In Macau and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau regulator has reportedly announced that all of the enclave’s many land-based video slots will be required to feature an on-screen clock as standard by the conclusion of 2024.

According to a Friday report from GGRAsia, the government agency detailed that this directive is contained within the city’s new Electronic Gaming Machine Technical Standards 2.0 regulations, which came into force from the first day of the month. The source explained that these fresh rules apply to all of the many thousands of land-based video slots in the former Portuguese enclave and are to govern the watchdog’s approach to the local gambling scene moving forward.

Interval imperative:

The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reportedly disclosed that the new rules will oblige all slots in Macau to feature a digital clock at the bottom right-hand corner of their main screens. This affectation is to purportedly be required to flash up at the beginning of each player session and every subsequent ten minutes to display the current time via a twelve-hour format.

Toggle taboo:

Inside Asian Gaming reported that the Electronic Gaming Machine Technical Standards 2.0 regulations are to furthermore prohibit all new slots in Macau from utilizing hidden buttons or clandestine touch points that can impact gameplay. The regulator purportedly divulged that this constraint is to cover any interface area and was included after taking into account recent advances in touchscreen technologies.

Immediate indulgence:

The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reportedly moreover asserted that it is currently running a ‘grace period’ exercise so as to give the operators behind Macau’s 41 casinos as well as their many game suppliers enough time to implement the new clock directive and retrofit any existing machines. Nonetheless, it purportedly insisted that any slots in use come January of 2025 must be in full compliance with the fresh regulations.

Significant safeguard:

As to the reasons behind the clock compulsion and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reportedly pronounced that the requirement was added as part of a drive to promote responsible gambling practices. The regulator purportedly went on to maintain that such a facility is certain to serve as a useful way of reminding players of how much time they may have spent on a unit.

Reportedly read a statement from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau…

“The purpose of a clock on the gaming machine is for the promotion of responsible gaming. All machines will need to be retrofitted with the clock by the end of the year 2024.”