Gold Award for INTRALOT's Business Ethics

INTRALOT proudly received the Gold – BEE Certified Award for Business Ethics Excellence in the sectors of Business Analysis, Regulations & Communications in Internal Auditing, and in Performance Assessment, awarded by the Greek Chapter of EBEN (European Business Ethics Network). As a result of its commitment to business excellence and the principles of integrity, reliability and business ethics, INTRALOT has been awarded by EBEN for the past five consecutive years winning the Gold-Bee Award the last three years. The award was granted to INTRALOT by Mr. Anthony Gortzis, President of the European Business Ethics Network. 

Following a comprehensive assessment of INTRALOT business process models and procedures conducted by the qualified assessors of EBEN, INTRALOT excelled in all sectors of the EBEN Business Ethics Excellence Model. INTRALOT’s operations are based on sound Business Analysis of market, customer and competition information and always performs focusing on Quality, Security and Business Excellence. INTRALOT attributes significant importance on the effectiveness of the Management Systems it has established, such as EFQM, WLA, ISO and EBEN, and its Internal Audit System. As far as the Performance Assessment is concerned, INTRALOT has developed a number of strategic decision support and operational information systems which reinforce the Company’s culture of continuous customer service improvement and product innovation.

During the award ceremony that took place on June 5th in Athens, Mr. Argyris Tsilidis, Organisation & Human Resources Director, stated: “At INTRALOT we value business excellence and ethical business conduct, as preconditions for sustainable business growth. Transparency, integrity and accountability are adopted by all INTRALOT’s employees at all levels of hierarchy. They are these principles that have driven our successful operations worldwide since the first day of INTRALOT’s inception. We strive to promote business ethics in all aspects of company’s operation and incorporate it in everyday business activities for the benefit of our customers.”

MDI Unmasks New Zorro License

ALPHARETTA, GA – June 5, 2012 – MDI Entertainment, LLC, a subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS), announced today the signing of an agreement with Zorro Productions, Inc. to license the marks and designs associated with the Zorro character and literary works for use on instant lottery games. These rights can be offered to all lotteries within the United States, its territories and possessions, and Canada.

 

“Zorro has been loved by generations for nearly half a century, and the name has become synonymous with fun, daring and victory,” said Steve Saferin, President, Properties Group and Chief Creative Officer for Scientific Games. “It’s an excellent brand for instant games, and has enormous cross-cultural appeal.”

 

"Scratch and reveal is a great product translation for the Zorro® brand, known worldwide for carving his iconic Z to leave his mark," said John Gertz, CEO of Zorro Productions, Inc.  "Already very popular in the gaming sector, we are thrilled to work with MDI to bring the Zorro trademark to lottery scratchers."

 

Zorro was first introduced to the public by pulp writer Johnston McCulley in 1919. Since then, the character has starred in a multitude of books and television shows, as well as more than 40 films produced in the U.S., Europe and Mexico. Zorro-based video games, mobile games, slot machines and a poker machine also have been created.

 

With his famous cape, mask, hat and sword, Zorro is an instantly recognizable hero, embraced by people of all ages throughout much of the world. These iconic images, along with the trademark letter “Z,” are available to lotteries for the creation of eye-catching ticket art.         

 

INTRALOT Announces its 1st Quarter 2012 Results 2012 Robust Start

INTRALOT S.A., the leading international gaming company, announces today its financial results for the three-month period ending March 31st 2012, prepared in accordance with IFRS. 

Consolidated Revenues for the period increased by 15.4% compared to 1Q11, reaching €347.2m. Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) increased by 6.9% to €41.7m., while Earnings Before Taxes (EBT) reached €15.2m., posting a decrease of 6.1%. The quarter was cash-flow positive as Net Debt dropped by €9.6m in 1Q 2012.

Revenues for the parent company increased by 53.9%, to €40.8m. EBITDA increased to €8.5m from €2.4m in 1Q11. Earnings After Taxes (EAT) were €4.5m from €0.1m in 1Q11. 

