The Nevada Gaming Control Board announced plans to implement significant updates to the state’s technical standards for gaming equipment and systems, with a potential adoption date set for October 1, 2027. This decision was discussed during the board's meeting on Wednesday, where Jeremy Eberwein, head of the technology division, presented ten revised standards.
Among the revisions, three existing standards—Standards 3, 5, and 6—were updated, while Standards 7 through 13 were newly created. These standards encompass guidelines for various gaming products and systems, including slots, race and sportsbooks, and bingo.
The overarching purpose of these updates is to provide a clearer and more concise technical framework, consolidating previously scattered technical information into a single resource. Stakeholders often refer to Nevada's Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICs) and industry notices, which can sometimes create confusion and inefficiencies. Eberwein emphasized that the intention behind compiling this information is to simplify processes for both the board and licensees.
"The goal of these standards was primarily to take technical requirements from the MICs and consolidate them with policies, industry notices, and clarifications from the past 15 years into a more concise source," Eberwein stated during his presentation.
Earlier drafts of these standards were released for review earlier this year, and Eberwein noted that the board had incorporated several changes based on feedback from licensees. After considering the latest revisions, the board decided to open the new drafts for public comment by November 15 while maintaining the proposed adoption date of October 1, 2027.
Innovation and regulatory clarity have been focal points for the board since Mike Dreitzer took over as chairman last year. Drawing from his experience with firms like Gaming Arts and testing laboratories such as BMM, Dreitzer highlighted concerns over the previous regulatory inconsistencies affecting product approvals.
Eberwein, who has returned to the board after a brief departure in 2023, remarked on the importance of consolidating guidance. "Bringing everything into one source is just a huge advancement here," he stated during an interview at the Global Gaming Expo last week. He noted that previously, stakeholders had to consult multiple sources to determine compliance, but the new standards will significantly reduce that complexity.
"A lot of this is taking all the questions we’ve gotten over the last decade and trying to give people a resource they can go to right away without any interpretation," Eberwein explained. "People can look at one or two documents and they’re happy with that."
The collaborative approach taken by the board has garnered praise from industry participants. Although no comments were made by licensees during the meeting, Daron Dorsey, president of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, expressed appreciation for the regulators inviting industry input.
"I just wanted to be here to let you guys know that this agency is reaching out to the industry on a week-by-week, month-by-month basis, and we appreciate that," Dorsey said. "Wherever we find ways to collaborate and modernize Nevada, we’re all for it."
Dreitzer responded by underscoring the need for adaptability while maintaining security, aiming to uphold Nevada’s standing as a leading gaming state in the U.S. "We very much view this as a partnership with the goal of being safer, being quicker, and more responsive," he noted.
