Equipment and software manufacturers used much of the pandemic downtime to develop more engaging interactive offerings as the gaming industry rapidly recovers.

Scott Durden presents the ElectroglaZ from Zytronic that allows electrical power to be delivered through a transparent glass panel without wires or cables during the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.

Oct. 11, 2021 | by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Following more than a year of pandemic restrictions, the gaming industry is back with a bang, as demonstrated by the innovation on display at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas last week.

Equipment and software manufacturers used much of the downtime to develop more engaging interactive offerings as the gaming industry rapidly recovers.

Revenue from casino gaming, sports betting and Internet gaming reached $4.92 billion in July, surpassing May as the industry's highest grossing month ever, according to the American Gaming Association. Revenue was up 32.2% compared to the same month in 2019.

The expo, presented by the American Gaming Association at the Venetian Expo, showcased more innovative offerings than the last physical expo in 2019.

The expo serves as a showcase for emerging interactive technologies beyond gaming, as the hospitality and retail industries continue to adopt entertainment and gaming in states where gaming is legal.

Sports betting kiosks were pervasive throughout the trade show floor as equipment and software manufacturers seek to cash in on the exploding sports betting industry. Every year, more states permit sports betting since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, allowing states besides Nevada to permit sports betting.

U.S. sports betting in July generated $228.2 million in revenue, according to the American Gaming Association, more than tripling (221.7%) year-over-year revenue.

As sports betting expands and retail and hospitality players jump on the bandwagon, sportsbook kiosk, redemption kiosk, ATM and cash exchange manufacturers are targeting more retail and hospitality companies in addition to sports and gaming facilities.

The show floor also once again demonstrated that gaming equipment and software manufacturers have taken a lead role introducing facial recognition and artificial intelligence.

Following are highlights from the trade show floor in alphabetical order.

Craig Stapleton demonstrates the LED strip light controller at the Advantech-Innocore booth

Advantech-Innocore presented a range of solutions, including an industrial grade, eight channel LED controller that allow a display of coordinated content across a bank of machines, consisting of eight independently controllable channels, up to 128 LEDs per channel. Multiple modules can be linked to allow groups of machines to play synchronized content.

Advantech-Innocore also introduced its all-in-one gaming cabinet system with dual 27-inch, 4K displays with touchscreen capability allowing customers to integrate a third monitor and customize lighting.

Agilysys, a hospitality software provider, presented its PanOptic self-checkout kiosk that allows guests to place multiple food products on a tray all at one time and check out without touching the kiosk.

The system scans the items using computer vision and artificial intelligence.

The system identifies all the items placed on the tray simultaneously. The customer can add or remove items as they wish before choosing to pay using any payment methods the location uses, including contactless payments, credit cards, gaming loyalty cards or stored value accounts.

The system comes with a scanner and a receipt printer.

Casinomoney presented its CM-200 combination ATM, ticket redemption, cash advance and bill breaking kiosk.

The machine includes four cash cassettes for a total 12,000 note capacity, loyalty card management, multi-language capability, a coinless option with charitable donations and a 32-inch touchscreen with a media topper.

Equipped with a Linux operating system, the CM-200 also provides check cashing services and payout voucher redemption.

The company also presented a tabletop reverse ATM that accepts cryptocurrency.

Rick Durica presents the Hard Rock branded sportsbook kiosk.

Cole Kepro International, a partnership of Cole Industries Inc. and Kepro International Co. Ltd., introduced three sportsbook models for retail, sports and gaming brands. The kiosks offer thermal ticket printers.

The company designs and manufactures gaming cabinets and kiosks.

CountR presented its "2pay" debit card to ticket-in-ticket-out kiosk that facilitates fund access at the gaming device. The kiosk eliminates queing at ATMs and reduces cash handling.

Features include an EMV certified card reader, PIN pad, 7-inch monitor, integrated camera, ticket printer and optional video surveillance.

Ditronics presented a prototype of a combination ATM, cash advance and redemption kiosk.

The company's portfolio includes ticket redemption kiosks, check guarantee software, cash advance software and Title 31 gaming compliance software.

Everi Holdings Inc. introduced its digital CashClub Wallet that integrates and extends cashless payments using traditional, alternative and mobile technologies.

CashClub Wallet allows casino operators to offer their guests the option of cashless and contactless funding of electronic game play, including funding at ATMs and gaming devices, as well as payments at the point of sale or online to fund sports betting or social gaming.

Kevin Tenney presents the sports betting kiosk at the Gan Sports booth.

Gan Sports, a division of Gan, presented its sportsbook kiosk featuring a user interface that can be customized with regional or local content management and offers loyalty integration between retail and mobile platforms.

The kiosk and mobile wagering platform allows locations to operate a customized sportsbook on property without additional staff or overhead.

Gan Sports offers managed trading tools, a betting engine, betting data and streaming.

FSB, a sportsbook software provider, demonstrated its sportsbook kiosk, part of its omnichannel sportsbook solution.

The company uses its own data and real-time algorithmic models to calculate odds.

Services include trading, marketing and customer support for more than 10,000 games.

GeWeTe GmbH in Mechernich, Germany, presented its Cash-Center-Premium cash handling solution which changes banknotes and coins to coins and notes. With a note capacity of up to 12,000 notes and four denominations, the machine also handles player cards and bank cards.

The machine offers ticket-in-ticket-out and integrates with many casino management systems.

The machine features a 27-inch LCD touchscreen and an optional PIN pad terminal.