Commenting on 1Q12 results INTRALOT Group CEO, Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos, stated: “We are pleased with our first quarter results, as the Group continued to grow both on a revenues and EBITDA basis despite the adverse sports betting results that impacted the industry in the period. This strong performance was achieved due to the strong diversification and internationalization of our business, as well as due to the continuous innovations that we have introduced, both at the technological and the operational levels. 

The advantages of our selective investments in developed countries, which provide the needed stability to the business and occasionally significant growth opportunities, such as VLTs in Italy, and developing countries, which pose significant growth opportunities, such as sports betting in Azerbaijan, provided a good boost to our results among other well performing projects.

As mentioned a few days ago in our Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, the Group is implementing the “Blue Oceans Strategy”, meaning that we emphasize on innovation and differentiation, we create and set new trends, while expanding and reconstructing market boundaries.”

INTRALOT Launches Online & Mobile Betting in South Africa

INTRALOT’s subsidiary in South Africa, INTRALOT South Africa, announces the launch of its fixed odds betting websites, www.justbet.co.za and mobi.justbet.co.za, where players will have the opportunity to choose their winning bets and get amazing betting odds. The new websites went live on June 1st. Based on state-of-the-art technology and the implementation of multiple security related features and processes, the new websites will provide a unique gaming experience to all betting fans. 

Dr. Yannis Rondiris, Managing Director of Africa Sub-Sahara Region of the INTRALOT Group, stated: “With our new websites we are offering to our customers in Western Cape, and countrywide, the opportunity to bet online in a responsible way at any time and at any place of their convenience. The trend-setter of the gaming sector worldwide, INTRALOT, has brought innovation to South Africa with pioneering gaming solutions that satisfy all players’ needs and habits.”

INTRALOT’s licence covers sports and horse racing betting facilities in the area of Western Cape in South Africa and Internet, Telephone and Mobile betting for players countrywide. INTRALOT South Africa operates betting under the brand JUSTBET. INTRALOT sports betting includes a broad variety of sports, with emphasis on football (soccer), rugby, cricket, tennis, and selected golf events, the most popular sports in South Africa. 

LOTTOMATICA GROUP S.P.A. Subsidiary GTECH Corporation Enters into Five-Year Contract Extension with Finnish Lottery Veikkaus Oy

ROME (ITALY) – PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (USA), June 05, 2012 – Lottomatica Group S.p.A. announced that its subsidiary GTECH Corporation has signed a five-year contract extension that brings the partnership with Veikkaus Oy, the operator of the Finnish National Lottery, through November 2018.  Under the extension agreement, GTECH will provide operational and professional services to support Veikkaus in its continued development of new games and sales channels. GTECH expects to receive revenues in the range of €60 million – €70 million over the extension period, beginning in the first quarter of 2013. Veikkaus has been a valued GTECH customer since 1989.

 

“GTECH is listening to, and acting upon, the ever-changing market needs of its customers in order to better understand and address the unique requirements of the lottery industry,” said GTECH President and CEO Jaymin B. Patel. “As a result, we are pleased to be part of the next phase of growth for one of our industry’s most advanced lotteries. Veikkaus Oy is an early adopter of new technologies and an efficient operator that contributes the highest level of lottery profits to good causes per capita in the world.”

 

“With Veikkaus, we have created a true cooperative partnership which has led to jointly creating market-leading solutions such as the new ES Anywhere mobile gaming solution,” continued Mr. Patel. “The ES Anywhere suite meets Veikkaus’ needs for security, architectural fit with other systems, and openness in terms of working with third party mobile client developers.”

 

“We are determined to continue serving our players and beneficiaries in a world class manner,” said Veikkaus Oy Executive Vice President Olli Sarekoski.  “Veikkaus has had a long and successful history operating the National Lottery and it is crucial to have the best possible partners to further our growth. GTECH has proven to be instrumental in our operational performance and contributing to our rapid growth. We are excited to continue facing the new market demands together with GTECH.”

