Northstar Lottery Group Awards More Than $15 Million in Contracts to Illinois Minority and Women–Owned Businesses

May 1, 2012 -- Chicago, IL – Northstar Lottery Group, the private manager of the Illinois Lottery, announced today it has awarded more than $15 million in contracts to more than 40 firms owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities (MFDBE) around the state.  With this commitment, Northstar has more than doubled its annual contracting goal for MFDBE businesses since its ramp-up began in the spring of 2011. 

 

“One of the foundations of Northstar’s business plan is to run an inclusive operation reflective of the makeup of Illinois,” said Connie Laverty O’Connor, President and CEO of Northstar Lottery Group.  “We are very proud of our record to date in including Illinois firms owned by women, minorities and disabled entrepreneurs and plan to grow these relationships so we can invest back into local communities.”

 

The contracts awarded to MFDBE firms cover a wide range of critical services for the Lottery, including technology infrastructure; multicultural advertising and communications; promotions; printing; paper and packaging; and field service maintenance and installation. 

 

“From day one, Northstar has remained committed to forming lasting partnerships with qualified minority and female owned companies around the state to help grow Lottery revenues and maximize returns to fund education and the capital fund,” said Rufus Williams, member of the Northstar Board of Advisors.  “At Northstar, diversity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s ingrained into all of Northstar’s policies and practices.”

 

Commonground, who was officially awarded the multicultural marketing contract for the Illinois Lottery in the fourth quarter of 2011, appreciates the commitment Northstar Lottery Group is making to invest in Chicago's diverse business communities. “From the start we've had the opportunity to play a vital role in their marketing efforts and we look forward to a successful long-term partnership with Northstar Lottery Group," said commonground co-founder and managing partner, Sherman Wright.

 

Beyond its contracting initiatives, Northstar is also participating in the Chicago United Five Forward Initiative, which is aimed at expanding business relationships with local minority firms. By helping minority firms become more competitive, the Five Forward initiative is designed to build a stronger regional economy.

 

“Thomas Services, Inc. is thrilled to have been selected by Northstar Lottery as one of its subcontractors and as one of its partners in the Chicago United “Five Forward Initiative,” said Maurice Thomas, President and CEO of Thomas Services, Inc.  “Through our work thus far with the Northstar team, we have witnessed an incredibly cooperative spirit and unwavering commitment to making the Illinois Lottery one of the best in the business.  We have also benefitted tremendously from their commitment to partnering with our company to ensure that we meet our service objectives.”

May 1, 2012 -- Chicago, IL – Northstar Lottery Group, the private manager of the Illinois Lottery, announced today it has awarded more than $15 million in contracts to more than 40 firms owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities (MFDBE) around the state.  With this commitment, Northstar has more than doubled its annual contracting goal for MFDBE businesses since its ramp-up began in the spring of 2011.  “One of the foundations of Northstar’s business plan is to run an inclusive operation reflective of the makeup of Illinois,” said Connie Laverty O’Connor, President and CEO of Northstar Lottery Group.  “We are very proud of our record to date in including Illinois firms owned by women, minorities and disabled entrepreneurs and plan to grow these relationships so we can invest back into local communities.” The contracts awarded to MFDBE firms cover a wide range of critical services for the Lottery, including technology infrastructure; multicultural advertising and communications; promotions; printing; paper and packaging; and field service maintenance and installation.  “From day one, Northstar has remained committed to forming lasting partnerships with qualified minority and female owned companies around the state to help grow Lottery revenues and maximize returns to fund education and the capital fund,” said Rufus Williams, member of the Northstar Board of Advisors.  “At Northstar, diversity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s ingrained into all of Northstar’s policies and practices.” Commonground, who was officially awarded the multicultural marketing contract for the Illinois Lottery in the fourth quarter of 2011, appreciates the commitment Northstar Lottery Group is making to invest in Chicago's diverse business communities. “From the start we've had the opportunity to play a vital role in their marketing efforts and we look forward to a successful long-term partnership with Northstar Lottery Group," said commonground co-founder and managing partner, Sherman Wright. Beyond its contracting initiatives, Northstar is also participating in the Chicago United Five Forward Initiative, which is aimed at expanding business relationships with local minority firms. By helping minority firms become more competitive, the Five Forward initiative is designed to build a stronger regional economy. “Thomas Services, Inc. is thrilled to have been selected by Northstar Lottery as one of its subcontractors and as one of its partners in the Chicago United “Five Forward Initiative,” said Maurice Thomas, President and CEO of Thomas Services, Inc.  “Through our work thus far with the Northstar team, we have witnessed an incredibly cooperative spirit and unwavering commitment to making the Illinois Lottery one of the best in the business.  We have also benefitted tremendously from their commitment to partnering with our company to ensure that we meet our service objectives.”

