Positive development for Svenska Spel

The Svenska Spel group returned a profit after financial items and tax for 2012 of SEK 5,138 million, which is an increase of SEK 132 million (2.6%) compared with 2011.

“We have achieved our best-ever operating profit with a profit margin that is in line with the owner’s target. This increase is primarily the result of strong sales of lottery tickets, number games and sports bets, both through our agents and online. In contrast, Vegas and Casino Cosmopol have lost ground slightly, as a result of the extensive marketing of similar game formats online by unlicensed gambling operators,” says Svenska Spel’s CEO, Lennart Käll.

 The Swedish Gaming Board imposed new restrictions on Vegas, which apply from 1 January 2013. The new rules change the conditions for becoming a business partner of Svenska Spel.

 In December, Svenska Spel achieved European Lotteries Responsible Gaming Standards certification for the second time.

 Svenska Spel’s market share for the fourth quarter is estimated at just over 49%, which is slightly lower than for the whole of 2011. Svenska Spel is increasing its market share in shops, while its market share online continues to fall as a result of rapid growth at unlicensed gambling operators.  We are beginning to see the effects of the cost streamlining programme launched in 2012, especially during the fourth quarter.

 Responsible gambling work during 2012 included over 6,300 test purchases from agents and business partners, responsible gambling training for around 4,000 employees at agents and business partners, the launch of mobile phone self-tests and responsible gambling measures targeted at the risk groups of young men and middle-aged women.

 The Svea sponsorship initiative was launched during the autumn, with SEK 50 million distributed annually by customers to participation sports. The aim is to achieve a strong link to sport and more responsible gambling as more people register their gambling.

January–December in brief

- The Group’s net gaming revenue increased to SEK 9,815 million (9,687), a rise of 1.3%.
- The Group’s operating profit was SEK 5,083 million (4,940), an increase of 2.9%.
- The Group’s profit was SEK 5,138 million (5,007), an increase of 2.6%.
- The operating margin was 22.0% (21.9%).

Fourth quarter October–December in brief

- The Group’s net gaming revenue increased to SEK 2,707 million (2,689), a rise of 0.6%.
- The Group’s operating profit was SEK 1,439 million (1,356), an increase of 6.1%.
- The Group’s profit was SEK 1,459 million (1,378), an increase of 5.9%.
- The operating margin was 23.0% (21.9%).

Florida Lottery Shatters All Time Scratch-Off Sales Record

TALLAHASSEE – For the first time in the twenty-five year history of the Florida Lottery, weekly sales of Scratch-Off tickets exceeded $74 million. This is the fifth straight week the Florida Lottery has broken its all time sales record. The newest record breaks the previous sales mark by $5.7 million.

The Florida Lottery is believed to be only the third lottery-selling state to have weekly Scratch-Off sales top the $70 million mark. The other two are New York and Massachusetts.

“Breaking this weekly Scratch-Off sales record shows our players are responding to our excellent product mix, especially considering that 22 different games had sales of more than $1 million last week,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell. “What makes us most proud is these record sales are leading to record transfers to education.”

Last week’s sales were led by the Lottery’s newest $20 Scratch-Off game, $3,000,000 FLAMINGO FORTUNE, which launched on Tuesday, March 5. The $25 MILLIONAIRE Scratch-Off game followed closely behind with more than $8.5 million in sales.

Also contributing to this week’s record was “Florida Lottery Day at The Villages” held this past Saturday, showcasing the new $3,000,000 FLAMINGO FORTUNE. More than $70,000 was generated in ticket sales due to the thousands of players who participated in this event.

The Florida Lottery offers approximately 60 Scratch-Off games at any given time through vending machines or counter displays at more than 13,000 retailers statewide. Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, making up approximately 58 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $495 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2011-12.

Eurofootball Earns a Special Award for Corporate Social Responsibility

Eurofootball received a special award for its “Overall CSR policy” in the SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) award category on the 10th Responsible Business Awards 2012 of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF).

The leading sports betting operator in Bulgaria earned this award for its “Win and Help” project, a series of sixteen social responsibility initiatives in the area of sports, health, cultural and social engagement implemented by Eurofootball over the course of seven years. By the end of 2012 the project matured into two new corporate responsibility programs, under the brand names "Sports Talent" and "Ready for Success.”