 

Under the extension, GTECH will continue to manage and develop Veikkaus’ gaming system, one of the most sophisticated in the lottery industry. In addition to supporting the GTECH-provided Enterprise Series (ES) central system and 3,400 Altura® lottery terminals, GTECH will further develop and integrate a wide range of e-Commerce systems including the GTECH G2 Bingo platform. GTECH will also deliver its new ES Anywhere™ mobile gaming platform that allows for seamless integration of third party games and content.

 

In its most recent fiscal year, Veikkaus recorded total sales of €1.8 billion.  Proceeds from the Lottery benefit Culture and Sports in Finland.

LOTTOMATICA GROUP Subsidary Spielo International Canada to Provide Atlantic Lottery Corporation with 1,700 Prodigi Vu® Video Lottery Terminals

ROME (ITALY) and MONCTON (CANADA) – May 24, 2012 – Lottomatica Group S.p.A. announced that its subsidiary, SPIELO International Canada ULC, has entered into an agreement with Atlantic Lottery Corporation Inc. (AL) in Canada to sell 1,700 prodiGi Vu® video lottery terminals (VLTs) and game software to Atlantic Lottery. The agreement arises from a competitive procurement.

 

The 1,700 VLTs represent the largest share of the 5,800 replacement video lottery terminals being purchased by AL from four vendors.

 

“We look forward to building on an already successful, long-standing relationship with AL, and providing our award-winning VLTs, which will allow our customer to operate more efficiently as they fulfill their mandate of providing a socially responsible video lottery program to Atlantic Canadians,” said Walter Bugno, President and CEO of Lottomatica Group’s business unit, SPIELO International.

 

SPIELO International Canada has been providing results-driven gaming solutions to AL since 1991. The VLTs are the fourth generation of SPIELO International Canada video lottery terminals provided in Atlantic Canada.

 

SPIELO International Canada’s award-winning prodiGi Vu VLT is engineered specifically for the distributed market to be Game to System® (G2S®) interoperable, offering operators the flexibility and choice of open standard protocols. The prodiGi Vu also interoperates with the Gaming Device Standard (GDS), the open standard protocol for peripherals.

LOTTOMATICA GROUP Subsidiary GTECH Global Services Corporation, in Consortium with Boldt Gaming, Sign Six-Year Lottery Operator Contract with La Junta De Proteccion Social in Costa Rica

ROME, ITALY and PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (US) – May 29, 2012 – Lottomatica Group S.p.A. announced that its subsidiary GTECH Global Services Corporation Limited, together with BOLDT Gaming, S.A. of Argentina (GTECH and BOLDT consortium), has signed a six-year contract with La Junta de Proteccion Social (JPS), to assume operational responsibilities and provide technology goods and services for the online lottery in Costa Rica. The contract, which follows a competitive, international procurement, was executed on December 9, 2011, and allows for two, two-year automatic extensions, bringing the total contract length to 10 years from the commencement of operations of the system. The executed contract was subject to the final approval of the office of the Comptroller which took place on May 22, 2012.

 

“We recognize that with each new lottery customer brings a unique marketplace, unique business requirements, as well as unique challenges,” said GTECH President and CEO Jaymin B. Patel. “To that end, we have created a comprehensive, sustainable growth plan for JPS based upon extensive research in the Costa Rican player and retailer markets, and worldwide lottery best practices.  As the new lottery operator, the GTECH and BOLDT consortium will offer JPS the flexibility to evolve their gaming enterprise, and integrate new business technologies and gaming products, all in a socially responsible manner.”

 

“In 2010, JPS made the decision to engage an international operator to help build the online lottery business in Costa Rica as a new source of revenue to fund the many good causes that JPS supports,” said JPS General Manager Francisco Ibarra. “We are quite pleased with the results of the tender process and are confident that the GTECH/BOLDT consortium, given its deep global experience, will develop the online portfolio to ensure that Costa Ricans have access to socially responsible gaming. We are certain that GTECH/BOLDT will bring a wealth of experience in order to have a successful operation in Costa Rica.”

