Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | July 2010 26 E very time a casino player has to convert cash to gambling credit and gambling credit into cash, it creates a challenge for the casino operator. The challenge is that the process involves a certain amount of time and effort (possibly lining up at the cage or rummaging around in awallet for an unrumpled bank note).That can create a disincentive for the customer and a barrier preventing the operator from getting access to the full economic potential of that player. A similar barrier is created for players who start their casino visit by playing slots and then want to move to the tables. At present, they must take their slot issued TITO (ticket-in, ticket-out) voucher and either go to an automated kiosk and convert it to cash and then buy chips at the table, or take the TITO ticket to the cage and pick up chips there. NRT Technology Corp, a Canada-based company, is already helping to smooth the cash-credit conversion process via its QuickJack™ kiosks. These high specification automated service machines allow casino players to cash out TITO tickets or make cash withdrawals without the inconvenience of waiting at the cage. Now NRT has taken important steps toward a truly cashless gaming floor with a concept that marries the convenience of the payment kiosk process with the seamlessness of ticket-in, ticket-out play. The Quick Table™ is still in the development stage, but it offers a real breakthrough, says Art Ayow, NRT’s Vice President of Sales – International Gaming, Lotteries & Banking. “The Quick Table we displayed at G2E Asia is the first time an integrated table system has been demonstrated anywhere in the world. What we have done essentially is to adapt many of the value added and key attributes of the kiosks into this product. So, for example, the bill validator we use on the Quick Table is the same as the one in the kiosk,” he explains. Cash capability Quick Table in effect combines the payment interface functions of the kiosk and of a slot machine. Quick Table has a bill and ticket validator and a ticket printer allowing players to cash in directly at the table or pay for their chips via a TITO ticket they have brought to the table. The technology is integrated into the table, rather than being retrofitted as a mobile unit. The latter option is still being investigated. However, it requires adaptation into an existing table and product compliance is still outstanding, says Mr Ayow. “We came up with the ‘fully integrated table concept’ for Asia about six months ago, in partnership with JCM,” he states. “For the first time, it allows a casino client who plays slot machines to go straight over to a table and play there without needing to cash their slot TITO ticket either at the kiosk or the cage. Today, the Quick NRT Technology Corp Top Table NRT’s Quick Table promises to revolutionise casino player buy ins NRT’s Kevin Lam and Art Ayow