Salim Adatia, CEO of Technical Systems Testing, foresees a bright future for interactive gaming in the nascent Asian market
Technical Systems Testing (TST) has been conducting compliance consulting in the gaming industry for 15 years. When its clients began operating in Macau, TST saw an opportunity to expand its business and opened an office there in June 2008.
Salim Adatia, TST’s Vancouver-based CEO, says Macau and other emerging Asian gaming markets are intrinsic to TST’s worldwide growth plans.
“With a higher [gaming] turnover than Las Vegas, the business opportunity in Macau and Asia is too vast to be ignored,” he says. “TST needed to make sure we were there to service our Asian clients and to take advantage of that opportunity.”
TST deals with five to ten Macau-based and up to 20 global manufacturers who supply the region.
The company’s compliance work covers both land-based and interactive gaming. The bulk of its land-based clients are suppliers of electronic gaming machines, while its interactive work encompasses internet gaming, mobile phones and interactive television.
“In the Philippines, where interactive gaming is taking off, we do the majority of testing on behalf of the regulatory body, including both live dealer systems and random number generator supported systems,” Mr Adatia explains.
While interactive gaming is yet to be approved in Macau, he believes it is only a matter of time before Asia’s obsession with mobile devices is tapped for that purpose and interactive gaming becomes more widespread.
“Interactive gaming is something that cannot be ignored, and if it is done right, like in other jurisdictions in which we operate, such as the UK and Isle of Man, it provides a solid experience that is fair to both the player and the operator,” he says.
As well as growing its compliance business in Asia, TST hopes to contribute to the ongoing development of the region’s gaming industry by working with Macau’s regulatory body, the Direcção de Inspecção e Coordenação de Jogos (DICJ), to establish clear and unique technical standards for Macau.
“Currently, the standards that are used there are accepted around the world. We [TST] would like to see a set of standards that is specific to Macau and we are ready to assist the DICJ on that.”
Mr Adatia explains that test labs like TST are often called upon as the first port of call when regulators are looking to update or implement a set of technical standards.
“TST works in many jurisdictions around the world and our experience means we learn the best ways of performing tests, and also the ways in which different types of technology should be implemented and adhered to,” he says.
“When we are putting together a set of standards, we try not to make it too restrictive, providing limited guidance on what type of technology needs to be in the jurisdiction, but rather ensuring the technology fits a criteria for fairness, security and auditability. That allows for innovation and different types of technology while still meeting the general intent of the regulatory requirement.
“Standards are certainly evolving and we include the best of all jurisdictions when we are asked to write them,” Mr Adatia adds.
“Clients see our role in writing standards as a value-added benefit to the partnership because it ensures we are familiar with all the technologies and standards out there.”
As well as testing compliance for standalone products, TST ensures any updates, new games and new platforms adhere to the technical requirements that are prescribed or appointed by the regulatory body or jurisdiction in which they operate.
“Clients will remain with us as long as they are happy with our service, costs and turnaround time for testing,” Mr Adatia admits.
While periodic reviews are not all that common when it comes to land-based products, they are critical to TST’s interactive gaming clients. “There is a requirement to check if anything has changed, confirm that it is the same product that was tested and to ensure that anything new is certified to the requirement,” he explains.
“TST is there to make sure that if people are gaming they get a fair shake and it is done in a manner that is fair and secure.”