“We are very pleased to receive this award. Together with our partners – the Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation, the Workshops for Civic Initiatives Foundation and Sirak Foundation – we developed the “Win and Help” project in 2007. For the past seven years we have been steadily supporting the development of local communities and contributing to their needs”, said Nikos Arsenopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of Eurofootball. “We hold this award close at heart”, added Elitza Ivanova, Head of Public Relations at Eurofootball.

The award received by Eurofootball was one of the most prestigious in the competition, where a record number of eighty-five corporate social responsibility projects of forty-nine companies in Bulgaria competed. The winners were selected by an independent twelve-member jury of distinguished professionals from the business, media, academic, government and NGO sectors, chaired for the fourth consecutive year by the Mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova.

The award was handed by Doncho Barbalov, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality. He congratulated the Forum for organizing the Awards for responsible business and recognized the event as an excellent tool for encouraging more companies to implement socially responsible projects.

BBLF’s Responsible Business Awards were launched in 2003. The aim of the awards is to promote the activities of the companies with the most important contribution to CSR in Bulgaria and encourage other companies to develop active social responsibility policies and programs. In 2009 Eurofootball had received the third prize in the category "Investor in Knowledge," for its "Ready for Success" campaign. The year 2012 was celebrated with a second place in the category "Small and medium enterprise" for overall CSR policy.

MDI to Provide Properties Plus® Program for Maryland Lottery

Alpharetta, GA – March 11, 2013 – MDI Entertainment, LLC, a subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq: SGMS), today announced that it will be providing its Properties Plus Loyalty Rewards Program to the Maryland Lottery. The program was included as an option in the Online Gaming Systems agreement between the Maryland Lottery and Scientific Games, and the Lottery has decided to exercise that option.

Integral components of Properties Plus that MDI will be providing the Lottery include both a Maryland Lottery Players Club and the Points for Prizes® player loyalty rewards program. Included in the Players Club functionality are “just for fun” FunPlay™ interactive games from MDI’s extensive portfolio of games. The Lottery also will receive Scientific Games’ patented Easy Entry™ system, which allows players to enter non-winning instant tickets for 2nd Chance and Play It Again™ entries, while accumulating points that can be redeemed for rewards in the Points for Prizes store.

The Maryland Lottery’s Properties Plus program is anticipated to launch in late spring of 2013. Initially the program will be offered with the Lottery’s instant tickets. Draw games may be added at a later date.

“We are gratified that the Maryland Lottery, after carefully reviewing the results of our Properties Plus program offering in other jurisdictions, will offer a rewards program to its players through Properties Plus,” said Steve Saferin, President, Properties Group and Chief Creative Officer for Scientific Games. “Since Properties Plus was introduced in 2009, it has successfully helped lotteries increase sales, attract new players and further engage current players. MDI continues to add functionality to Properties Plus and Points for Prizes, making it one of the most impactful rewards programs in the lottery industry and beyond.”

Maryland is the eighth U.S. lottery to commit to or launch a version of Properties Plus. Other lotteries participating in the program are Arkansas, Iowa, North Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Minnesota and Kentucky.

“The Maryland Lottery continues to look for innovative ways to engage current players while reaching out to a new player base,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency Director Stephen Martino. “The Properties Plus Program will offer our players the excitement and added value of 2nd Chance opportunities and prize rewards.”

The Points for Prizes store features a large and diverse assortment of merchandise, digital downloads and magazine subscriptions. It also includes MDI’s Lottery Music Store, which offers millions of music downloads to program members. The store will soon expand its digital offerings to include e-books, apps and movies.

Pollard Banknote Adds Upscale Las Vegas Hotels, the Venetian® and the Palazzo®, to its License Portfolio

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, March 11, 2013 /CNW/ – Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) (Pollard Banknote), a global leader in the production and merchandising of instant lottery games, is pleased to announce the addition of The Venetian® Las Vegas and The Palazzo® Las Vegas to its licensed products portfolio in the United States.

