Glossary

Associated Equipment: Any internal or external equipment that is not part of the Gaming Device itself and is required for its complete operation, e.g. progressive controllers, Bill Validators, printers, etc.

Attendant Pay Limit: The value above which, or at or above which, all cash-outs will be paid by an attendant.

Bet:  An amount risked in a wager (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Bill Validator: An electronic device that accepts Vouchers, Coupons, or valid legal tender in the form of bills, or rejects those items when invalid.

Cashless Wagering System: The collective hardware, software and other equipment used to facilitate wagering without chips, tokens, or legal tender of Canada.

Casino:  A type of Gaming Site in which lottery schemes conducted and managed by OLG are played in a physical premises that is not a cGaming site (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Coin: Legal tender in the form of coins or other forms of consideration represented by tokens, which can be inserted into the Gaming Device by a player intending to place a Bet, or such coins or tokens when received as a payout from a Gaming Device.

Coin Validator: A Coin Acceptor or Coin Comparator used by the Gaming Device that accepts or rejects inserted Coin(s) or token(s) after validation.

Community Bonus:  A type of bonus Play where two or more Games are connected to a controller that allows players to collaborate or compete for a shared prize.

Control Program:  Any software, source language or executable code which controls Game operation, accounting, and interfaces with the Gaming System and peripherals.  This term includes, but is not limited to, software, source language or executable code associated with the random number generation process, mapping of random numbers to Game elements to determine Game outcome, evaluation of the selected Game elements to determine win or loss, payment of winning Bets, Game recall, Game accounting including the reporting of meter information to the slot accounting system, monetary transactions conducted with Associated Equipment, software verification and authentication functions which are specifically designed and intended for use in Gaming Devices, monitoring and generation of Game tilts or error conditions, and gaming operating systems which are specifically intended for use in Gaming Devices.

Controls: The individual policies, procedures, business processes, monitoring systems, structures, accountabilities, tools and instruments, etc., that comprise the control environment management establishes to address the regulatory risks identified by the AGCO and achieve the regulatory objectives reflected in the Standards and Requirements (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming). 

Coupon: A printed Wagering Instrument that has a fixed dollar wagering value that can only be used to acquire non-cashable credits.

Critical Game Data: Stored data that is considered vital to the integrity, security and accounting for the continued operation and maintenance  of the Gaming Device. This includes, but is not limited to:

  1. RNG outputs, results, or both;
  2. Accounting meters;
  3. Credit meters;
  4. Gaming machine data, Game configuration data, or both;
  5. Game history data;
  6. Financial transactions;
  7. Significant event logs;
  8. Current game state (e.g. to enable recovery from unexpected interruptions).

Critical Game Options: Options and configurations of software, which, if configured incorrectly, would result in unintended operation or an integrity issue.  The following list contains some examples of Critical Game Options:

  1. Game configurations (payout percentage, lines, denominations, etc.);
  2. Progressive type (e.g. Standalone, Linked, Wide Area, etc.);
  3. Jurisdiction, as applicable, when the jurisdiction controls one or more Critical Game Options;
  4. Tournament mode.

Critical Memory: Memory locations storing Critical Game Data. 

Critical Software: Any software and data which affects the integrity or outcome of a Game, the interpretation of Game Play, or accounting or metering information.  This includes, but is not limited to, any software that comprises the Control Program; or is used to control Game functions, Game outcome, payout, security BIOS (where part of chain of trust), or accounting functions; and related data including fixed data and graphics files used to interpret Game Play or outcome.  It can also include Gaming System software such as that pertaining to maintenance of accounting, alarm information or software used to process gaming transactions.  Critical Software does not include Critical Game Data.

Cryptographic RNG:  An RNG which is resistant to attack or compromise by an intelligent attacker with modern computational resources, and who has knowledge of the source code of the RNG, its algorithm, or both. Cryptographic RNGs cannot be feasibly ‘broken’ to predict future values.

Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC):  A software algorithm used to verify the accuracy of data during its transmission, storage, or retrieval. The algorithm is used to validate or check the data for possible corruption or unauthorized changes.

Disabled: Any condition when the Game is unplayable.

