LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 14 months of unprecedented cooperation between gaming manufacturers and operators across the globe has resulted in the Gaming Standards Association's being named best in show at the recent Global Gaming Expo.

GSA's revolutionary Game-to-System (G2S) protocol was named "Best Productivity-Enhancement Technology" by an independent panel of judges in the fourth annual Gaming & Technology Awards. The awards were presented by Global Gaming Business magazine and Spectrum Gaming Group and recognize excellence in innovation and practical application in all gaming disciplines.

GSA President Peter DeRaedt said, "On behalf of all our members and committee participants who made this a reality, I am thrilled that our association has received this prestigious industry award. It is a great honor for all of us. We have been working very hard over the past eight years to bring standards to the gaming industry, and all our committees have set and accomplished high-reaching goals over the past year. Now, to be recognized by the industry in this way is very gratifying."

G2S is a standardized communication protocol enabling secure communications between gaming devices and systems. G2S integrates GSA's BOB and IGT's SuperSAS(TM) protocols. The new protocol features important elements that existed neither in BOB nor in SuperSAS. G2S is the result of years of collaborative work between worldwide gaming manufacturers, suppliers and operators.

G2S will allow the industry to migrate to downloadable games and other new technology, such as client/server games, Intranet and Internet environments, while still maintaining the games of today, well into the future. The protocol is now available for download at GSA's website, www.gamingstandards.com .

About the Gaming Standards Association (GSA): The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association that creates benefits for gaming manufacturers, suppliers, operators and regulators. We facilitate the identification, definition, development, promotion, and implementation of open standards to enable innovation, education, and communication for the benefit of the entire industry. Since its incorporation on May 6, 1998, GSA has members representing a wide cross section of the global gaming industry. Platinum members include Aristocrat Technologies Inc.; Atronic Americas LLC; Bally Technologies, Inc. (BYI); E-Genting Holdings Sdn Bhd; FutureLogic, Inc; Harrah's Entertainment (HET); International Game Technology (IGT); Konami Gaming Inc.; Mars Electronics International; MGM Mirage (MGM); Multimedia Games, Inc. (MGAM); Progressive Gaming International Corporation (PGIC); Rocket Gaming Systems; Seminole Tribe of Florida; and WMS Gaming Inc. (WMS). Other members include: 3M Touch Systems (MMM); AGMMA -- Australasian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association; Alliance Gaming Services; American Gaming Systems; Ameristar Casinos, Inc.; Aruze Gaming America, Inc.; Atronic Systems; Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH; Belatra Co., Ltd.; BMM North America; Bounty Limited; British Columbia Lottery Corporation; Cadillac Jack; CashCode Company Inc.; Casino Technology; Cummins-Allison Corporation; Cyberview Technology (CYBS); Cyberdyne Systems, Inc.; Dakota Nation Gaming Enterprise; Digital Dynamics Software, Inc.; DigiTech Systems Co., Ltd.; Euro Games Technology; Flint & K, Inc.; Foxwoods Resort Casino; GameLogic, Inc.; Gaming Consultants International; Gaming Laboratories International, Inc; Giesecke & Devrient; GGS-US LTD; Global Payment Technologies Inc. (GPTX); GTECH Corporation (GTK); Himecs Co, Ltd.; Hotel Technology Next Generation; Hyatt Gaming Services, LLC; Incredible Technologies, Inc.; Intralot S.A. (INLr.AT); JCM American Corporation; Jofemar, S.A.; Money Controls; MotorCity Casino; Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL); Nick Farley & Associates; Nidec Sankyo Corporation; NRT Technology Corporation; Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation; Penn National Gaming, Inc.; Radical Blue Gaming, Inc.; R. Franco USA; Scientific Games (SGMS); Shuffle Master, Inc.(SHFL); Summit Amusement & Distributing, Ltd.; Transact Technologies (TACT); Unidesa Gaming & Systems; UNLV International Gaming Institute; Video Gaming Technologies, Inc; Viejas Casino and Western Money Systems. For more information, visit www.gamingstandards.com .