Gaming and Entertainment Touch Technology is launching an online course aimed at easing the shortage of qualified slot technicians and eventually setting standards for the craft.
The first offering from getteducated.com will focus on entry-level skills and cover everything from the history of slots to basic repair techniques and advice for interacting with players. The “Y1T” course is divided into five sets of topics, and participants advance at their own speed toward GETT’s certification as a Year One Tech.
“Year One Techs are really the first line of defense in making sure that the machines are continually operating properly,” said Wren Budden, director of media production and GETT Educated. “Normally it takes someone a good year to accrue (the knowledge) on the job. We’re compiling all that into this program.” He added that a course for Year Two Techs, focusing on more complex repairs or programming, is in production and will debut later this year. A course for Bench Techs, the highest technician level, will follow.
Pre-enrollment for the first Y1T course has started. Tuition is $199. For those already working in a casino or wanting to join the gaming industry, “we’re preparing you to jump into a completely new career path,” said Tracey Miravite, director of marketing/global account specialist for GETT.
Instructors will include company founder and CEO Trent Looney, who has 30 years of experience in the gaming industry and has taught gaming courses at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as other GETT professionals and technicians plus outside experts.
Miravite and Budden said qualified slot technicians are in short supply in many markets. Budden said one reason is the expansion of regulated gaming in many states; he added that many other countries need technicians as well. As the GETT courses expand, presentations will be presented in Spanish or other languages.
Graduates of a course will have lifetime access to the instruction as well as any subsequent additions to the material.
We’re going to be constantly adding new things. As new machines come on the market, we’ll add information as necessary,” Budden said. Miravite said graduates will be encouraged to suggest new material. “We want to keep up with the technology and growth in the casino industry,” she added. “We don’t want this to be a one-and-done situation. We want our Y1Ts to be as up-to-date as possible.”
The GETTeducated YouTube page already has a few such videos, and Budden said more are in production. “Those are going to be tailored to specific machines or specific pieces of equipment,” such as one detailing the necessary tools and step-by-step instructions for replacing the touch sensor on a Bally wave deck. “We plan on having a ton of material on there; about a video a week will be going up,” he said.
The Y1T course will go beyond the nuts and bolts of slot machine maintenance and repair to emphasize customer service as an essential component of a technician’s job.
“Year One Technicians are the boots on the ground taking care of the customers and any machines that are down,” Miravite said. Budden said a technician also can learn to recognize repeat players and guide them to machines similar to their favorites. Such “hands-on” service pays off, as does an even temperament. “Remember that even though this is the 10th time you’ve heard this same question today, it could be the first time this person has asked it,” he said.
Students can remain in their current jobs while taking the online course. “Casinos can sign their employees up for this program, and employees can do it on their own time,” Budden said. “It’s helping to prepare them for their next step in their casino gaming evolution.”
He added that GETT hopes its tech certification becomes a degree valued throughout the industry because it demonstrates that Y1T grads have the necessary knowledge for a job now as well as access to updated information on slot maintenance and repair throughout their employment.