Eligible Individual:  Those persons who are not prohibited from accessing Gaming Sites or playing lottery schemes (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

The following individuals shall not be permitted access to the Gaming Site:

a. An individual under 19 years of age where the Gaming Site is a Casino, except in the course of employment;

b. An individual under 19 years of age where the gaming site is an iGaming site, except where the individual is at least 18 years of age and is accessing the gaming site solely for the purpose of purchasing a lottery ticket, or in the course of employment;

d. Individuals who appear to be intoxicated if the Gaming Site is a physical premises;

e. Every individual who advises the Operator or OLG that the individual is participating in a self-exclusion process established by OLG that applies to the Gaming Site, unless the individual is accessing the Gaming Site in the course of their employment;

f. An individual who is known by the Operator to have been restricted from accessing the Gaming Site or playing a lottery scheme as a condition of a court order;

g. Individuals who the Operator or OLG have reason to believe have been excluded from the Gaming Site under subsection 3.6(1) of the Gaming Control Act

The following individuals shall not be permitted to play lottery schemes

a. An individual under 19 years of age where the Gaming Site is a Casino

b. An individual under 19 years of age where the gaming site is an iGaming site, except where the individual is at least 18 years of age and is accessing the gaming site solely for the purpose of purchasing a lottery ticket;

d. Individuals who appear to be intoxicated if the Gaming Site is a physical premises;

e. Every individual who advises the Operator or OLG that the individual is participating in a self-exclusion process established by OLG that applies to the Gaming Site;

f. An individual who is known by the Operator to have been restricted from accessing the Gaming Site or playing a lottery scheme as a condition of a court order;

g. Individuals who the Operator or OLG have reason to believe have been excluded from the Gaming Site under subsection 3.6(1) of the Gaming Control Act;

h. Officers, members of the board of directors or partners of the Operator;

i. Registered gaming assistants of an Operator or OLG employed at any Gaming Site operated by the Operator or OLG;

j. Executives or staff of a trade union who represent or negotiate on behalf of employees employed at the Gaming Site;

k. Employees of registered suppliers who maintain or repair Gaming Devices or Gaming Systems at the Gaming Site;

l. Members or employees of the AGCO;

m. Officers, members of the board of directors, or employees of OLG, unless they are within the description set out in subsection 22(6) of Ontario Regulation 78/12 (i.e. they are registered as category 2 gaming assistants or otherwise not required to be registered by the AGCO).

Gamble Feature: An option to allow a player to gamble the prize, or a portion of the prize, they receive from a winning wager in a Bet defined by the rules of the Game.  

Game: A wagering scheme with the outcome based on pure Chance, mixed Chance and Skill, or pure Skill.

Gaming Device:  Same as Gaming Supplies.  (Refers to gaming equipment that could influence or is integral to the conduct, management or operation of a lottery scheme, as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Gaming Management System:  A Gaming System that includes one or more of a Slot Accounting System, Slot Monitoring System, or Cashless Wagering System.  The system interface devices deployed at the Gaming Site to communicate directly between the Gaming Devices and the Gaming Management System are considered part of the Gaming Management System.

Gaming-Related Supplier:  A person who manufactures, provides, installs, tests, maintains, or repairs gaming equipment or who provides consulting or similar services directly related to the playing of a lottery scheme or operation of a Gaming Site (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Gaming Session:  The period of time commencing when a player initiates a Game or series of Games on a Gaming Device by committing a Bet and ending at the time of a final Game outcome for that Game or series of Games and coincident with the opportunity for the player to retrieve their credit balance.

Gaming Site:  A premises or an electronic channel maintained for the purpose of playing or operating a lottery scheme (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Gaming Supplies:  Refers to gaming equipment that could influence or is integral to the conduct, management or operation of a lottery scheme (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Gaming System:  Includes hardware, software, applications and all associated components of Gaming Devices and the technology environment (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Hash: The value returned by a Hash function (a one-way algorithm that deterministically generates fixed-length output data based upon a set of input data).

Hopper: An electromechanical assembly inside the machine that receives, holds and dispenses Coins. When the Hopper is full, Coins are diverted to the drop box.

Jackpot Limit: The value above which all prizes require attendant intervention in order to be paid.

Kiosk: A device that is connected to at least one of a Kiosk backend system, Slot Monitoring System, Slot Accounting System, or Cashless Wagering System that is capable of accepting Wagering Instruments and providing cash redemption or automated jackpot redemption functionality, and potentially other gaming related functions. 

Metamorphic Game: A Game where free Games, feature Games or prizes (other than progressive jackpots) are triggered by the cumulative result of a series of Plays.