Global Payments, a provider of hardware and software payment solutions, presented its VIP Mobility app, a cashless app that allows users to move funds across locations.

Patrons use their Social Security number and their driver's license to download the app, which allows them to pay for gaming and retail services at any location. Global Payments claims properties with customers using this app experience a lift in sales.

Glory Global Solutions Ltd., a provider of cash technology solutions, presented a sports betting kiosk that both accepts and pays out cash in addition to accepting credit cards.

The company also displayed a food ordering kiosk that accepts cash and has a cash recycler.

The Pareto from iBase Gaming is a free-standing cabinet for sports betting and kiosk applications. The kiosk has a customizable deck, a front camera, speakers, printer and card reader, and can support a 23.8- or 27-inch monitor.

IDScan.net presented its facial recognition software for visitor management.

The company's visitor management platform allows locations to enroll individuals by scanning their photo ID.

The camera captures a person's face from a photo and recognizes the face the next time the person arrives at the location. The software allows the client to create custom groups and receive text and email notifications when specific individuals arrive at the premises.

Kambi, a provider of sports betting services to licensed B2C gaming operators worldwide, demonstrated its sports betting network on a kiosk. Services include a front-end user interface, odds compiling, customer intelligence and risk management.

Lyte presented its mobile smartphone charging kiosk that allows users to check out and return a portable phone charger. The user inserts a credit card to rent a portable charger. They then use the portable charger as they wish before returning it to any kiosk in the network. A mobile app allows users to locate kiosks.

Nanoptix, a provider of thermal printing solutions, presented a Linux-based kiosk for retail, lottery, amusement and gaming applications.

The unit features a ticket-in-ticket-out printer, a 10-inch LCD screen, a capacitive multi-touch screen, a 1-D and 2-D barcode scanner and a smart card reader. The company also offers an optional self-standing kiosk with bill validators.

NRT Technology displayed its QuickTouch 3 sports betting kiosk featuring dual facial recognition cameras, a 43-inch touchscreen with 4K display and a card reader. Optional components include a barcode/QR code reader and an identification reader with image scanning authentication.

NRT Technology also introduced "smartsend," a service that uses Mastercard Send to send funds instantly to a bank account, prepaid card or mobile wallet. The company demonstrated the service, which it developed in partnership with AptPay, a money processor, on a self-service kiosk.

ParPro, a gaming cabinet manufacturer, presented a prototype of a kiosk that uses artificial intelligence and facial recognition.

The facial recognition camera identifies the customer and enables the software to determine their demographics and play music based on the demographics.

Passport Technology Inc. introduced the Lush platform, an omnichannel loyalty solution with third-party plug-and-play capability that integrates with casino management systems.

The platform integrates with digital and physical touchpoints via a web interface.

The company also presented its CashStream PCI-compliant components for self-service redemption kiosks, its LiveCage automated cashier drawers and its DataStream online reporting portal.

Real Time Networks presented its AssetTracer AT solution assembled from locker modules that offer charging ports for electronic devices. Users authenticate themselves and complete transactions on a touchscreen.

The lockers can also be configured with scales for asset weight checks or with a wireless content surveillance system that confirms the proper assets are returned.

The AssetTracer software automatically logs transactions and provides audit reports.

Suzohapp presented its SBT-1000 sports betting terminal and its CashIO Silver self-service payment terminal.

The sports betting terminal features a 21.5-inch dual Elo touchscreen, along with baked-on powder coatings, a printer, a scanner and a choice of bill validators. The unit also has a cashbox door sensor, a note/coin unjamming door sensor and a computer access door sensor.

The CashIO Silver for automated cash handling features a 21-inch touchscreen, up to four cassettes supporting up to four denominations, a bill/ticket acceptor and a ticket-in-ticket-out receipt printer or card reader.

Touch Dynamic presented its Razor All-In-One and Pulse Ultra All-In-One kiosks. The Razor All-In-One features a 360-degree swivel base for customer facing technology, a 15.6-inch widescreen projected capacitive display, external input/output ports and optional peripherals: barcode scanner, fingerprint reader, rear display and wireless LAN. The Pulse Ultra All-In-One features a projected capacitive touchscreen, 15-inch and 17-inch displays, LCD panel, input/output ports and similar optional peripherals.

United Tote Gaming Services presented a vertical sports betting kiosk. The company specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of self-service sports betting kiosks, loyalty kiosks and gaming terminals.

Wells-Gardner Technologies Inc. introduced its monitors available with and without touch. The infrared screens — 21.5 to 43 inches — can sense fingers, allowing patrons to interact without touch. Features include: video interface, 16:9 aspect ratio, 1920 by 1080 resolution and 400 nits brightness.

Zytronic introduced its ElectroglaZ, a patent-pending technology that allows electrical power to be delivered through a transparent glass panel without wires or cables.

Combined with Zytronic's projected capacitive touch sensors, the custom shaped ElectroglaZ panel can simultaneously power a 21.5-inch LCD, transmitting data through a wireless HDMI connection. Features also include a wireless phone charging pad, a USB port and an LED, backlighting a logo printed on the glass.

The touch active display incorporates a transparent, raised glass button to deliver the tactile sensation players desire, but without the reliability and waterproofing issues and complex integration often associated with traditional mechanical "bash buttons."

Advantech offers customizable kiosks, kiosk components, digital signage, and emenu solutions for retail, quick-service restaurants, hospitality and more.

Elliot Maras is the editor of Kiosk Marketplace and Vending Times. He brings three decades covering unattended retail and commercial foodservice.

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