     /*
      *
      */
-    class func getLastGameSlotNumber (allGameSlots:[String:AnyObject]) -> Int {
-
-        var lastGameSlotNumber:Int = 0
+    class func getLastGameSlotKey (allGameSlots:[String:AnyObject]) -> String {
+
+        var lastGameSlotKey:String = "0"
 
         // gets the current game slot number
         if let gameSlotObject = allGameSlots["lastSlot"] as? [String:AnyObject] {
 
-            if let gameSlotStringValue = gameSlotObject["value"] as? Int {
-
-                lastGameSlotNumber = gameSlotStringValue
+            if let gameSlotStringValue = gameSlotObject["value"] as? String {
+
+                lastGameSlotKey = gameSlotStringValue
 
             }
 
         }
 
-        return lastGameSlotNumber
+        return lastGameSlotKey
 
     }
 

    var cards:[Card] = []
    var shuffledCards:[Card] =  []
    var slotIncrement:Int = 0
    var slotNumber:Int = 0
    var gameSlot:GameSlot?
    var playerNames:[String] = []
    var playerControllers:[Player] = []
    var restOfCards:[Card] = []


        var lastGameSlot:GameSlot = GameSlot(withDictionary:[:])

        // gets the content of the current game slot
        if let gameSlotList = allGameSlots["list"] as? [String:AnyObject] {

            let slotKey = GamePlay.getLastGameSlotKey(allGameSlots: allGameSlots)

            if let singleSlotDictionary = gameSlotList[slotKey] as? [String:AnyObject] {

                lastGameSlot = GameSlot(withDictionary:singleSlotDictionary)