As two of Las Vegas’ most luxurious resorts, The Venetian® and The Palazzo® hotels are the world’s largest AAA Five Diamond hotels and are a playground to the rich and the wealthy – two words closely associated with the lottery category. Receiving top ratings in the November 2012 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, The Venetian® and The Palazzo® form the largest and most popular resort complex in the world, and offer patrons a world‐class experience, with an award‐winning spa, best‐inclass restaurants, four Broadway‐style theatres, romantic Venice‐inspired gondoliers, gorgeous architecture, and even a signature scent.

“We’re very pleased to bring The Venetian® and The Palazzo® – well‐established, premium Las Vegas brands – to our lottery clients,” remarked Pollard Banknote’s Vice President, Marketing, Sina Aiello. “Research has demonstrated that instant ticket players are motivated by the chance to win an aspirational prize, something out of reach in their day‐to‐day lives. The exclusivity of The Venetian® and The Palazzo® makes these brands a natural fit for the lottery category.”

In addition to designing, programming, and printing the themed tickets through its Licensed Products team, Pollard Banknote’s turnkey licensing program includes trip fulfillment services. Players can win an all‐inclusive getaway package that provides the winner with a taste of the best that Las Vegas has to offer. These exclusive packages include return airfare, three nights’ accommodation, transportation to and from the airport, private check‐in services, tickets to a popular Vegas show, and various other complementary services and upgrades.

As part of the license program, Pollard Banknote will offer various options including second chance draws, an interactive virtual casino game, a custom POS program, and broadcast and digital marketing. The Venetian® and The Palazzo® add to Pollard Banknote’s sales‐driving portfolio of high profile brands that are selected to appeal to the existing lottery player while attracting new players that are brand loyal. Current licenses include Cadillac®, Star Trek™, Tetris®, and Guinness World Records®.

Scientific Games And WMS Announce Early Termination Of Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Waiting Period

NEW YORK and WAUKEGAN, Ill., March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq: SGMS) and WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE: WMS) today announced that the companies received notice from the Federal Trade Commission of early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") in connection with Scientific Games' proposed acquisition of WMS.

Termination of the HSR Act waiting period satisfies one of the conditions required for completion of the merger. The transaction remains subject to additional conditions, including the approval of the merger agreement by WMS stockholders and receipt of required gaming approvals, as described in the amended preliminary proxy statement filed by WMS on March 8, 2013.

As previously announced on January 31, 2013, Scientific Games has agreed to acquire WMS for $26.00 in cash per common share, or approximately $1.5 billion in the aggregate.

Illinois Lottery Rolls Out Integrated Campaign for Four New ‘The Good Life’ Instant Games

Chicago, IL – March 12, 2013 – To debut its newest family of instant games, The Good Life, the Illinois Lottery launched an integrated advertising campaign in March that highlights simple-pleasure references associated with living a happy life.

A television spot developed by the Lottery’s lead advertising agency, Downtown Partners Chicago, anchors the campaign. In it The Good Life commercial showcases a fictional factory, The Good Life Inc, where various elements of “the good life” are assembled in packages for people to enjoy. Featured on the assembly line are white picket fences, sunflowers and beach chairs, along with the family of The Good Life instant tickets. The spot was filmed at ABT Electronics & Appliances in Glenview, Illinois.

Along with the television spot, the campaign also includes radio, out-of-home advertising, online digital banners, retail support, and various promotional executions. Complementing efforts to reach the general market audience, The Good Life campaign also features two multicultural television commercials, in English and Spanish. These spots were created by the Lottery’s multicultural agency partner, commonground, Advertising Age’s small advertising agency of the year.

“The new campaign features a whimsical factory we all wish we could visit,” said Illinois Lottery Superintendent, Michael Jones. “A place where the simple things we all associate with the good life exist. A place where the grass is always green, it’s alright to have your head in the clouds, and there are never clouds at the beach.”

Launched in February, The Good Life is a family of four new instant games offered by the Illinois Lottery that offers players a chance at receiving a set amount of money each week for the next 20 years. The tickets are available at various price points, including $1, $2, $5 and $10, and prizes from $1,000 a week up to $10,000 a week for 20 years. The Good Life games use a traditional match-number game play that allows consumers to easily determine if they have a winning ticket. If not, the money generated by The Good Life games helps the Common School Fund and builds roads and bridges throughout Illinois. The Good Life family of instant games is available at more than 8,100 Lottery retailers statewide.

