Gaming equipment

In accordance with Federal Law from 29 December 2006 N 244-FZ “On the state regulation of the activity for organization and implementation of gambling and on amending some legislative acts of Russian Federation” gaming equipment is a device or an appliance that is used for gambling.

Gaming machine is one of the kind of gaming equipment and according to Federal Law N 244-FZ mentioned above that is gaming equipment (mechanical, electrical, electronic or another technical equipment) which is used for gambling with material win decided accidentally by device located inside this equipment, without the assistance of gambling organizer or its executives.

Earlier, up to September 2012, Federal agency for technical regulation and metrology (Rosstandart) was involved in the type approval of gaming machines based on testing results of testing centres accredited by Rosstandart in accordance with Regulations for type approval testing of gaming machines with monetary winnings and for inspecting them for conformance to the approved type (PR 50.2.023-2000) approved by Gosstandart from 24 January 2000 N 22 (with amending approved by Minpromenergo of Russia from 22 February 2008 N 68).

Since September 2012 Rosstandart has not been involving in the type approval of gaming machines and according to Federal Law from 27 December 2002 N 184-FZ “On technical regulations”, before approving the compulsory technical regulations for gaming machines, there is the only way to confirm the technical requirements of the Federal Law N 244-FZ (such as minimal RTP, accidental of game results) that is the voluntary confirmation of the gaming machines conformity through the certification system registered by Rosstandart.

Just for this purpose we have set up the Certification System of Gaming Equipment registered by Rosstandart of 25 February 2013, registered N РОСС RU.З1022.04ФЖФ1, in accordance with Federal Law “On technical regulations” mentioned above. The Certification System applies to gaming machines with monetary winnings as well as to bookmaker’s equipment and parimutual machines.

The next kinds of equipment concern to gaming machines with monetary winnings: gaming machines standalone, electronic roulettes, multi station products etc.

The Certification System of Gaming Equipment in fact is succeed to the previous Rosstandart’ System of the type approval of gaming machines. Therefore, all the kinds and methods of testing, as well as all the testing equipment are absolutely the same as which were developed in VNIIMS and used before, until September 2012. The testing is carried out by highly skilled specialists, which developed and implemented the previous Rosstandart’ System of the type approval of gaming machines during their working for VNIIMS before. Now they all continue to do the testing in ITC. Moreover the database (the Register of gaming machines) that contains all the data about the types of gaming machines approved and inspected since 2005 within Russia is fully under the authority of the new Certification System. Actually the Register of gaming equipment of the new Certification System is succeeding to the previous Register of gaming machines. The actual rules and methods of testing are in Regulations of functioning the Certification System of Gaming Equipment.

The testing of gaming machines in the Certification System of Gaming Equipment can be divided for testing of serial and isolated specimens, as before. As before as well, the testing of serial specimens is intended for manufacturers of gaming equipment, the testing of isolated specimens is intended for operators of gaming equipment if its manufacturer does not support this equipment. The testing of isolated specimens can be carried out for a lot of gaming machines limited 100 units of equipment (for multi station products the limit of lot is 5 units). The Certificate of conformity of serial or isolated specimens is issued if the testing results are positive.

In order to confirm the conformity to any of the types approved (certified) for individual gaming machine, which is operated within Russia’ gaming areas, the Certification System provides for the assessment of conformity (inspecting for conformance) to the type approved (certified). The inspection of a gaming machine for conformance to the type approved (certified) is subdivided into primary inspection, periodic inspection and unscheduled inspection. If the inspection results are positive a "Certificate of Inspection of Gaming Machine with Monetary Winnings" is issued for each gaming machine. This documents is used to submit with declaration the information about technical condition of gaming equipment to tax authority related to gaming area in accordance with the requirements of Government Decree of Russian Federation from August 23, 2007, N 540.

All Certificates for type approvals previously issued by the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart) are recognized until their expiration and it is admitted to use them for inspecting the gaming machines to ensure conformity to the type approved (certified).

The Certification System of Gaming Equipment consists of the Certification Body and testing labs. The Certification Body is Interregional Testing Centre (ITC) that has established the Certification System of Gaming Equipment. It is responsible for testing of gaming machines as well as for inspecting them for conformance to the type approved (certified). Authorized testing labs are responsible just for inspecting of gaming machines for conformance to the type approved (certified). ITC authorizes territorial bodies for standardization and metrology of Rosstandart (as a rule accredited by Rosstandart earlier as testing centers of gaming machines) as testing labs, which operate in subjects of Russian Federation where gaming areas operate in accordance with Federal Law N 244-FZ, on their requests.