Kansas Revenue Fund Wins Big in Record Mega Millions Draw

Lottery retailers in Kansas sold more Mega Millions tickets in the week leading up to the March 30 world record-breaking jackpot than in the first three months of the year combined. Lottery players -- even the ones who did not win the jackpot – are cashing in and so is the state. 

Kansas had 82,798 winners in the mega jackpot draw, cashing in on prizes from $2 to the now $656 million jackpot amount ($218 million goes to the Kansas jackpot ticket holder) for a total of $219.3 million in prizes that will be paid to players. 

The State of Kansas is a mega winner in its own right, netting approximately $2 million in profit from the sale of Mega Millions tickets alone since January this year. Add to that the required state income withholding from prizes paid to Kansas’ three top tier winners in last Friday’s draw, $7.9 million, and Mega Millions becomes a mega windfall for Kansas’ State Gaming Revenues Fund. The fund is dedicated to economic development initiatives, prison construction and maintenance projects, local juvenile detention facilities, problem gambling and addictions assistance, and the State General Fund. 

“Each dollar we can transfer to the state is one dollar toward hopefully reducing the tax burden for Kansas residents,” said Dennis Wilson, Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery. “This Mega Millions jackpot may very well prove to be the catalyst for the Lottery’s biggest year ever.”

Between January 24 of this year, the last time the Mega Millions jackpot was hit, and the record $656 million jackpot last Friday, the Kansas Lottery sold approximately $6.7 million in Mega Million tickets.  More than $4 million tickets were sold last week alone, with sales on the day of the draw reaching $3,500 per minute at times. 

All this great news comes on the heels of another state lottery record – a six-week stretch of sales of more than $5 million per week, from February 4 through March 10. Then, three weeks later, sales skyrocket to $8.6 million, $4.1 million in Mega Millions sales alone, the week ending March 31. 

So, in a year when the Kansas Lottery celebrates its 25th Anniversary, celebration is becoming a theme.

Lottery retailers in Kansas sold more Mega Millions tickets in the week leading up to the March 30 world record-breaking jackpot than in the first three months of the year combined. Lottery players -- even the ones who did not win the jackpot – are cashing in and so is the state. 
Kansas had 82,798 winners in the mega jackpot draw, cashing in on prizes from $2 to the now $656 million jackpot amount ($218 million goes to the Kansas jackpot ticket holder) for a total of $219.3 million in prizes that will be paid to players. 
The State of Kansas is a mega winner in its own right, netting approximately $2 million in profit from the sale of Mega Millions tickets alone since January this year. Add to that the required state income withholding from prizes paid to Kansas’ three top tier winners in last Friday’s draw, $7.9 million, and Mega Millions becomes a mega windfall for Kansas’ State Gaming Revenues Fund. The fund is dedicated to economic development initiatives, prison construction and maintenance projects, local juvenile detention facilities, problem gambling and addictions assistance, and the State General Fund. 
“Each dollar we can transfer to the state is one dollar toward hopefully reducing the tax burden for Kansas residents,” said Dennis Wilson, Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery. “This Mega Millions jackpot may very well prove to be the catalyst for the Lottery’s biggest year ever.”
Between January 24 of this year, the last time the Mega Millions jackpot was hit, and the record $656 million jackpot last Friday, the Kansas Lottery sold approximately $6.7 million in Mega Million tickets.  More than $4 million tickets were sold last week alone, with sales on the day of the draw reaching $3,500 per minute at times. 
All this great news comes on the heels of another state lottery record – a six-week stretch of sales of more than $5 million per week, from February 4 through March 10. Then, three weeks later, sales skyrocket to $8.6 million, $4.1 million in Mega Millions sales alone, the week ending March 31. 
So, in a year when the Kansas Lottery celebrates its 25th Anniversary, celebration is becoming a theme.

