There is some misguided information that has been spread in relation to Gaming standardization and certification in Mexico, which has generated some concern in the local industry. We would like to offer some points that NYCE has made available to everyone in the gaming industry. The Notice that follows has been issued by NYCE:

NYCE, as an authorized and accredited organization in Mexican law as a Third Party Standardization and Certification Body, is willing to share with the gaming industry as a whole the following comments and clarifications, with the purpose of dispelling any doubt relating to those aspects of standardization and certification in the Mexican Gaming industry, informing also about the efforts made by us and our associates on this subject.

The answers you will find in this document come from direct questions asked of us by gaming industry professionals, and also to related organizations. Apart from answers on the technical aspects to some questions, we have 16 years of experience supported by work done as a National Standardization Organization and also as a National Certification Corporation in Mexico’s Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies sectors.

1. Is NYCE the only Certification organization in Mexico?

Yes, NYCE is the only certification organization for the Gaming industry, as it has been the only corporation that has dedicated time and resources to this sector, firstly working on the generation of standards for this industry, and secondly, for work on developing and training of technical skills in its personnel, creating the necessary human resources infrastructure needed for this purpose. This work started in September of 2009, when NYCE was accredited by the Entidad Mexicana de Acreditación - EMA (Agency of Mexican Accreditation), as a Gaming Certification Organization. This accreditation has been extended to cover in full all Mexican Standards (Normas Mexicanas – NMX, as published in the Mexican official legal journal - Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF).

2. Is the compliance with Mexican Standards, as published at the DOF mandatory? What is required to consider such compliance as mandatory?

The NMX are of a voluntary nature, but is recognized by competent authorities, as set out in the Mexican Law for Metrology and Standardization, (Ley Federal sobre Metrología y Normalización - LFMN). Nonetheless, there are two ways when compliance becomes of a mandatory nature:

a) That such standards are published as Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (Mexican Official Standards, NOM) or that such standards are referred to through laws or regulations on the matter, and

b) That a Norma Oficial Mexicana (Mexican Official Standard) makes a direct reference to compliance of NMX standards.

3. Is there, at present, in Mexico an ongoing process to create a white paper on Norma Oficial Mexicana (Official Mexican Standards) for the Gaming sector?

a) Yes, there is a process for the creation of a white paper on Norma Oficial Mexicana (Official Mexican Standarda) for the gaming industry, which must follows the process established in by the Federal LFMN legislation, and where there are many industry professionals taking part on the national regulations development. Some of them are already engaged in work on one section of CANIETI, (Cámara Nacional de la Industria de la Electrónica, Telecomunicaciones y Tecnologías de Información), the National Chamber of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics Industry. NYCE has been a member of CANIETI since 1994. The result of the work done with CANIETI should see the light in a NOM white paper so that it may follow its revision by the CANIETI Standards Committee, where NYCE also holds a seat.

b) It is important to point out that in one of the agreements resulting from the meetings for the NOM white paper project; there is a consideration to include the Mexican Standards (Normas Mexicanas), as they exist today. This is as a result of the work done by NYCE with gaming industry contribution participating NMX committee meetings since 2006 when the first NMX Mexican Standards were created based on international recognized practices produced by GLI, with whom NYCE maintains a technological partnership since then. In this way, all the certificates issued by NYCE and based on the published NMX, and will hold its validity, even when the future NOM is released.

c) It is also important to take into account that the white paper project must be officially part of National Standardization Program (Programa Nacional de Normalización), and thereby, an official project of a Federal Government body such as the Secretaría de Gobernación (State Office). And this will only be possible after the White Paper has received gaming industry approval, which is a process that is still in progress.

4. Is it possible to start now with a Certification Process for Gaming Systems or Devices?

Yes, it is possible to start now with a certification process in accordance to the specifications as established at the Mexican Standards - NMX for Gaming. It would suffice to present a request directly to NYCE’s office, and to deliver all the legal and technical information as requested. The technical information includes the test report issued by a laboratory recognized by NYCE. It is possible to choose between a Certificación de Prototipo (Prototype Certification where only the model tested at the recognized laboratory is certified. This certificates does not have an expiration date, following the parameters of the international gaming regulatory controls); or a Certificación de Producto (Product Certification, where besides of testing the prototype at the recognized laboratory, a field inspection is performed, in order to verify that the same conditions tested at the laboratory are being complied on site).

5. Is it enough to have a laboratory testing report showing that the Gaming Devices or System comply with NMX in order to consider them as certificated items?

According to what is established by the Mexican Law for Metrology and Standardization (LFMN), laboratory tests are a very important input to complete the certification process in Mexico, but such certificates must be issued by a Certification agency or organization duly accredited in this country. Alternatively, NYCE has the qualifications to recognize reports from such laboratories that have the credentials to support their knowledge and technical skills assessing products according to NMX and international standards.

6. How many machines are currently certified in México?

NYCE, with the support of Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), has made great efforts to get into closer contact with international manufacturers of Gaming Devices and Systems to certify their equipment. Either the Prototype Certification or the Product Certification is issued for one specific Platform for either Game or System. In this way, when asked the question of how many machines have been certified, it is best to talk about how many Games, Platforms and Systems have been certified. A list of all these Systems and Devices as well as the brands representing such products certified up until today is published at our website: www.nyce.org.mx in section Gaming Certification / Certified Systems and Devices.

7. Is the process of development or amendment of standards in NMX a close and private NYCE process?

The development process the Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM) or Norma Mexicana (NMX) is an all-inclusive, transparent and comprehensive process open to everyone interested in its creation, and if you or anyone in your Company is interested and wishes to take part in this exciting venture, please contact or come to NYCE. (E-07.07.11)