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ATLANTIC
CITY – Eric Weiss of the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement was recently
honored with the 2011 Attorney General’s
Award for Excellence in Management. Weiss
heads the Division’s Technical Services
Bureau (TSB) and is Director of its Slot
Laboratory. This award recognizes outstanding
managerial achievements that have significantly
improved operations or productivity, reduced
costs, or eliminated potential for fraud,
waste, mismanagement or abuse.
Last
year, Atlantic City casinos generated over
$3.5 billion in revenue, of which approximately
70 percent came from slot machines. A top
priority of the Slot Laboratory is the review
and approval of all slot machines intended
for use in New Jersey. In order to ensure
the integrity of these games, each slot
machine must be approved by the Slot Lab
and then undergo a rigorous inspection by
the TSB on the casino floor before it is
used. This is a major undertaking, given
that there are over 28,000 slot machines
currently in use by Atlantic City’s
11 casinos.
Weiss
took control of the TSB in 2008, prior to
which the Slot Laboratory had been under
increased scrutiny for the length of time
required to test and approve gaming products.
The Excellence in Management Award credits
Weiss for reducing the Slot Lab’s
approval period from 49 days, in 2008, to
its current average of 23 days, a decrease
of more than fifty percent.
Acting
Director of Gaming Enforcement, David Rebuck
said, “The TSB is extremely important
to the overall success of the Division.
The Bureau’s mission is to protect
the public’s trust by ensuring gaming
products are fair and that they are operated
in compliance with regulations.”
Upon
his assignment to the TSB, Weiss immediately
began to focus on process. “I looked
to my staff and key stakeholders to identify
areas that needed improvement,” he
said, referring to his managerial approach.
“With their input, we automated manual
processes, eliminated bottlenecks, and developed
computer applications to improve efficiency.
We also established an Internet portal that
allows manufacturers and casinos to track
the status of their submissions, print approval
letters, and to identify revoked software.
These improvements have benefitted both
the public and the industry.”
Weiss’s
award comes on the heels of new legislation
designed to revitalize a struggling casino
industry in Atlantic City. One aspect of
that legislation is referred to as “New
Jersey First,” which permits the use
of a new product after only 14 days if it
is submitted to New Jersey before any other
jurisdiction. The legislation was designed
to bring the newest and most exciting products
to Atlantic City prior to any competing
market.
“We
have established a protocol to give priority
to New Jersey First submissions,”
said Weiss referring to changes designed
to address the 14 day requirement. “The
management initiatives implemented over
the past three years have distinguished
the TSB as an innovative bureau within New
Jersey’s regulatory structure, and
we’re prepared to meet the expected
increase in demand.”
"Our
Slot Lab has protected the public trust
for over thirty years, and that record will
continue under this new legislation,"
said Rebuck, echoing Weiss' confidence in
the ability of the Slot Laboratory to support
New Jersey First.
Weiss
has been with the Division since 1991 and
received an MBA from Rowan University in
1998. He briefly served as the Assistant
to the Chief of Investigations before being
asked to oversee the TSB in November 2007.
More information about the Technical Service
Bureau can be found at www.njdge.org
or by contacting info@njdge.org.
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