GLI Europe Names Spanish Market Gaming Industry Expert David Jimenez Technical Manager of GLI España

HILLEGOM, The Netherlands (24 April 2012) – GLI Europe BV, the European operation of Gaming Laboratories International,  the world’s leading technical consulting and independent certification laboratory, has named David Jimenez as Technical Manager of its new lab in Barcelona.

 

“We are thrilled to have David join our team at GLI España, and we are confident that his extensive experience will be extremely beneficial to our regulatory and supplier clients. Adding David to the GLI team will allow us to better serve the Spanish AWP and iGaming markets,” said GLI Interactive Managing Director Phillip Barow.

 

“Our intention is to have 10 native Spanish-speaking engineers to support land-based and iGaming clients in Spain and Latin America. David will be instrumental as a leader on our team to achieve that goal,” Barow added.

 

A native of Spain, Jimenez has extensive technical experience in the Spanish gaming market. He most recently was Product Manager of the Gaming Department at Applus, where he worked closely with regulators and suppliers in Spain, Europe and Latin America. He has also served as Business Development and Compliance Manager and as a Technician at Applus. Previously, he has served as an Engineer for Tyco Electronics in Spain.

 

For more than 20 years, Gaming Laboratories International has been the world leader in providing independent testing, inspection and certification services to the gaming industry. With 20 laboratory locations located across Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, North America and South America, GLI is the only global organization of its kind to hold U.S. and international accreditations for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, 17020 and Guide 65 standards for technical competence in the Gaming industry. GLI offers independent third party evaluation and certification of Gaming technology, devices and systems in addition to providing network and information security assessments.

HILLEGOM, The Netherlands (24 April 2012) – GLI Europe BV, the European operation of Gaming Laboratories International,  the world’s leading technical consulting and independent certification laboratory, has named David Jimenez as Technical Manager of its new lab in Barcelona. “We are thrilled to have David join our team at GLI España, and we are confident that his extensive experience will be extremely beneficial to our regulatory and supplier clients. Adding David to the GLI team will allow us to better serve the Spanish AWP and iGaming markets,” said GLI Interactive Managing Director Phillip Barow. “Our intention is to have 10 native Spanish-speaking engineers to support land-based and iGaming clients in Spain and Latin America. David will be instrumental as a leader on our team to achieve that goal,” Barow added. A native of Spain, Jimenez has extensive technical experience in the Spanish gaming market. He most recently was Product Manager of the Gaming Department at Applus, where he worked closely with regulators and suppliers in Spain, Europe and Latin America. He has also served as Business Development and Compliance Manager and as a Technician at Applus. Previously, he has served as an Engineer for Tyco Electronics in Spain. For more than 20 years, Gaming Laboratories International has been the world leader in providing independent testing, inspection and certification services to the gaming industry. With 20 laboratory locations located across Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, North America and South America, GLI is the only global organization of its kind to hold U.S. and international accreditations for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, 17020 and Guide 65 standards for technical competence in the Gaming industry. GLI offers independent third party evaluation and certification of Gaming technology, devices and systems in addition to providing network and information security assessments.

Aristocrat Makes First Entry into U.S. VLT Marketplace in South Dakota

LAS VEGAS (April 16, 2012) – Aristocrat Technologies is recognized across the Americas for its extensive line of player-favorite games. Now the company is making its first entry into the U.S. VLT marketplace, having recently received approvals for its Player’s World^™ product from the South Dakota Lottery.

Earning the approval is another milestone in Aristocrat Americas’ aggressive business strategy that has propelled the company forward over the past decade.

Aristocrat Americas COO Seamus McGill said the company is delighted to have received its first U.S. VLT approval.

“We are confident players will quickly recognize our Player’s World™ By Demand product as a fun game to play, and that operators will quickly realize the game is a player favorite,” he said.

Aristocrat and its distributor, Moss Gaming, will move immediately to place Player’s World By Demand games throughout South Dakota, where the product has generated significant interest from operators.

Player’s World By Demand brings six highly successful low-line games in three different player-selectable denominations under one umbrella in Aristocrat's first ever multi-game product package. Utilizing Aristocrat’s Easy Play Interface, players can select their game and denomination of choice on screen with the option of changing games and denominations whenever they wish.

