorithm and seed value.

Authentication – The Game Authentication Server checks the result against a known value provided by a test lab.

Game Authentication

1. Discovery

2. Verification

3. Authentication

Game Authentication

Server

GameService

TrustedSource

Conclusion The Third-Party Game Interface is the first

GSA protocol specifically designed for online gaming.

GSA intends to look at a number of other areas that might benefit from standardization.

Regulatory reporting.

Interfaces to back-end services, such as payment processing and geo-location.

Interfaces to brick & mortar systems.

Questions?

Gaming Standards Association

Documents

Transcript of Gaming Standards Association