Winterthur/Pfäffikon – While the lights sparkled and celebrities celebrated at the opening of Swiss Casino Winterthur, industry experts turned their attention to an inconspicuous yellow box inside the slot machines. Its name: ReelLink. Its promise: to be the first true omni-channel technology that seamlessly merges online and offline gaming. We took an exclusive look at the technology developed by Swiss Casinos Technology.

The challenge: connecting local hardware with the fast-paced online world

Operators of land-based casinos know the problem: they want to modernize their floor, but hardware upgrades are expensive and cause downtime. At the same time, online platforms release new games every week, while physical machines are often tied to the same titles for years.

This is exactly where ReelLink comes in. The solution was developed “by operators for operators” to bridge the gap between digital game delivery and physical control on the floor.

The heart of the system: the yellow box

The technological core is the “ReelLink Box.” It acts as the heart of the machine and takes over complete control of the hardware components—from the bill validator, TITO, and cashless systems to the buttons and LEDs. The key advantage: the box is housing-independent. It fits into any cabinet – whether old, new, or a special custom design. This means that, in theory, any slot machine can be transformed into a modern terminal running online slots, crash games, or even table games.

“One Click”: Maximum flexibility for the operator

For casino managers, the system means one thing above all else: flexibility. The game mix can be adjusted via a central casino portal without any operational downtime.

With the “One Click” function, a terminal can be transformed from a single-game machine into a multi-game terminal in a flash. This allows operators to respond dynamically to visitor flows without having to physically replace devices. The goal is to bring gaming innovations (“iGaming innovation pace”) to the floor faster and significantly reduce “time-to-floor.”

Security and compliance “Made in Switzerland”

Regulation is always a critical issue with new technologies. ReelLink claims to be fully certified and secure. Swiss Casinos Technology AG is ISO 27001 certified, and the solution has been tested and approved by BMM Testlabs for the strictly regulated Swiss market. Direct integration into the casino management system (CMS) also ensures that all regulatory standards are met.

Strategic foresight: technology in the service of hospitality

Behind the impressive technical data, however, lies a clear entrepreneurial vision. Marcel Tobler, CEO of Swiss Casinos, emphasized during the presentation that this innovation is not an end in itself. With the founding of his own group company, Swiss Casinos Technology, he has taken the bold step of bringing technological sovereignty in-house.

His credo is “service and technology.” For Tobler, ReelLink is a tool for relieving employees of administrative tasks through automation. The potential gained should be invested where it matters most: “More time for guests, more time for genuine encounters.” Tobler thus proves that state-of-the-art digitalization and genuine hospitality are not contradictory, but rather mutually dependent.

Conclusion: The merging of worlds

Swiss Casinos seems to have struck a chord with ReelLink. Online players can immediately find their favorite titles in the casino, while “offline players” enjoy greater variety. It is the step from pure multichannel to true omnichannel – and Winterthur was just the beginning of a development that has the potential to set a precedent internationally.