SPIELO INTERNATIONAL Tailors Its Products to Malta's New Slot Halls Program

MALTA – Malta’s major gaming operators are choosing SPIELO International to provide systems, machines, and cloud hosting services for the island’s new slot halls program. 

SPIELO International has so far installed a total of 200 diversity™ multigames on OXYGEN™ cabinets for two of the major Maltese slot hall operators, Gaming Operations Ltd. and Media Games.

diversity continues as SPIELO International’s bestselling multigame product, where operators can select game suites that appeal to their players’ desires. SPIELO International developers have ensured that the games are as exciting and appealing as possible to Maltese players while complying with the new slot hall regulations. 

Each diversity game suite features a variety of up to 10 games grouped into categories that can be selected by players via touch screen, with Roulette now available as a selection. Presented on the stylish OXYGEN cabinet, diversity allows players to select their preferred game types with different volatility levels, and is the only multigame on the market featuring proven, top-performing standalone progressive games, all in multi-line and multi-denomination format.\

In addition, SPIELO International’s new SYSTEM2go™ turnkey solution for multi-site slot halls has been installed simultaneously across the major slot hall groups in Malta. System2go deployment is so quick and easy that operators can install and deploy the systems on their own.

A total of 290 connection kit units for around 30 slot venues were recently shipped to Media Games, Gaming Operations Ltd., and the Tomino Group. Another 300 units are expected to be shipped and installed in those 30 venues in the coming months, with additional installations anticipated.

To ensure system viability in such small locations, the SYSTEM2go solution was built to be managed centrally from each operator group’s head office. As part of Malta’s new slot hall regulations, operators must provide players with a detailed report of their individual activities at the player’s request, which SYSTEM2Go provides accurately on demand.

SPIELO International has also obtained a Class 4 license from Malta’s Lotteries and Gaming Authority for SYSTEM2go to provide a cloud hosting service for Media Games and Gaming Operations Ltd. The cloud services allow operators to concentrate on providing superior services to the player, while SPIELO International manages their IT operation and provides value-added data and report visualisation through the cloud.

SYSTEM2go includes the CRYSTAL WEB™ floor network and an integrated jackpots system. Additional add-on packages provide ticketing or card cashless with player tracking. This packaged, all-in-one system is based on our proven market tested technology and functionality, and can be quickly configured to meet regulator and operator requirements. For instance, the Platinum ticketing and player tracking option for Malta was customized for connection to a national ‘barred player’ list in accordance with regulations.

SPIELO International has been providing high-performance solutions in Malta since February 2006, beginning with the installation of the CRYSTAL WEB™ floor network and GALAXIS™ casino management systems for the Tomino Group (now Tumas Gaming). 

MDI Licenses NBC’s Top-Rated Summer Show: “America’s Got Talent”

LPHARETTA, GA – April 10, 2012 – MDI Entertainment, LLC, a subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS), today announced plans with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) to offer lotteries in the United States and Canada rights to feature the popular TV show “America’s Got Talent.” The show becomes the seventeenth television program in MDI’s licensed brands portfolio currently available to lotteries. 

The hit summer series is co-produced by FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) and Syco TV, and showcases some of the hottest entertainers from across the country.

“’America’s Got Talent’ has been NBC’s number one summer series for the past four years and attracts a loyal and passionate fan base of over 12 million viewers per episode,” said Steve Saferin, President, Properties Group and Chief Creative Officer for Scientific Games. “The show’s popularity, combined with the opportunity to create experiential prizing packages, makes this a very strong prospect for successful instant games.”

“The ‘America’s Got Talent’ instant games create a strategic opportunity for lotteries to reach fans that tune in twice a week and aspire to interact with the show as well as its prizing component,” said Naz Cuevas, Senior Manager, Consumer Products, FremantleMedia Enterprises.   

The license provides MDI the rights to offer the title, trademarks and graphics associated with “America’s Got Talent” to lotteries. In addition, the name and likeness of Nick Cannon, the show’s host, may be available to be used on instant tickets and marketing materials.

Lotteries will have the opportunity to create promotions that send winners to regular-season show tapings, as well as grand prize packages that send 2nd Chance winners to the season finale of “America’s Got Talent.”

OpenBet extends reach in North America

OpenBet, the leading sportsbook and online gaming software supplier, is pleased to announce that it has extended its reach in North America by supporting BCLC in their partnership announced today with Manitoba Lotteries to launch their new online casino and poker offering in 2013.