Intralot Presents Innovative VLT & AWP Solutions in Enada Spring

INTRALOT Gaming Machines SpA (IGM), member of INTRALOT Group in Italy, will participate in the 25th ENADA Spring, Southern Europe's most important gaming exhibition, to be held in Rimini from March 12th to 15th.

Ηaving been awarded an AWP/VLT concession in Italy that will run until 2022, INTRALOT Gaming Machines will welcome the participants at booth no.072, where its pioneer technologies and business offers will be presented. Visitors will enjoy a live demonstration of IGM's most innovative AWP connectivity services and will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the latest, most advanced VLT platforms and terminals, to be used in IGM's new, state-of-the-art gaming machines network.

With the opportunity of the ENADA exhibition, Mr. Costantinos Georgoulas, CEO of INTRALOT Gaming Machines Spa, stated: "We have entered the Italian gaming machines market back in 2009, operating VLTs in more than 100 Italian gaming halls. Today, as a new VLT/AWP concessionaire, we are launching our own services. An experienced team, making use of INTRALOT's advanced technological solutions, is proposing what the Italian market is missing today: advantageous offer, flexibility, but on the most, client oriented attitude. Having already managed, in just a few months, to sign contracts for more than 10.000 AWPs, our next goal is to become, within the next 2 years, one of the Italian gaming market leaders operating more than 20.000 terminals."

In 2012, Italian public revenues from the gaming sector amounted up to €84 billion. ENADA Spring is the most important event of the gaming market in Italy, where VLTs and AWPs are representing more than 55% of the total. Last edition has attracted more than 27,000 visitors and 400 exhibitors, showcasing technologies, products and services, tailored to the specific needs of the gaming industry.

Intralot Presents Innovative VLT & AWP Solutions in Enada Spring

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Tracy Laverty - Donation Opportunities

For those wishing to support the family, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tracy Laverty Innovation Fund.  Tracy’s family has arranged for this fund to be created in her memory at Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute to provide funding for students involved in innovation and entrepreneurship to assist them in starting and developing new businesses.  

 

For donation via check, please mail to:  The Tracy Laverty Innovation Fund, c/o Nicole Durrick, Lally School of Management and Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180-3590.   

Online donations may be made at:  

https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1225/index.aspx?sid=1225&gid=1&pgid=1947&cid=4524

  

- Under Designations, select “Other designation not listed (specify below)” and type Tracy Laverty Innovation Fund in the space provided.

- On the following page, please also complete the “Make My Gift in Honor/Memory of Someone Special” section by adding Tracy’s Name and “Donation to Tracy Laverty Innovation Fund” as the Occasion 

 

Personal notes of condolence can be sent to Connie at GTECH headquarters, and we will ensure that they are forwarded to the appropriate location.

Delaware State Lottery Formally Adopts GLI-19 v2.0 “Interactive Gaming Systems” Technical Standard

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (March 7, 2013) – Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), the world’s leading gaming testing laboratory and technical consultancy, announced today the Delaware State Lottery has formally adopted the recently released GLI-19 v2.0 “Interactive Gaming Systems” Technical Standard.

On January 31, 2013, the Delaware State Lottery issued a comprehensive request for proposal (RFP) to the gaming industry regarding an Internet Gaming System and Services Solution with a view to becoming the first full-scale interactive gaming installation in the United States. During the RFP process the Delaware State Lottery immediately recognized the importance of employing technical standards covering the various systems and technologies envisioned for their market.

“GLI is pleased to assist the Delaware State Lottery in meeting their requests for a comprehensive technical standard for interactive gaming systems. We pride ourselves on having the resources to quickly identify and act upon our client’s needs,” said GLI President and CEO James Maida. “GLI continues to be a proponent of industry standardization and recognizes that homogeny of standards in the interactive gaming space is paramount, particularly when jurisdictions work towards the goal of establishing effective player liquidity required to maximize return on investments.” GLI-19 v2.0, the first set of common standards for technical regulation of iGaming markets, is a technical standard based on an extensive review of several key interactive gaming jurisdictions that have experienced great success in regulating the inherently complex systems associated with iGaming. GLI-19 v2.0 encompasses best practices employed in established regulated jurisdictions from the U.S., Canada and countries throughout Europe. GLI-19 v2.0 is available for free, immediate download on GLI’s website, www.gaminglabs.com.

