By Gary Wollenhaupt
Case Study
This article originally published in Self-Service World magazine's special section, FOCUS: Self-Service in Entertainment & Gaming, Aug 2007.
In a casino, every square foot is maximized for profitability and guest comfort. Gaming tables, slot machines and entertainment venues are top priority. Kiosks have to work behind the scenes, flawlessly and unobtrusively. Ideally, each casino kiosk should perform a multitude of functions. By the way, the smaller the kiosk, the better the casinos like it.
In developing sleek, space-saving, multiuse kiosks for casinos, Western Money Systems had to find a reliable encrypting-PIN pad that would meet its demanding design requirements.
First, the PIN pad had to meet the size criteria critical to the class-leading kiosk configuration. The CasinoXchange, or cXc kiosk, a new favorite of casinos such as the Valley View near San Diego, is known for its small footprint.
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| Encrypted-PIN pads are required when casino kiosks communicate with ATM networks. (Photo courtesy Sagem Denmark) |
"We try to keep our footprint smaller than any of our competitors, so we have a limited amount of space to work with," said Mike Aughney, service manager/development for Western Money Systems. "Sagem Denmark's pad fit our design requirements."
Aughney worked with Sagem Denmark through two years of product development. Fortunately, the pad didn't require any modifications. But over the years, making changes to the pad was often the topic of conversation.
"Sagem Denmark has been very cooperative, and if we'd have needed modifications or changes, they would have been very willing to help," Aughney said.
Security comes first
Of course, the Sagem Denmark pad had to meet technical and security requirements, as well as size restrictions. The pads meet Triple-DES standards, are VISA PED-approved and PCI rated.
The Sagem Denmark pads were chosen "because of their encryption capability that met the requirements of the companies that we're working with on the ATM side," said Susan J. Iverson, project manager for Western Money Systems. "It's approved for all ATM networks in the United States."
In the cXc kiosk, the PIN pads come into play only when a customer is using ATM functions to withdraw money from a bank account or a cash advance on a credit card.
Reliability is key
PIN pads are the unsung heroes of the casino kiosk, quietly fulfilling their duties thousands of time a day without a second thought. The flashing attract screens on the slot machines get all the looks. PIN pads usually are as reliable as a doorknob and about as glamorous. But let one break and suddenly all eyes are on the component that otherwise doesn't get a lot of attention. Sagem Denmark prefers to keep the customers' eyes on the casino games without worrying about inputting a password.
| PIN pads usually are as reliable as a doorknob and about as glamorous. But let one break and suddenly all eyes are on that component. |
Since it began manufacturing PIN pads in 1997, Sagem Denmark has engineered its products for maximum durability. For instance, each keyboard is built for 2 million cycles and features a watertight seal with a built-in gasket. The stainless steel keyboard features etched and colored keys with an operating range of -25C to +45C, and is vandal resistant with an IK 07 shock-resistance rating.
For casino kiosks that require a big presence in a small space, Sagem Denmark has the answer for reliable, sophisticated encrypted-PIN pad design.