In conjunction with BCLC, the Province of Manitoba, which currently offers retail lottery tickets and sports betting, is set to launch its first online gaming offering with the underlying technical infrastructure being supplied and supported by OpenBet.  In addition to casino and poker, sportsbetting and bingo may also be available for the Province of Manitoba when the site launches.

OpenBet’s industry leading platform and products have been fully proven and certified in Canada and are currently used by BCLC, Loto Quebec and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. OpenBet’s proven track record of strict compliance and policy of only dealing with legal Tier 1 jurisdictions enables operators to provide online gaming in a secure and legal environment.  With offices in Montreal and working closely with key lottery providers and gaming operators, OpenBet continues to expand operations in North America.

OpenBet’s centralised Account enables operators to provide their customers with the ability to bet and play in multiple languages and currencies, across multiple channels including mobile all through a single log-in.  This gives operators a single view of all customer activity and liabilities and the open platform provides a fully flexible solution that enables the integration of content from various third party providers. 

Michael Graydon, CEO of BCLC, said:

“Over the last two years we have worked very closely with OpenBet’s dedicated and highly skilled teams who have developed a successful online gaming offering that allows us the flexibility to deliver a product that not only appeals to our customers but ensures we are compliant with regulatory requirements. Their strong track record in Canada and reputation for delivering makes them the ideal partner.”

David Loveday, CEO of OpenBet, commented:

“Today’s announcement further strengthens our position as the platform of choice in the Canadian provinces. Supporting BCLC in the launch of a fully integrated online gaming offering for the Province of Manitoba demonstrates the flexibility of our platform and our ability to work closely with our partners to ensure a successful offering. Developments in North America are exciting and we are confident that OpenBet has the expertise and experience to deliver the underlying technical infrastructure and support for gaming operators in new jurisdictions as they open.”

INTRALOT: SVL Opens Acropolis Gaming Lounge in Cross Roads with New Technology by INTRALOT

Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) has opened its newest Gaming Lounge in the busy Cross Roads area of the Kingston metropolis. Acropolis Cross Roads is located at Shop #8 in the State Mall at 15 – 17 Half Way Tree Road.

The gaming facility has an open plan layout that includes 41 slot gaming machines; a 10-seat Royal Ascot Horseracing machine, Sports Betting and Lottery terminals and a mini bar area. The facility also boasts a viewing area for sporting events on large screen television sets and WI-FI access.

Brian George – President & CEO of SVL said:”We are especially proud to have brought the high standard of our Acropolis operations and service to this new location in Cross Roads. Acropolis Cross Roads will be the first in our gaming lounge properties i.e. Acropolis Barbican; Acropolis Portmore; Acropolis May Pen and Coral Cliff, to be fully connected to the iGEM system developed by INTRALOT, a next generation integrated solution for large-scale gaming networks, to efficiently monitor the performance of the gaming machines.”

The iGEM system provides online real-time monitoring for the gaming machines; ticket in-ticket out operation just like the major casinos globally; progressive jackpots; mystery jackpots and a player loyalty programme that will offer rewards to regular patrons. The iGEM system is to be introduced to the other SVL Gaming Lounges and similar operations islandwide, for full connectivity across a wide area network throughout the rest of this year.

Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) has opened its newest Gaming Lounge in the busy Cross Roads area of the Kingston metropolis. Acropolis Cross Roads is located at Shop #8 in the State Mall at 15 – 17 Half Way Tree Road.The gaming facility has an open plan layout that includes 41 slot gaming machines; a 10-seat Royal Ascot Horseracing machine, Sports Betting and Lottery terminals and a mini bar area. The facility also boasts a viewing area for sporting events on large screen television sets and WI-FI access.Brian George – President & CEO of SVL said:”We are especially proud to have brought the high standard of our Acropolis operations and service to this new location in Cross Roads. Acropolis Cross Roads will be the first in our gaming lounge properties i.e. Acropolis Barbican; Acropolis Portmore; Acropolis May Pen and Coral Cliff, to be fully connected to the iGEM system developed by INTRALOT, a next generation integrated solution for large-scale gaming networks, to efficiently monitor the performance of the gaming machines.”The iGEM system provides online real-time monitoring for the gaming machines; ticket in-ticket out operation just like the major casinos globally; progressive jackpots; mystery jackpots and a player loyalty programme that will offer rewards to regular patrons. The iGEM system is to be introduced to the other SVL Gaming Lounges and similar operations islandwide, for full connectivity across a wide area network throughout the rest of this year. 

