SA's limited payment gambling machine operators are set for improved analytics information in the coming months, as the country's monitoring body puts new checks in place.
This is according to Hosea Malope, CEO of Zonke Monitoring Systems (ZMS) - the Central Electronic Monitoring System (CEMS) operator for the National Gambling Board. The company equips machines with monitoring devices to combat rigging and oversees more than 2 000 limited payment system (LPM) machines across the country.
"LPMs are not casino-based and their betting amounts and winnings are limited. You can only win a maximum of R500 on these machines and they are mainly distributed at places such as restaurants, some parks and a few horse-betting venues," says Malope.
"Every machine is linked up to a data-logger that records all that happens on machines and we're now looking to provide machine owners with that information in real-time, as opposed to them getting information one day after it is logged."
Malope says the new system is being tested and should come into effect next year. Operators would then be able to access information every hour.
He says data-loggers capture all actions on LPMs, including the time and value of money inserted as well as placing of bets. This information is gathered by ZMS, while machines are unable to operate when data-loggers are disconnected.
National outlook
ZMS began working for the National Gambling Board in 2000, according to Malope. At the time, trade and industry minister Alec Erwin tasked the board to ensure a centralised monitoring system was in place in order to protect the interests of government and the private sector.
"From the perspective of the general public, they could end up gambling on systems which are not tested and vetted if there is no CEMS in place. Part of the work done by ZMS is downloading software files of all machines to ensure they are on our central systems for monitoring purposes," he says.
Meanwhile, adds Malope, the machine's operators rely on a CEMS to ensure a level playing field across the country, while curbing potential rigging.