(A) As part of the central computer monitoring system, each establishment operating machines must provide a location controller and modem meeting department requirements. Each location controller must be capable of receiving, storing, and transmitting to the central computer monitoring system all information received from and required of machines. Each location controller shall be capable of supporting at least five machines.

(B) This section applies to those location controllers which participate in the system as separate hardware entities and any head of string location controller which meets the specifications of this section.

(C) The cost for purchasing, leasing, and installing, the location controller is the responsibility of the licensed establishment in which the machines are located.

(D) Each location controller must be able to perform the following functions:

(1) communicate with machines in an on-line environment;

(2) store log entries of openings of machine game doors;

(3) store log entries of openings of machine coin or currency doors;

(4) authorize a machine to be taken off-line from the location controller and store a log of this event;

(5) disable a machine and store a log entry upon a game door open, and a coin door open;

(6) store a log entry if machine is off-line from the location controller;

(7) store a log entry for machine tampering if the signal received from the machine is discontinuous or corrupted in such a manner as to constitute more than spurious noise in the system;

(8) store a log entry of reenabling a machine that has been disabled;

(9) log entries which include a VGMID for each machine and date/time stamp;

(10) communicate to the central computer system the information which has been gathered from the machines and any log entries stored during the period using a protocol provided by the department or designated agent;

(11) have sufficient storage capacity to maintain at least five days of data generated from the maximum playing sessions from the maximum number of associated machines linked to the location controller. The data must be stored immediately in a manner that allows, on demand, real time access by the central computer monitoring system. Access to data stored in the location controller must be restricted to authorized entry from the central computer monitoring system and other authorized inquiry only access that has been preapproved by the department;

(12) have an internal clock;

(13) be protected from unauthorized interference or tampering by any person or external device or force, such as to corrupt or alter data or corrupt or suspend communication signals or transmitted data from the machines or to the central computer monitoring system. This requirement extends to the location controller as well as its associated communication device, and cabling between the controller, the machines, and communication device;

(14) be constructed of materials and protected in such a manner as to allow it to operate in suboptimal environments such as nonregulated temperature, dusty, tobacco-smoke filled, and humid conditions. Locations using a location controller that is not constructed so as to operate in these environments and that fail to operate properly are not allowed to operate machines until the location controller is repaired or replaced so as to operate in such a suboptimal environment; and

(15) be capable of validating tickets printed by a machine.

HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 125, Section 10.

Editor's Note

See Editor's Note at the beginning of this Chapter.