George also said: “Patrons can move freely amongst machines within the lounge, by playing with a special ticket purchased at the Cashier or generated from the slot machines when they cash out. Acropolis Cross Roads is an adult only facility and is open to the public from 11am to 7:30pm; Tuesdays to Saturdays.

INTRALOT Received "Superbrand 2011-2012" Award

INTRALOT has been awarded the prestigious distinction “Corporate Superbrand 2011-2012” during a premier Awards Ceremony that was held in April 2^nd, in Athens with representatives from the business, political and media sectors. INTRALOT’s brand was awarded for the top reputation it has established in its sector worldwide. Present across all continents, INTRALOT is leading the gaming sector thanks to its unique, pioneering solutions and the responsible way it conducts business worldwide.

Ms. Vali Bouligaraki, General Director of Games & Marketing of INTRALOT Group, stated: “We are proud to have been selected to be part of this elite group of businesses. This is a recognition of INTRALOT’s market success and healthy reputation, both based on our commitment to strong values: focus on excellence, integrity, reliability, passion for innovation and responsible gaming, either as a technological provider or as a lottery operator. We would like to thank our customers all over the world for their trust and ensure them we will continue to offer customised, efficient and secure gaming operation management solutions”.

The Superbrands institution was established in 1994 in Great Britain and has since been adopted in over 75 countries around the world. The Superbrands status is granted upon assessment by a voluntary Expert Council as well as a public opinion survey, according to general criteria, such as public recognition and good reputation, quality, long-term consistency and reliability and social responsibility.  

One of the Mega Millions Winners from Red Bud, Illinois

CHICAGO, IL—April 2, 2012—Illinois Lottery officials announced today financial results from the record breaking Mega Millions drawing Friday night.
 
Last week the Illinois Lottery recorded total sales of $94.36 million – the largest sales week in Illinois Lottery history, shattering the previous record of $73.8 million for the week ending April 15, 1989. Sales of Mega Millions tickets peaked on Friday night from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. when Lottery officials reported tickets selling at a rate of $37,600 per minute; $2.3 million in sales for that hour. From January 25 to March 30 (the period of time that the jackpot rolled) the Lottery recorded $75 million in Mega Millions sales including Megaplier sales.
 
Governor Pat Quinn announced that the lottery generated over $31.5 million in total contributions to the Common School Fund during the nine week Mega Millions run. "I congratulate the winner in Redbud and the many other winners the Illinois lottery produces every day," Governor Quinn said. "When people play responsibly, they can have fun and support education and infrastructure projects that keep our economy strong."
 
Beyond the $219M winner who bought the winning ticket at the Moto Mart in Red Bud, there were 11 players who matched five numbers and won $250,000 and one other second place winner who opted for the Megaplier feature of the game and won $1,000,000.
 
“This has been an incredible week for the Illinois Lottery and the people of our state,” said Michael Jones, Superintendent of the Illinois Lottery. “Our jackpot winner from Red Bud, a wonderful town in southern Illinois, along with thousands of other lottery winners across the state proves that if you believe it can happen…it might.  Everyone who played Mega Millions not only made history by playing for the largest lottery prize in the history of the planet, but contributed to the common good in our state.”
 
Throughout Illinois, people flocked to the more than 7,900 dedicated lottery retailers to purchase Mega Millions tickets. Lottery retailers earned $3.7 million in sales commissions from Mega Millions sales during this roll-up. Statewide, Illinois Lottery retailers generated an average of $11,450 in total sales just last week alone earning an average of more than $570 in commissions.  MotoMart in Red Bud who sold the winning jackpot Mega Millions ticket will receive a bonus check of $500,000.
 
The Illinois Lottery’s new Internet channel generated over $1.14 million in Mega Millions sales during its startup week.  A total of 114,000 Illinois adults registered to play the lottery on the Internet during the first week of the pilot program.
 
Lottery officials also recorded instant lottery sales of $6.5 million for Friday, March 30 – breaking another lottery record. 

Lottomatica Group Subsidiary GTECH Corporation Signs Five Year Contract Extension with the Oregon Lottery

ROME, ITALY and PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (US) – April 2, 2012 – Lottomatica Group S.p.A. announced that its subsidiary, GTECH Corporation, has signed a five-year contract extension with the Oregon Lottery to continue providing online/instants system technology, self-service lottery products and services, as well as new multimedia messaging display units.  The contract extension will run through November 30, 2020, and is expected to generate total revenues for GTECH of approximately $50 million, commencing in the fourth quarter of 2015. The Oregon  Lottery has been a valued GTECH customer since the Lottery’s inception in 1985.
 
