 |
|||
|
August 24, 2006 |
|||
| Parimutuel industry to get security boost from GLI-RCI partnership | |||
|
In an effort to ramp up security for the
parimutuel wagering industry, the Association of Racing
Commissioners International’s RCI Integrity Services announced in
August it was teaming with Gaming Laboratories International to
provide extensive systems testing service. The testing process will
involve parimutuel wagering networks located in North American and
systems that provide wagers into North American pools.
The Lakewood, N.J.-based GLI will offer independent testing of parimutuel wagering systems to certify that they are secure and operating as required. ARCI President Ed Martin recently told the Thoroughbred Times that GLI would assist in the testing efforts by filling a testing void that has existed in the racing and parimutuel industry. “Racing has never been held to the integrity standard other forms of gambling have been held to and it has paid a hefty price in terms of horrible publicity and suppressed growth as a result,” Martin said. “We believe we can help the industry minimize its vulnerability to fraud by those who would compromise the wagering system and satisfy the needs of the wagering public, horsemen, regulators, and track operators.” GLI provides testing services to over 400 gaming jurisdictions, and has established itself as a leader in developing technical standards used to ensure the proper functioning of gaming equipment and devices. President and co-founder James Maida said the opportunity to work in the racing and parimutuel industries was appreciated. “We are excited about working with RCIIS, state regulators, and the racing industry to specifically identify weaknesses in the parimutuel system and recommend ways to address them,” Maida said. The partnership aims to develop security standards that prevent systems operated by race tracks, simulcast partners, tote companies, and communication providers from becoming breached, creating unauthorized access to domestic wagering pools. Martin told the Thoroughbred Times that GLI system testing, along with the ongoing, independent and automated monitoring of wagering systems, can give the public, horsemen, regulators and shareholders comfort that every effort has been made to safeguard the racing product, domestic pools, and the integrity of bettors’ wagers. “Rather than fight the problem after it happens, would it not be better to prevent it from happening in the first place?” Martin said. The racing industry has been developing a transaction-based wagering protocol, which will need to be independently tested before it can be launched—another benefit to the RCI-GLI partnership. “While I believe there is considerable merit to the effort that has been underway, the product has been a long time in coming and will need to be independently tested prior to implementation,” Martin said. “This is why our alliance with GLI is so important to the racing industry right now.” —Andy Holtmann |
|||