Posted on: October 18, 2023, 08:23h.
Last updated on: October 18, 2023, 08:24h.
Gaming operations at Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel on New York’s Long Island have been temporarily suspended due to “service disruptions” to the statewide video lottery central system.
Jake’s is one of nine casinos in New York that offer video lottery terminals (VLTs). These machines differ from traditional slot machines as their outcomes are determined by a linked central lottery system rather than an individual random number generator. In Las Vegas-style slots, each spin’s outcome is random and unaffected by previous outcomes or other machines’ results.
On the other hand, VLTs operate on the state lottery’s central system and are managed by the New York State Gaming Commission. These machines have specific payout and win rates, but their next play’s outcome is not determined by the terminal itself. Rather, the central system in Schenectady calculates the result.
Jake’s is equipped with over 1,000 VLTs, but they were shut down yesterday due to a technical glitch at the lottery headquarters upstate. The casino stated that the gaming system provider is working to restore the system but unfortunately, Jake’s 58 Casino will remain closed today.
Not Jake’s Specific
According to Suffolk OTB President and CEO Phil Boyle in an interview with News12 Long Island, the issue is beyond Jake’s control. Suffolk OTB is the parent company of Jake’s.
This is a statewide situation,” Boyle explained. “The New York State Gaming Commission operates our slot machines. They’re working on it, and as soon as they fix it, we’re ready to go.
Boyle is unaware of the cause of the service disruptions, which also affected other VLT casinos like Resorts World New York City in Queens.
All the other [VLT] casinos except Jake’s are operational, so we expect to reopen soon,” Boyle said. However, he cannot provide a timeline for when the gaming systems will be restored.
Regarding the possibility of a cyberattack on the New York Gaming Commission, Boyle stated that Jake’s has a strong IT and cybersecurity team. However, he emphasized that this is not an issue specific to Jake’s but rather a statewide problem.
Video Lottery System
In 2020, Everi Holdings, a gaming manufacturer and casino service provider based in Las Vegas, extended its contract with the New York Lottery and the state Gaming Commission to continue operating the video lottery central system. The contract is valid until September 2029.
The video lottery casino industry in New York has been around for over two decades. In 2001, state lawmakers authorized video lottery gambling at state racetracks, transforming them into “racinos.”
In 2013, New York legalized four upstate and three downstate Las Vegas-style casinos through legislation. The downstate licenses were subject to a 10-year moratorium, which expired this year. The New York Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to grant the downstate concessions next year.