“We are very proud of our partnership with the Oregon Lottery, which dates back to the startup of the Lottery in 1985,” said GTECH President and CEO Jaymin B. Patel.  “Since its inception, GTECH has supported the Oregon Lottery in its rollout of online games, including KENO, and has helped to expand and optimize its retailer base. We are grateful to the Oregon Lottery for its continued confidence in GTECH, and we look forward to its continued growth to return even more dollars for public education in Oregon.”
 
Under the terms of the contract extension, GTECH will provide a wide array of digital advertising display units, increasing the Oregon Lottery’s brand and jackpot awareness across retailers throughout the state. GTECH will continue providing services for the Lottery’s Enterprise Series central system; 3,500 online terminals; as well as for its 400 Lottery To Go® machines and 3,500 Ticket-Scan® machines.  Additionally, GTECH will continue to provide marketing support and field services.  GTECH maintains its primary data center in Salem, Oregon, and has a backup data center located in Austin, Texas.
 
In conjunction with GTECH, Lottomatica Group’s gaming division SPIELO International also provides video lottery terminals (VLTs), as well as the VLT central system and ongoing services in Oregon.  Proceeds from the Oregon Lottery benefit Oregon public schools, economic development, and state parks, among others.

NeoGames launches first ever ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ instant win game

April 2, 2012 (Malta) – NeoGames, the global leaders of interactive scratch cards and lottery games, has partnered with The Bold and the Beautiful to create the first ever instant win game based on characters from the multiple Emmy® award winning show.

Shortly after the show’s 25th anniversary, The Bold and the Beautiful game features images of the show’s main cast and gives players the chance to win up to $200,000 by simply matching two identical images.  As part of the game’s launch campaign, one lucky player will also be flown to Los Angeles to visit the set where they will be given the rare opportunity to watch taping and see some of the B&B cast.

 “If we were going to create a game for fans of the most watched soap in the world, it made sense to team up with NeoGames, the pioneer and leader of the instant win gaming market,” said Anthony Ferrari, Vice President of International Operations at BBL Distribution, Inc., of the decision to collaborate with NeoGames.

According to NeoGames Managing Director Shay Bar-Joseph, the chance to work with the world’s most watched soap opera is part of NeoGames’ strategy to bring players new, exciting and innovative products.

“When the opportunity to work with an esteemed name such as The Bold and the Beautiful arose, we saw it as a great chance to bring a recognizable face associated with a great game to our players.  But this is just the beginning,” said Bar-Joseph.  “Plans are under way to associate ourselves with some major worldwide brands in order to bring our players a whole new experience in online instant win games.”

INTRALOT: Launch of New European Lotto Game in the Netherlands

INTRALOT Nederland BV, a fully-owned subsidiary of the INTRALOT Group in the Netherlands, has successfully launched the new official European lotto game “Eurojackpot” for its customer in the Netherlands, De Lotto. The new game was launched on March 23^rd.  

The new game that INTRALOT technologically implemented for De Lotto pools the stakes of six participating countries (Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland and Slovenia) and it takes place once a week, every Friday evening. The draw is held in Helsinki, Finland. The tickets are available in stores and online at www.eurojackpot.nl. The minimum Jackpot prize offered is €10 million and may rise as high as €90 million.  The Jackpot is allowed to “roll over” to the next draw for up to 12 consecutive weeks; if no winner is identified, prizes are distributed to the next category winners in the following draw.  It is possible that the number of participating countries increases in the future, as will the Jackpots.

Mr. Harrie Linders,Chief Executive Officer of De Lotto, stated: We are proud to introduce this exciting new game in the Netherlands. The international character of the game offers incredible Jackpots that are attractive to all consumers. History shows us that expanding our game portfolio has always led to increasing revenues for our good causes. The preparation to a successful launch has been done in good cooperation with our technology provider INTRALOT.rdquo;

Mr. Manolis Lambrakis, Chief Executive Officer of INTRALOT Nederland BV, commented: “We are very pleased to be part of this fascinating moment for the European lottery market. We have supported our valuable partner De Lotto to implement “Eurojackpot” in the Netherlands and we are really satisfied that its first draw was very well received by players in the country. The trust that De Lotto has shown us when it selected us to be its technological provider has already yielded very positive results and we are confident that together we will continue to offer to the players in the Netherlands unique, innovative and attracting lottery products that will maximize their entertainment experiences.”

