WMS secures Nevada regulatory approval for Wage-Net Networked Gaming System

The approval for WMS’ Wage-Net (Wide Area Game Enhanced Network) system follows completion of a successful Nevada field trial at the renowned Bellagio Las Vegas casino and hotel that began on July 31, 2008.

At its public meeting today in Las Vegas, the Nevada Gaming Commission accepted the recommendation for Wage-Net’s approval from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The Commission now is expected to issue a letter of notification of its approval to WMS.

The system, designed to comply with GSA’s standards, is a suite of multiple system applications and platform technologies that will increase the operational efficiency and revenue generating capabilities of gaming floors at casinos.

Justin Beltram, Vice President of Slot Operations at the Bellagio said, “WMS’s Wage-Net system was intuitively easy to install and performed all the capabilities that were expected. The WMS team provided excellent support and service throughout the entire field trial. We look forward to participating with WMS in future trials as they enhance the system and add new features and functionality.”

“To be the first company to receive this approval from the Nevada regulators for a networked gaming system based on open architecture and that is fully compliant with GSA’s G2S standards is a testament to WMS and our employees’ extraordinary commitment to innovation and development excellence. With this approval, WMS takes another important step in leading the industry into the networked gaming future,” said Orrin J. Edidin, President of WMS. “Working collaboratively with the forward-thinking and totally supportive team at the Bellagio during the successful field trial was an outstanding experience.

“This approval represents the first component in our Wage-Net system,” Edidin added. “We are readying additional capabilities to offer customers an even richer solution of applications and products for their gaming floor, including our Portal Technology Platform and Account Based Wagering System, both of which were demonstrated last month in Las Vegas at the Global Gaming Exposition, as we proceed on our path to ultimate commercialization of the Wage-Net system in fiscal 2010.”

Edidin continued, “The Wage-Net system is designed to be fully interoperable with all other systems applications that use the GSA protocol and that are based on open system architecture. We reaffirm and continue to demonstrate our support for Freedom of Choice by our customers and the benefits derived from a truly open systems architecture and standards-based interoperability at the protocol, application and hardware level. Importantly, the Wage-Net system demonstrates yet another WMS innovative product offering that highlights our long-term dedication and passion to creating products that deliver heightened entertainment experiences for casino patrons and high-earning solutions for casino operators.”

Going forward, WMS expects to engage in additional field trials of the Wage-Net system in Nevada that will include unique platform technologies and suite of applications that focus specifically on players’ gaming experiences and how the use of network architecture can enable whole new levels of player excitement and personalization.