Example: a metamorphic Game may award tokens during Game Play which accumulate from Game to Game and trigger a prize once a certain number are accumulated.  When no tokens have been accumulated, it may not be possible to trigger the prize on the next Game; however, once a certain number of tokens have been accumulated, it would be possible to trigger the prize. 

Mystery Award:  An award that is not associated to any specific Game outcome, and is awarded randomly.

OLG:  The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.  For the purposes of these Standards, OLG is also an Operator (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Operator:  A person who operates a Gaming Site, and includes OLG (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Optimal Play or Strategy: The choice from among more than one option presented to a player by a Game which, if selected by the player, offers the greatest theoretical payout percentage to the player.

Persistence Game:  A Game that is associated with a unique attribute (e.g. player identifier, Game or Gaming Device identifier, etc.) and incorporates a feature that enables progress towards the award of Game play enhancements, bonuses, or both through the achievement of some designated Game outcome.  These additional offerings become available when the player has achieved specific thresholds defined for Game play.

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) - A hardware component of a computer or other electronic device, consisting of a flat piece of a non-conductive, rigid material to which Integrated Circuits (ICs) and other electronic components such as capacitors, resistors, etc. are mounted. Electrical connections are made between the ICs and components using a copper sheet that is laminated into the overall board assembly.

Play: All gaming events that may be initiated by the making of a specific Bet.  A Play includes the making of a Bet, the activation of the Game by the player and an indication to the player of the outcome of the Bet including, if an award is won, the payment of the award.

Printer Limit: The maximum amount that can be cashed out by printing a Voucher. 

Progressive Game: A Game that contributes to a jackpot award or other feature of the Game as defined by the Game rules.  

Randomness or Chance: Observed unpredictability and absence of a pattern in a set of events that have definite probabilities of occurrence.

Random Number Generator (RNG): Hardware, software, or both used to generate numbers which exhibit Randomness.

Registrar:  The Registrar of Alcohol and Gaming under the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act, 1996 (as defined in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming).

Restricted Technical Procedure:  Refers to a procedure, tool or other mechanism that requires special software, special access identifier, or other information or technology that is restricted to specific staff members employed at a Gaming Site (e.g. supervisors).

Scripting: a programmed sequence of events included in a Game that is used to disclose a randomly pre-selected variable outcome to a player in a particular manner but does not otherwise affect the outcome.

Skill: The knowledge, dexterity or any other ability or expertise of a natural person.

Skill-Based Gaming:  Any Game where the expected payback of a committed Bet is dependent in whole or in part upon the player’s Skill.  To further clarify, a Game is considered Skill-Based when the ratio of the expected return from optimal Play to the expected return from worst Play is at least 1.005 when calculated using the overall theoretical return to player (RTP) of the Game.

Strategy: A choice, or set of choices, for how to proceed in a Game where the decision impacts the expected payback of a committed Bet.  To further clarify, a decision is considered strategy when the ratio of the expected return from optimal choice to the expected return from worst choice is at least 1.005 when calculated using the overall theoretical return to player (RTP) of the Game.

Slot Accounting System:  A Gaming System used by the Gaming Site to capture the accounting meters for Gaming Devices at the Gaming Site.

Slot Monitoring System:  A Gaming System used by the Gaming Site to monitor Gaming Devices and their events.

Tilt:  A programmed error state for a Gaming Device.

Top Award:  The highest displayed award. 

Voucher:  A printed Wagering Instrument that has a fixed dollar wagering value that may only be used to acquire an equivalent value of cashable credits or payment.

Wagering Account:  An electronic ledger for a Cashless Wagering System player deposit account wherein the following types of transactions are recorded:

  1. Deposits and withdrawals of cash or cash equivalents at a designated area of accountability;
  2. Deposits initiated with a debit instrument;
  3. Wagering account transfers to and from Gaming Devices; and
  4. Wagering account adjustments.

Wagering Account Transfer (WAT):  A transfer of funds between a Cashless Wagering System Wagering Account and Gaming Devices.

Wagering Instrument: Monetary Coins, tokens, currency, Vouchers, Coupons, or electronic payment mechanisms made within the Gaming Site accepted by Gaming Devices with intent to place Bets by the player or receive as a payout from the Gaming Devices.

Wide Area Progressive (WAP): A progressive jackpot that is available to be won at multiple Gaming Sites.