 

Under the terms of the agreement, the GTECH and BOLDT consortium will provide support to JPS including lottery game development, retail management, the supply of technology goods and services, marketing and brand execution, logistics, and warehousing.  JPS will provide regulatory oversight and continue to perform all lottery draws.

 

Currently in its 27th year of operation in the Latin America and Caribbean region, GTECH has established itself as the leading provider of lottery goods and services to the region, and currently acts as an operating partner and/or provides lottery goods and services to 16 customers in the region.  GTECH will bring its expertise in marketing trends, retail expansion opportunities, and content and game development creativity to the Costa Rican market, given its proven regional track record of operating lotteries in Colombia, Barbados, the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, and Anguilla.

 

BOLDT Gaming S.A. is the market leader in providing lottery services to the Argentinean market and currently manages contracts that support six provinces which make up more than 60 percent of the total market in Argentina.

GLI Europe Welcomes 75 Attendees From 20 Countries To Its 2012 European Roundtable

HILLEGOM, The Netherlands (30 May 2012) – Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), the world’s leading gaming testing laboratory and technical consultancy, and its European entity, GLI Europe BV, recently welcomed 75 attendees from 20 countries to its 2012 European Roundtable.

 

The event took place 9-10 May at the Marriott Hotel in Budapest, Hungary. The topics addressed were as colorful and varied as the European gaming industry itself and included discussions on terrestrial gaming and iGaming.

 

GLI Europe’s Managing Director Martin Britton produced the event and said, “This year’s Roundtable was a tremendous success. We were thrilled that, in spite of considerable financial restrictions, so many regulators from so many countries were able to attend. The information presented was extremely valuable, and we are grateful to our panelists who came from all around the world to help further regulatory practices across Europe.”

 

Day one was focused keenly on iGaming and opened with the panel discussion, “Public Policy Challenges of Regulating New iGaming Markets.” GLI’s Filippo Ferri moderated panelists Jörg Hofmann, MELCHERS Law Firm; Constantinos Couccoullis, Constantinos N. Couccoullis & Associates; and Justin Franssen of VMW Taxand.

 

Next, Frans Duynstee of VMW Taxand, Diane Mullenex of Ichay & Mullenex and James Scicluna of WH Partners spoke of the intricate legal considerations surrounding cross-border taxation.

 

The day continued with the panel “Poker Network Liquidity.” GLI’s Phillip Barow led a group that included PokerStars’ Ian Feather, OnGame’s Fredrik Kjell, Vahe Baloulian from eGaming Partners Inc. and GTech’s Dusan Mihajlovic.

 

As iGaming grows, so do surrounding concerns about fraud, money laundering and player protection, and speaking to those issues were Ferri, Gregory Kuhlmey from Dictao, and Stephen Winter of Pokerstars.

 

The day continued with the discussion “Improving Technical Regulations.” Ferri returned as moderator, and panelists were GLI’s Johan den Hartog and Ed Williams from NGS Secure.

 

Day one ended with a panel on regulatory consultancy with speakers Alan Littler from VMW Taxand and GLI’s John van Schaijk and Martin Britton.

 

Day two focused on land-based gaming, opening with a presentation on “Slot Taxation” by Lucien Wijsman of The Slot Academy.

 

Next, attendees turned their attention to gaming legislation concerning VLTs. Panelists included Constantinos Couccoullis and Alexia Couccoullis from Constantinos N. Couccoullis & Associates and  Gábor Helembai of Forgó Damjanovic & Partners.

 

“Methodologies of Player Protection” featured panelists Monika Racek from Admiral Casinos and Entertainment AG, Ólafur Andri Ragnarsson of Betware, and Dr. Joseph Borg from Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority.

 

For a perspective on how VLTs are changing the European landscape, Britton led a discussion featuring

Marco Herrera from Bally Technologies, Kristof Kovacs from Cybergame Kft, and Stuart McPhee of the UK Gambling Commission.

