Nevada’s gaming landscape is set for significant changes, with the Nevada Gaming Control Board proposing sweeping new technical standards for gaming equipment and systems, slated to be adopted by October 1, 2027. This overhaul was discussed at the board's recent meeting, where Jeremy Eberwein, chief of the technology division, presented ten revised standards for consideration.
Among these revisions, three standards—Standards 3, 5, and 6—are updates of existing regulations, while Standards 7 through 13 are completely new. These standards outline regulations for a variety of gaming products and systems, including slot machines, race and sports books, and bingo.
The purpose of these updates is to consolidate and clarify technical guidance that stakeholders currently seek from several sources, particularly Nevada’s Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICs) and various industry notices. Eberwein emphasized the need for streamlining how licensees can access this information. "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," he explained.
The initial drafts of these standards were released earlier this year, and revisions were incorporated based on licensee feedback. The Board decided to open the updated drafts for public comment by November 15, while retaining the proposed adoption date of October 1, 2027.
Innovation has been a key focus for the board since Chairman Mike Dreitzer took office last year. Dreitzer, with his background at suppliers like Gaming Arts and testing labs, recognizes that regulatory consistency is vital for product approvals. Eberwein, who returned to the board last year after a brief hiatus, underscored the importance of making the regulatory process simpler. He noted, "Bringing everything into one source I think is just a huge advancement here. Instead of having to go to five different places to determine whether or not your product will work in Nevada, now there’s two—regulation and technical standards. That’s it."
This initiative has also been well-received by industry stakeholders. Daron Dorsey, president of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, expressed gratitude for the board's efforts in maintaining open lines of communication and collaboration with the industry. "This agency is reaching out to the industry on a week-by-week, month-by-month basis and we appreciate that, and wherever we find ways that we can collaborate and make things better and modernize Nevada, we’re all for it," Dorsey remarked.
In response, Dreitzer reaffirmed the board's commitment to flexibility in ensuring security, emphasizing the importance of protecting Nevada’s status as the leading gaming state in the U.S. He stated, "We very much view this as a partnership with the goal of being safer, quicker, and more responsive."