De Lotto is one of the leading lotteries in the Netherlands. The partnership of INTRALOT with the lottery has commenced in 2008 following an unprecedented dual international tender, procured by De Lotto and De Nederlandse Staatsloterij. INTRALOT has undertaken the supply, maintenance and support, as well as the facilities management of the system of both lotteries.

Maryland Lottery: Mega Millions Jackpot Leaps to an Unprecedented $640 Million

(Baltimore) – Lottery retailers across Maryland are gearing up for another historic day of Mega Millions sales. “Huge doesn’t begin to describe the size of this jackpot,” said Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino. “We’ve actually had to deliver extra rolls of paper to our retailers to make sure they have enough to meet the demand for tickets.”

The frenzy for tickets has caused the jackpot to jump twice in the past two days and it now stands at an unprecedented $640 million dollars, blowing away the previous record by a whopping $250 million. “This is about dreams,” said Martino. “Even people who don’t typically play begin envisioning what they would do with over half a billion dollars.”

The cash option on the $640 million jackpot is $462 million, which comes out $307.2 million after taxes.  In addition to being a boon to people’s daydreams, the Mega Millions sales rush is also good for Lottery businesses with retailers receiving 5% of each ticket sold. The Lottery retailer who sells the winning ticket will receive an agent bonus of $100,000.

With so much money at stake, the drawing which typically airs at 11:22 pm will be broadcast live on WBAL-TV at 11 pm at the top of the broadcast. Jackpot hopefuls may also see tonight’s drawing results on MPT at 11:53 pm as well as on the Lottery’s website at mdlottery.com. Winning numbers are available at the more than 4,200 Lottery retailers across Maryland. The multi-state Mega Millions game is played in 44 states and jurisdictions – including Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia.

INTRALOT Announces 2011 Full Year Results: Strong Revenues Growth & Positive Cash Flow

+135% EBT INCREASE IN 4Q2011

March 29^th, 2012

INTRALOT, the leading international gaming company, announces today its financial results for the twelve-month period ending December 31^st, 2011, prepared in accordance with IFRS

INTRALOT Group’s Consolidated Revenues for FY2011 increased by 7.8% reaching €1,202.4 billion, compared to 2010. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) posted an increase reaching €153.8m (from €152.7m in 2010). EAT-am (Earnings After Taxes and after minorities) were shaped at €17.7m from €36.6m in 2010.

The Company posted a positive cash flow during FY2011. The positive trend that has been set since the beginning of the year continued, with net debt dropping by €17.4m compared to 12M2010. The positive cash-flow is even more important taking into consideration that capex reached 75.3m for the year, while when guidance was provided for a positive cash flow in 2012, capex was estimated at €50m (without including any new projects’ capex at the time).

In 4Q2011 Revenues grew by 8.8%, to €345.9m, EBITDA dropped by 2.7%, to €41.7m, EBT posted a growth of 135.2%, reaching €24.0m and Net profits reached €6.8m.

Revenues for the parent company decreased by 19.5%, to €131.7m. EBITDA decreased by 20.1% to €19.4m from €24.2m in 2010 and Earnings After Taxes (EAT) were €1.6m from €2.1m in 2010.

Commenting on FY2011 results INTRALOT Group CEO, Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos, noted: “Last year we had provided a guidance for a positive cash-flow in 2011, a target that we exceeded as our goal was reached despite a higher new project capex. In 2012 onwards we will continue to focus on improving our cash-flow generation, but at the same time monitor and pursue new opportunities in the gaming space. 

Concerning 2012, we anticipate it to be a very interesting year as numerous new opportunities and developments are taking place in the sector. Starting with Europe, opportunities include the continuation of gaming markets opening, the most important case being Germany, which is anticipated to open its sports betting market within 2012. Bulgaria, one of our major markets, is expected to soon regulate Internet gaming, a move that should enhance our position in the country. Also, we are in a pleasant position to announce that our subsidiary in Malta has been announced the preferred bidder in the tender process that took place to renew its existing gaming license in the country.

Continuing in the Americas, in the United States, the legalization of Internet gaming, which is expected to include lottery games, poker and casino games is proceeding. Regarding our existing business in the US, the recent combination of the Powerball and Megamillions jackpots is expected to strengthen our sales. It is worth noting that this week the Megamillions jackpot hit a new record, reaching $500 million. In the southern region of the Americas, namely Latin America, numerous opportunities are expected to arise, especially in markets where INTRALOT is already present such as Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Jamaica.