 

New slot technology was the focus of the next panel led by Wijsman. Contributing their thoughts were Herrera, IGT’s Paul Hogan, and GLI’s James Maida.

 

GLI’s Alex Iliopoulos then helped regulators further understand how the process of slot verification can be migrated into VLTs and iGaming applications.

 

The Roundtable ended with van Schaijk leading a discussion of what lies ahead in the AWP market with panelists Helmut Kafka from Euromat and Stuart McPhee from the UK Gambling Commission.

 

GLI’s Roundtable is part of the company’s GLI University™, an exclusive program that offers continuing education and vital training to regulators around the world. GLI produces Roundtable events around the globe each year.

Lotto Arbitration: AAMS Appeals to the Supreme Court

ROME, ITALY and PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (US) – May 31, 2012 – Lottomatica Group S.p.A. reports that Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS) has appealed the Lotto ruling of the Rome Court of Appeal before the Supreme Court of Cassation. As previously announced in the Group’s March 6, 2012 press release, the Court of Appeal had rejected AAMS’s appeal against the August 2005 arbitration award, confirming it. The arbitration had determined the initial starting date for the Lotto Concession to be June 8, 1998, and, as such, the final expiration date of the Concession would be June 8, 2016. The Rome Court of Appeal had confirmed, with its ruling, the outcome of the arbitration. AAMS’s appeal is based upon the same grounds which were previously rejected by the Rome Court of Appeal.

 

A proceeding before the Supreme Court of Cassation takes, on average, approximately two years. It should be noted that this appeal by AAMS neither suspends the Lotto arbitration award nor the March 6 Court of Appeal ruling. Furthermore, should AAMS’s appeal be granted, the entire matter will revert back to the Court of Appeal.

Greg Smith appointed Executive Director of Vermont Lottery

BARRE – Greg Smith, an executive with The Vermont Country Store, has been tapped to head the Vermont Lottery, replacing retiring Lottery Executive Director Alan Yandow. Smith will take over the operation on June 7.

 

“The Lottery Commission thanks Alan for his 14 years of exceptional service to Vermont,” said Martha O’Connor, chair of the Vermont Lottery Commission.  “After the nationwide search, we are pleased to be moving forward with the appointment of Greg Smith.”

 

"I am honored to have been chosen for the job and look forward to the challenge of leading the Vermont Lottery,” said Smith. 

 

Smith is currently Director of Strategic Cost Management and has served as Director of Operations and Finance Manager at The Vermont Country Store, a catalog and retail shop located in Manchester Center. Prior to that he owned and operated the Vermont Inn in Mendon, worked for SmithKline Beecham Corp. in Philadelphia, and the Hyatt Hotels Corp. in Chicago.

 

Yandow announced in February that he would step down from the executive director’s position after 14 years in the job. The Vermont Lottery was established in 1977 and proceeds go to the state’s Education Fund.

Northstar Lottery Group Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

Northstar Lottery Group, a majority-owned subsidiary of GTECH and Lottomatica Group, today announced that Marco Tasso, an experienced leader from Lottomatica’s Italian operations, has been appointed as Northstar’s Chief Executive Officer.

 

As part of as part of a planned succession process, Connie Laverty O’Connor, Northstar’s first CEO who was responsible for launching operations in Illinois, will return to her Chief Marketing Officer role at GTECH. She will continue to help guide Northstar activities as Vice Chairman of the Northstar Board of Directors.

 

In making the announcement, Northstar Chairman and GTECH CEO Jaymin Patel said, “With the appointment of Marco Tasso, we have a proven leader from the world’s largest gaming operator who will work in partnership with the Illinois Lottery to drive their success and build on the progress we have made so far.”  

 

Mr. Patel continued, “I want to thank Connie for her selfless dedication to the success of Northstar. Her ingenuity, hard work and experience have helped make the Illinois Lottery one of the fastest growing lotteries in the United States. When she accepted the appointment as CEO of Northstar, we agreed that it would be for the ramp up period and the start of Northstar operations. To provide continuity, she graciously agreed to stay on longer than we had originally planned despite the personal sacrifice involved.”