New York Lottery Announces Twelfth Consecutive Year of Record Sales And Earnings

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The New York Lottery today announced full-year, pre-audited results for the fiscal year 2011-12, which ended March 31, 2012. Sales and net win for the period totaled $8.44 billion, producing a profit of nearly $2.9 billion for education. Substantial increases in casino net win (total bets less prizes) and profits were reported at all nine of the Lottery’s Video Gaming casinos, led by the opening of Resorts World Casino New York City at Aqueduct in October 2011. The Traditional Lottery business benefitted greatly from strong growth of the Powerball game, which implemented a strategic redesign that included a price increase (from $1 to $2), larger starting jackpots and faster roll-ups. In addition, a world-record setting jackpot ($656 million) for Mega Millions produced more than $67.4 million in profit in the weeks leading up to the close of the fiscal year. 

All Lottery profits go to funding K-12 education in New York State.  The Lottery’s fiscal year 2011-12 profit of $2.9 billion represents nearly 15 percent of total state aid to local school districts.

Total sales and net win increased $571.3 million or 7.3 percent over the prior year; profits increased $234.1 million or 8.8 percent over the prior year.  The figures exclude extraordinary items last year, which included a $380 million licensing fee from Resorts World New York in September 2010 and a one-time gain from investment bond swaps of $15.3 million in May of 2010.

The Traditional Lottery business includes draw games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, daily Numbers, and scratch-off games such as Win-for-Life and Cashword. Traditional Lottery sales increased 3.8 percent to $7.0 billion, a result of a $221.5 million increase in draw game sales (6.9 percent) and a $32.5 million increase in instant game sales (0.9 percent). Traditional Lottery growth was concentrated in Powerball, Quick Draw, daily Numbers and Win 4, while growth in instant games came primarily from higher priced ($10+) games.

 

The Video Gaming business line generated a record $1.4 billion in net win and $697.1 million in profit, with increases at all nine casinos.  Resorts World alone contributed $253.3 million in net win and $116.8 million in profit with less than five months of full operation in fiscal 2011-12. The year over year increase in net win from all nine casinos totaled $317.2 million or 28.6 percent, producing an increase in profit of $149.7 million or 27.4 percent.

New York Lottery Director Gordon Medenica said of the Lottery’s strong showing in all business segments, “We’re always thrilled to set a new record and continue as the nations largest and most successful Lottery.  But most importantly, we are proud of the significant contribution we make to support New York’s schools.  We look forward to continuing our record of success in the future.” 

Traditional Lottery:

Within the Traditional Lottery business, draw game sales were up 6.9 percent, due mainly to the price increase of Powerball during the fourth quarter and the resulting higher jackpots, which generated $296.6 million in sales and $121.7 million in profit.  As anticipated, sales for Mega Millions were up only slightly in the wake of the Powerball growth, but results for the two games combined still showed an increase of more than $95.5 million or 14.3%. Sales for Mega Millions picked up substantially during a roll up that started in late January and set a new world record of $656 million before being hit on March 30. Sales for Lotto, a game with a statutory low prize payout percentage (40 percent vs. 50 percent for most other draw games) continue to decline, down 7.8 percent from the previous year. Quick Draw sales increased 18.4 percent ($77.8 million) over the previous year due to extended hours of operation and more creative display designs.  New York’s daily Numbers and Win 4 posted gains of 3.1 percent and 4.8 percent ($26.1 million and $37.2 million), respectively. Take 5 sales were essentially flat (up 0.2 percent) due to game maturity and continued cannibalization from a greater number of higher jackpot games. Sales for scratch-off games have begun to rebound, increasing 0.9 percent or $32.5 million, attributable to the increased popularity of higher price point games and a revised strategy for new game launches and advertising support. 

Video Gaming:

Within the Video Gaming business, net win was up substantially at all casinos, led by the opening of Resorts World Casino New York City, the first casino located within the five boroughs, as well as continued strong performance from Empire City Casino at Yonkers. Net win from the now fully operational Resorts World facility totaled $253.3 million. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, our largest contributor, saw its annual net win increase despite the opening of the newer Resorts World Casino, with a $14.7 million year-over-year increase. All other Video Lottery casinos posted excellent gains due to a full year of extended hours, the effective implementation of a new free play program and strong results from new electronic table games. Saratoga Casino and Raceway, the oldest of the state’s casinos, posted an impressive 10.8 percent ($15.1 million) increase in net win. Hamburg Casino at the Fairgrounds saw its net win increase 17.0 percent ($11 million) over last year; Finger Lakes Casino and Racetrack grew by 6.0 percent ($7.1 million); Tioga Downs Casino increased net win 11.0 percent ($5.9 million); Monticello Casino and Raceway grew 7.9 percent ($4.6 million; Batavia Downs Casino saw an 8.9 percent increase ($3.4 million) and Vernon 

Downs Casino and Hotel grew 5.1 percent or $2.1 million. 