Moving on to Asia Pacific region, several opportunities and challenges exist such as the legalization of games, which will be a major growth driving force in the next few years, especially for countries such as China and Vietnam. Other opportunities include the Philippines and Australia, while Taiwan will be up for rebid within the year.

Finally, in the Hellenic market opportunities include the procurement of the New Instant ticket and passive lottery tickets license, video-lotteries, Internet gaming, the privatization of OPAP S.A. and the Horse Racing organization.

One of the major driving forces behind INTRALOT’s position in the global gaming sector is its leading innovation and technological sophistication. We are in a position to safely say that INTRALOT is well ahead of competition in terms of technology, posting an additional advantage, due to its innovativeness, of having low capex requirements for IT development and obtaining a high output.

Last year we announced pioneering products and services, among which Lottery TV, an integrated gaming solution on multimedia gaming content for lottery shops; the new HomeSmartPlay family of solutions, which gives players access at home to an extensive sporting catalogue; iGEM, the most modern platform for gaming machines; Racing for Lotteries, our innovative gaming approach for virtual and real races; Genion, our new multifunctional terminal and Nefos, INTRALOT’s cloud solution. Also, our Universal Gaming Platform, successfully combining the Land Based with the Interactive gaming, has been proven the best strategy for the lotteries to go online. Moreover, INTRALOT has moved to the creation of Gaming Clusters, starting from Corallia in Greece, that will be also established in various countries worldwide, aiming to introduce pioneering gaming content and new gaming technologies that will be offered to its clients.

Technological and other innovations are starting to pay off in our day-to-day business operations and, coupled with our world-class operational skills and know-how, are expected to help grow the business in the next few years and at the same time improve efficiencies.”

GLI Europe Announces Plans for GLI University’s™ “2012 European Roundtable”

Event Takes Place 9-10 May In Budapest

HILLEGOM, The Netherlands (29 March 2012) – Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), the world’s leading gaming testing laboratory and technical consultancy, and its European entity, GLI Europe BV, have been growing rapidly to keep pace with the ever-changing casino gaming and iGaming industries. Now to help regulators keep pace with advances in technology, GLI Europe is announcing plans for GLI University’s™ “2012 European Roundtable.”

The 2012 European Roundtable will be staged 9-10 May at the Marriott Hotel in Budapest, Hungary. The conference is presented free of charge to regulators, and registration is available now at www.gaminglabs.com/euroundtable2012. Room reservations are available at the Budapest Marriott.

“There have been many dramatic developments in terrestrial gaming, lotteries, and in iGaming over the past year, and it is extremely important for regulators to be continually educated on developments that may affect their jurisdictions,” said GLI Europe’s Managing Director Martin Britton.

“That is the whole purpose behind our Roundtable series – to bring regulators together to listen, learn and share common experiences for the good of the entire industry,” he added.

Last year’s European Roundtable drew more than 40 regulators from 21 countries. Many jurisdictions attended the Roundtable for the first time in its seven-year history, including Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Montenegro, Poland and Romania.

“We strongly recommend that finance ministers, CIOs, CTOs, iGaming regulators, lottery regulators, gambling commissions and gaming committees security directors and slot operations directors attend the Roundtable. We are bringing in leading experts to discuss today’s most relevant topics, and we are confident these will be two days extremely well spent by all attendees,” Britton said.

Scheduled to present at the event is a mix of the region’s most influential technology experts, iGaming and land-based regulators, leading suppliers and GLI staff. A complete agenda will be released in the coming days.

GLI’s Roundtable is a one-of-a-kind event in the gaming industry, where regulators gather to learn about the latest technological developments and their potential regulatory impact, and to openly discuss regulations with one another in a private setting.  The event is part of the company’s GLI University, an exclusive program that offers continuing education and vital training to regulators around the world, and each year, GLI produces Roundtable events around the globe.

For more than 20 years, Gaming Laboratories International, LLC has been the world leader in providing independent testing, inspection and certification services to the gaming, wagering and lottery industry.  GLI also offers independent network and information security assessments to its regulatory, lottery and supplier clients.

With 20 laboratory locations located across Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, North America and South America, GLI is the only global organization of its kind to hold U.S. and international accreditations for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, 17020 and guide 65 standards for technical competence in the gaming, wagering and lottery industries. For more information, visit www.gaminglabs.com.