 

“I met Connie when I ran the Illinois Lottery in the eighties,” said Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones. “It was serendipity that she was the CEO of the first private management company in the United States when I was asked to return as Superintendent. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her and the Northstar team as we attempt to maximize revenue to the state of Illinois in an ethical and socially responsible manner. I’ll never forget the day we spent in Red Bud Illinois awarding the largest prize ever won in the state of Illinois, it was the stuff dreams are made of.”

 

Prior to joining Northstar, Marco Tasso was Vice President of Lottery and Services at Lottomatica where he has worked for the past six years. In his previous roles at Bain and Company and Ernst & Young, Marco worked as a consultant with several clients including Fiat and SEAT Pagine Gialle, Gruppo Coin and Telecom Italia.

 

Commenting on the appointment of Marco Tasso, Mr. Jones continued, “I am particularly pleased that Marco Tasso has taken over the leadership of Northstar.  Lottomatica has become a leader in the industry and a dominant operator in one of the most developed gaming markets in the world through a commitment to continuous innovation. It’s that kind of fresh perspective that Marco brings from his experiences with Lottomatica that I want to instill in the Illinois Lottery.  And, I’d like to add my personal welcome to him and his family to the local community.”

 

The appointment is effective June 1, 2012.

Maryland Live! Casino Authorized to Open to the Public, Grand Opening on Wednesday, June 6

Baltimore - Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino today signed the operations license allowing Maryland Live! Casino to open to the public.  The casino, owned by the Baltimore-based Cordish Co., allows the facility to open its first phase at 10 p.m. Wednesday evening, June 6.

"The Maryland Lottery has reviewed thoroughly the operations of Maryland Live!, the training and quality of its staff, and their adherence to internal controls and policies," Martino said.  "We believe that the casino has done an outstanding job preparing itself to open to the public and believe no significant issues remain to be addressed.

"The public can go to Maryland Live! with confidence that the facility is safe and secure and the gaming is being conducted fairly."

Maryland Live! conducted a successful controlled demonstration of the casino on Saturday, June 2. The goal of the demonstration, which was attended by more than 7,500, was to test and assess the facility's more than 3,100 slot machines; food and beverage services; internal controls; employee training; surveillance and security; and technical systems. Maryland Live! will donate its portion of the proceeds from the event to the Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation, Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation, Anne Arundel Community College Foundation and the Baltimore Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Located at the Arundel Mills Mall in Anne Arundel County, the $500 million Maryland Live! Casino will be one of the largest gaming, retail and entertainment destinations in the country with 4,750 slot machines and electronic table games when fully opened, with a state-of-the-art, live entertainment venue and nationally acclaimed restaurants, such as Bobby's Burger Palace from celebrated chef Bobby Flay, The Cheesecake Factory®, Phillips® Seafood and The Prime Rib®. The casino and its ancillary developments will employ 1,500 upon completion.

This is the third casino to open in Maryland.  The other two: Hollywood Casino Perryville, opened in September 2010, and Casino at Ocean Downs, opened in January 2011.  To date, the casinos have generated $227.6 million in total gaming revenue with more than $110 million going to Maryland's Education Trust Fund.

            The Maryland Lottery will hold a community forum tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at Dave and Buster's in Arundel Mills Mall. Martino and other Lottery officials will discuss the Lottery's role as regulators of the state's casinos and responsible gambling efforts.

INTRALOT Launches Online & Mobile Betting in South Africa

INTRALOT’s subsidiary in South Africa, INTRALOT South Africa, announces the launch of its fixed odds betting websites, www.justbet.co.za and mobi.justbet.co.za, where players will have the opportunity to choose their winning bets and get amazing betting odds. The new websites went live on June 1^st. Based on state-of-the-art technology and the implementation of multiple security related features and processes, the new websites will provide a unique gaming experience to all betting fans.