Where Lottery Money Goes: 

Overall, 96 percent of the Lottery’s $8.44 billion in combined sales and net win was returned to New Yorkers in the form of prizes, aid to education, and commissions to retailers. 

• Prizes paid totaled more than $4.1 billion in Traditional Lottery games.

• Commissions paid to nearly 17,000 Traditional Lottery retailers and nine Video Gaming facilities totaled more than $1 billion.  The Lottery paid $420 million in commissions to Traditional Lottery retailers and $617 million in commissions to Video Gaming facilities. 

• The entire operation of the Traditional Lottery, including advertising, marketing, printing, systems, telecommunications, finance and administration is funded from just 3.3 percent of sales.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing nearly $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2011-2012 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents nearly 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education.  It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.

INTRALOT Launches the New Racing Game “POLLA & POLLON” In Peru

Lima, 26 April 2012 - INTRALOT’s subsidiary in Peru, INTRALOT de Peru, the leading lottery operator in the country, announces the launch of the pari-mutuel horse betting game “Polla & Pollon” on behalf of Jockey Club of Peru, as per the contract signed between the two parties on September 2011. INTRALOT de Peru has successfully developed the new exciting game within the time frame agreed and will offer it to the players through its extended retail network countrywide.

Mr. Vangelis Apostolakopoulos, Executive President and General Manager of INTRALOT de Peru, stated:  “The successful development and launch of this new horse betting game in Peru confirm the unlimited capabilities of INTRALOT’s state of the art LOTOS™ operating system. We are really pleased to add “Polla & Pollon” to our diversified portfolio of gaming offerings. This also serves as a prime example of how INTRALOT’s “Racing for Lotteries” solutions enables Lotteries and Racing organizations to cooperate and expand their product offerings, combine their sales networks and benefit from unified gaming technology.”

Mr. Fernando Drago, Horse Racing Manager of Jockey Club of Peru, stated: “We are pleased that with INTRALOT’s technological support we have re-launched, as planned, the old and beloved “Polla and Pollon” game. We are confident that, thanks to INTRALOT’s wide network of PoS, the new game will be embraced by even more players and will soon become one of their favorite games.”  

Lima, 26 April 2012 - INTRALOT’s subsidiary in Peru, INTRALOT de Peru, the leading lottery operator in the country, announces the launch of the pari-mutuel horse betting game “Polla & Pollon” on behalf of Jockey Club of Peru, as per the contract signed between the two parties on September 2011. INTRALOT de Peru has successfully developed the new exciting game within the time frame agreed and will offer it to the players through its extended retail network countrywide.
Mr. Vangelis Apostolakopoulos, Executive President and General Manager of INTRALOT de Peru, stated:  “The successful development and launch of this new horse betting game in Peru confirm the unlimited capabilities of INTRALOT’s state of the art LOTOS™ operating system. We are really pleased to add “Polla & Pollon” to our diversified portfolio of gaming offerings. This also serves as a prime example of how INTRALOT’s “Racing for Lotteries” solutions enables Lotteries and Racing organizations to cooperate and expand their product offerings, combine their sales networks and benefit from unified gaming technology.”
Mr. Fernando Drago, Horse Racing Manager of Jockey Club of Peru, stated: “We are pleased that with INTRALOT’s technological support we have re-launched, as planned, the old and beloved “Polla and Pollon” game. We are confident that, thanks to INTRALOT’s wide network of PoS, the new game will be embraced by even more players and will soon become one of their favorite games.”  

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.