MRAM Hits the Reliability Jackpot in Electronic Gaming Machines
MRAM (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory) is rapidly expanding into mainstream use, fueling technologies as diverse as medical equipment, space-bound satellites, high-performance electric vehicles, and industrial IoT systems. Its nonvolatility allows for data retention without external batteries, faster write speeds, and better energy efficiency, making it an attractive alternative to flash and SRAM for companies chasing innovation. But MRAM’s impact isn’t limited to high-profile or mission-critical systems—it’s also quietly at work in more familiar places, such as the slot machines in your local casino.
Why Slot Machines Need a Smarter Memory Beyond BBSRAM
Electronic gaming machines depend heavily on fast, reliable memory to process real-time data and safeguard against power loss. The demand for memory technologies that can meet this demand is growing alongside the commercial gaming industry, which achieved record-high revenue records in 2024 for a fourth consecutive year, according to the American Gaming Association.
Players enjoy these machines for their ease of use, but behind the screen is a complex computer working hard to process, log, and retrieve data to ensure a smooth playing experience. And there is a vast amount of data to process, including financial information, player profiles, current credits, key presses, payout ratios, and win statistics. Equally important, data must be saved quickly in case a play is interrupted by an unexpected power outage, and that data should be protected while the outage is being resolved.
Additionally, casinos must comply with various laws, including anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) regulations, which prevent financial crimes and ensure responsible gambling. The collected data helps casinos with identity verification and transaction monitoring, which in turn assists in detecting and reporting suspicious behavior and mitigating fraud.
Traditionally, slot machines have used battery-backed SRAM (BBSRAM) for memory storage. BBSRAM is a more ideal choice than flash and EEPROM, offering faster write speeds, higher endurance, and instant data retention during power loss. However, BBSRAM relies on lithium batteries, which present key challenges: they can't be soldered during standard manufacturing, increasing production cost, and batteries require maintenance, add design complexity, occupy more PCB space, and pose safety and environmental risks. As a result, machine manufacturers need a better solution—a memory option that reduces system complexity and maintenance needs while delivering the same speed and endurance with built-in non-volatility, which is the solution MRAM delivers.
Protecting Data in Electronic Gaming Machines with MRAM Memory Solutions
MRAM is unique because it uses the the power of magnetics rather than electron charges to store data. This characteristic gives MRAM a host of defining advantages:
- Non-volatility
- High endurance
- High reliability
- Real-time writing
- Power failure protection
- Low power consumption
- Long data retention
- Resistance to environmental stress
- Compact, scalable design
When compared to BBSRAM or SRAM in general, MRAM’s instant nonvolatility automatically safeguards data during power outages, whereas SRAM relies on an external battery, which is prone to wear and eventual failure. SRAM must remain continuously powered to retain data, even when idle, resulting in high power consumption. This issue is particularly concerning for “always-on” systems like slot machines.
In contrast, once data is written to MRAM, it remains securely stored without requiring backup power, significantly reducing idle power use. Lastly, MRAM simplifies system design by eliminating the need for extra components required by battery-backed SRAM. For a more technical dive into the performance of MRAM vs. SRAM in electronic gaming machines, explore our application note.
Manufacturers have already started to turn to MRAM to support their machines with optimal data protection. For example, AEWIN Technologies partnered with Everspin to equip their gaming systems with MRAM, citing the ultimate combination of data fidelity, reliability, and low overall cost.
MRAM: the Future of Memory in Gaming Systems & Beyond
In the fast-evolving casino gaming industry, where performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance are prioritized, memory technology plays a vital role in enabling smooth, secure gameplay. Slot machines must process large volumes of real-time, sensitive data even during power loss, without adding unnecessary design complexity. MRAM meets these demands with its non-volatility, fast write speeds, low power consumption, and high endurance. Unlike legacy solutions like BBSRAM, it eliminates the need for batteries, simplifies system architecture, and reduces maintenance.
As gaming systems grow more complex and data-driven, MRAM delivers the efficiency and reliability manufacturers need, while providing players with a faster, safer, and more seamless experience!