Casino Oct08 P26-28 9/29/08 12:17 pm Page 26
TECHNIUM CAST
The Centre for Advanced
Software Technology (CAST)
The UK recently got its first gaming compliance test lab, sited just
outside Bangor in North Wales at the state-of-the-art Technium CAST
facility. Casino International went along to meet two of the brains
behind the operation and find out what's what…
R
ichard Edwards, Manager of the as possible. CAST is a commercial operation based
Compliance Testing Laboratory, and off-campus, but we’re well connected at the
Andrew Rosewarne, Testing Operations University. That relationship has allowed us to tap
Manager, have been pretty busy since into expertise in the economics of the gaming
CAST [Centre for Advanced Software industry, utility of gambling, consumer psychology,
Technology] gained accreditation from the Gambling data visualization, and various other aspects that we
Commission in late 2007. The centre is a wholly- think will add value as we expand our services.
owned subsidiary of Bangor University, an institution
Richard Edwards [L] and
with a solid reputation within technology circles. CI: What is the background of the project?
Andrew Rosewarne [R]
Demand for CAST's services across the gaming sector What’s the driving force behind a venture like this?
has apparently soared since the doors opened, and
we went to find out why. RE: When the CAST project started, we were very
involved in so-called ‘knowledge transfer’ activities,
Casino International: What is Technium CAST? which primarily involved assisting local businesses to
draw in academic expertise and consultancy services.
Richard Edwards: It’s one of a series of high-tech Soon after Technium CAST opened its doors to new
buildings around Wales, supported by European startups and established companies looking to
Objective One funding through the Welsh Assembly relocate, Inspired Gaming Group moved into the
and the Welsh European Funding Office. The purpose building, and introductions were made. The company
of the building is to stimulate economic regeneration. approached CAST and said they were looking for an
Our company, The Centre for Advanced Software independent test house, as they were keen to
Technology (CAST) Limited, helps run the building, demonstrate early compliance with the impending
but we also have specific technology focus – the two regulations. It grew from there: we started fairness
main streams of which are compliance testing and testing their games well ahead of the new legal
visualisation technology. obligations. It all went very well and we realised it was
a service we could offer to other gaming companies.
CI: You were first in the UK weren’t you? From there it was a natural step to started engaging
with the Gambling Commission. It’s a classic
RE: We were the first Test House to get full approval economic regeneration story – the business grew
to test gaming machines and online gaming sites, yes. from a real need on the ground rather than by being
driven 'top down' from the University.
CI: The area you’re in is very competitive. What
are you bringing to the table that’s different to CI: Who actually runs this as a business?
your competitors?
RE: CAST has a board of directors drawn from the
RE: I think we can genuinely claim to be bringing University’s Senior Executive team, but on a day-to-day
a fresh approach. Firstly, our aim is to build basis it’s run by CAST’s management team. Andrew
relationships and assist companies to demonstrate and I oversee all of the compliance testing operations.
their compliance and to help the industry to drive up
standards – we don’t see ourselves simply as police. CI: Who benefits financially from the business?
Secondly, Andrew and myself have worked for some
years with a diverse range of corporate IT systems and RE: CAST is a commercial entity in its own right,
we gained expertise in a number of useful areas, such but it’s wholly-owned by the University, which is a
as data extraction and transformation, document not-for-profit organization. If CAST were to become
automation and so on, which has been very useful in highly profitable then the commercial benefits would
keeping costs as low and turnaround times as short likely be invested back into the University, but for the
26 OCTOBER 2008
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