Dr. Yannis Rondiris, Managing Director of Africa Sub-Sahara Region of the INTRALOT Group, stated: “With our new websites we are offering to our customers in Western Cape, and countrywide, the opportunity to bet online in a responsible way at any time and at any place of their convenience. The trend-setter of the gaming sector worldwide, INTRALOT, has brought innovation to South Africa with pioneering gaming solutions that satisfy all players’ needs and habits.”

INTRALOT’s licence covers sports and horse racing betting facilities in the area of Western Cape in South Africa and Internet, Telephone and Mobile betting for players countrywide. INTRALOT South Africa operates betting under the brand JUSTBET. INTRALOT sports betting includes a broad variety of sports, with emphasis on football (soccer), rugby, cricket, tennis, and selected golf events, the most popular sports in South Africa. 

Vermont Lottery Announces New "Play it Again" Program

Berlin, VT – May 18, 2012 – The Vermont Lottery announced today that it will launch a new program, Play It Again, in June, as a new way to participate in second chance drawings. Play It Again will replace the current second chance drawing program, Recycle & Win.

Doing away with the mailing in of non-winning tickets to the Lottery, Play It Again will allow players to simply go to the Vermont Lottery Website (www.vtlottery.com/playitagain) to enter their ticket numbers for quarterly online drawings.

 

In addition to the quarterly second chance drawings, every specially marked Vermont Lottery instant scratch ticket will now have a second chance to win a top prize for that game after the game ends. Play It Again will be available 24 hours a day, and there is no charge to sign up or participate.

 

“We’re excited about the launch of Play It Again,” said Hadley Melendy, Director of Marketing & Sales for the Vermont Lottery. “Players will be able to enter to win more drawings from the comfort and convenience of their own homes without having to worry about paying for postage or envelopes.”

 

Since 2003, the Recycle & Win program has awarded $986,705 in cash and merchandise, and after the last Recycle and Win Drawing on June 13th the total will be over $1 Million.

Beijing Lottery & GTECH Corporation Depoly Innovative Android Lottery Application on Samsung Mobile Phone

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – (May 17, 2012) – As part of a pilot rollout project, a small number of Beijing Lottery retailers have started using an Android lottery application developed by GTECH Corporation for mobile phones. The application allows the Beijing Lottery retailers to offer lottery games (draw based games as well as instant games) to the public in venues other than Beijing Lottery outlets.

This solution supports two popular online games (3D and Union Lotto) as well as validation of all online games and instants games.  The “terminal” is a powerful Samsung Galaxy SII™ that speaks wirelessly to a portable wearable Zebra thermal printer.  The application is based upon the Android operating system and leverages the phone’s camera functionality and the retailer graphical user interface.  The application was specifically developed for the Beijing Welfare Lottery retailers.

“The explosion of mobile devices globally, coupled with the adoption of Android, provides a compelling new paradigm for our lottery industry.  This joint endeavour between the Beijing Lottery and GTECH is indicative of the innovation we expect with respect to retail solutions going forward,” said GTECH Corporation Chief Innovation Officer Donald Stanford.

The mobile solution, consisting of mobile phones and portable thermal printer, was developed in GTECH's Warsaw technology center.  A Polish team, comprised of several engineers, took three months to develop the solution which was tailored to the specific needs of the Beijing lottery market. GTECH’s Rhode Island and Asia Pacific Technology Teams also contributed their expertise to the Beijing delivery in terms of testing the Chinese user interface, ensuring a secure implementation, and designing the 3G network.

The Chinese market is the fastest growing lottery market in the world with a sales growth rate estimated at 30% per annum.

 

The solution was created in collaboration with Samsung engineers who worked with GTECH engineers to develop the technical solution specific to Samsung phones.

“This solution was a direct result of our global expertise and partnerships.  Our development hub in Warsaw Poland did most of the application work supported by our colleagues in the region.  We see great potential in leveraging 3rd party off-the-shelf components to meet specific lottery needs,” said GTECH Corporation Chief Technology Officer Matthew Whalen.