Gaming Standards Association (GSA) Opens New Office in Brussels

LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwired - Jun 11, 2014) - The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) announced today that as part of its global collaboration initiative in the creation of standards for the gaming industry, it has established a satellite office in Brussels, Belgium.

Work in the creation of GSA's Online Gaming Standards is progressing at a fast pace, and Europe has been a leader in the adoption of regulation for online gambling and betting. With the establishment of an office in Europe, GSA will be working and consulting with all stakeholders from both the regulatory and policy domain as well as the industry.

GSA's primary aim is to bridge the gap in the debate concerning technical requirements and to facilitate the creation of solutions through standards that will yield benefits to regulators, operators, and manufacturers and provide a platform for further development of both domains. 

Phyllis Farrugia, as GSA Europe Special Representative, will manage the new office. Farrugia has more than 15 years experience in EU policy and the reform and regulation of markets, having held senior positions in both government and industry in various previously monopolized sectors. She is considered as an expert in her field and has held a key advisory position to the Maltese Government and the Maltese gaming regulator for almost a decade, covering areas of EU and international affairs and regulation policy and participated in multitude of strategic, gaming regulatory debates, legislative proposal negotiations and policy discussions at bilateral, European and multi-lateral level.

GSA President Peter DeRaedt said, "As online activity spreads and grows in Europe and around the world, enhanced by the spread of smartphones and tablets, regulation and technical requirements remain fragmented along (Member) State boundaries leading to burdensome inconsistencies for gaming providers active and licensed in more than one jurisdiction. GSA believes that at this stage of regulatory and market development in Europe, it seems there is increased focus on compliance for both the regulators and the regulated, where we believe the adoption of common technical standards could be the next building block and a catalyst for enhanced global collaboration between the various stakeholders."

GSA offers a range of membership levels to suit any company's budget and business interests. For more information on the many benefits of membership, please visit GSA's website at www.gamingstandards.com.

About the Gaming Standards Association (GSA): The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association that creates benefits for gaming manufacturers, suppliers, operators and regulators. We facilitate the identification, definition, development, promotion and implementation of standards to enable interoperability, innovation, education and communication for the benefit of the entire industry.

Established in 1998, GSA's members represent a wide cross section of the global gaming industry.

Global Gaming Business Magazine named GSA's Game to System (G2S) Protocol the "Best Productivity-Enhancement Technology." Casino Journal magazine named it one of the "Top 3 Most Innovative Products" and Casino Enterprise Management put it on the list of "Top 10 Slot Floor Technologies."

Platinum members include: Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission; Aristocrat Technologies Inc.; Bally Technologies, Inc. (BYI); GTECH; International Game Technology (IGT); Konami Gaming Inc.; Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation; Playtech, (PTEC.L), Scientific Games International (SGMS), and Sega Sammy Creation, Inc.

Other members include: 3M; Ainsworth Game Technology Inc..; American Gaming Systems; APOLLO GAMES; Appolonia; Atlantic Lottery Corporation; Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH; BMM Testlabs; British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC); Casinos Austria; ComTrade Gaming; Crane Payment Innovations; European Casino Association; FortuNet, Inc. (FTNT); Four Winds Interactive; FutureLogic, Inc.; Gamblit Gaming, LLC; Gaming Laboratories International, LLC. (GLI); Gaming Technologies Association; Gauselman GmbH; Grand Vision Gaming; Intralot S.A. (INLr.AT); Inspired Gaming Group Ltd.; Interblock-USA; Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. (ISLE); JCM Global; Jumbo Technology Co. Ltd; Loto-Québec; Macao Polytechnic Institute; Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries; Maxgaming; Multimedia Games (MGAM); Multi-State Lottery Association; Nanoptix, Inc.; Nidec Sankyo Corporation; NRT Technology Corporation; Oregon Lottery; Ortiz Machine Company, LLC; Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PENN); Radical Blue Gaming; RAY; Seminole Tribe of Florida; Techlink Entertainment International Ltd.; Transact Technologies Incorporated (TACT); U1 Gaming; UNLV International Gaming Institute; Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.; Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

For more information, visit www.gamingstandards.com and join GSA on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.