GLI leads the world in all types of gaming testing. Specific to iGaming, GLI was the first to conduct successful certifications of interactive gaming systems in the regulated iGaming jurisdictions of Alderney, the Isle of Man, First Cagayan in the Philippines and in the UK. GLI also was first to certify iGaming conducted and managed by the Canadian provinces British Columbia and Québec.

Intralot Italia Adds Virtual Games to Its Retail Portfolio

INTRALOT Italia is pleased to announce its entrance into the Virtual Gaming market, with the introduction of its Virtual Games service, powered by two leading virtual games providers, Kiron Interactive and Inspired Gaming Group.

INTRALOT Italia has assigned to Vermantia Media Group the management, operation and delivery of the service throughout the retail network of INTRALOT Italia and its website intralot.it. With this new addition to INTRALOT Italia’s product portfolio, players will be able to experience exciting, new games. INTRALOT Italia retail shops are progressing even further to become entertainment centers that offer players a complete gaming portfolio ranging from sports betting, AWP, VLT and Virtual Games.

Vermantia, as a leading service provider to the Gaming and Sports Betting Industry, with a global portfolio of services currently being delivered in Greece, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Poland, Russia, Peru, and Brazil, will undertake the human voice over in the local language, the localization, creation, and design of the service. Vermantia’ s experience in the delivery of services worldwide will allow INTRALOT Italia to provide a fully customized service that is tailored to the specific retail needs of the company’s network and the local market.

WMS Announces Multi-Year B2B Online Gaming Agreement with the Rank Group PLC

Waukegan, Illinois, March 7, 2013 – Williams Interactive LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE:WMS), announced today that the Company has entered into a multi-year online content licensing agreement with The Rank Group Plc., a leading European gaming-based entertainment company. The group’s online brands, Meccabingo.com and Grosvenorcasinos.com, will have access to WMS’ online library of authentic slot games including THE WIZARD OF OZ™, Zeus™, Reel 'Em In® and Jackpot Party® games.

The WMS video slot content is expected to be available on Meccabingo.com and Grosvenorcasinos.com before the second half of the year; and is made possible by the seamless integration with OpenBet’s Remote Gaming Interface, an integral part of the platform used by Rank’s online casino websites.

Orrin J. Edidin, President of WMS Industries Inc. and CEO and President of Williams Interactive LLC, said, "Over the course of the last 75 years, The Rank Group Plc has thrilled millions of people the world over, building iconic and much-loved entertainment brands in the process. WMS slot games will further support the continued growth of Rank and expand its entertainment offering with the launch of our classic WMS slot games.

“The alliance with The Rank Group Plc is another premier endorsement of WMS’ online gaming capabilities and demonstrates our growing momentum in expanding the worldwide audience for our gaming content. I’m confident that as we bring new levels of excitement and entertainment to its online communities we will achieve great success together in the years to come.” Joe Hine, Head of Commercial at Rank Interactive comments, “We’re pleased to be able to bring such new and exciting video slots content to our online players. We continuously strive to keep our product offering fresh and as a result the user experience both thrilling and entertaining and we believe that WMS games will do just that.”

JCM Global’s New DNA (Dynamic Network Applications) Named to Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products Awards List

LAS VEGAS (March 5, 2013) – Coming off its most successful ICE show to date, JCM Global, the proven leader in currency validation solutions, is celebrating because its new DNA (Dynamic Network Applications) has been named to the Casino Journal magazine’s 16th annual Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products Awards.

“We are thrilled to have been named to the Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products Awards. JCM was founded more than 50 years ago with a spirit of innovation that drives us to create new solutions that make our customers better, smarter and faster. That spirit fuels our efforts still today, and we are honored to be acknowledged for our newest game-changing creation, DNA,” said JCM Global Vice President of Global Marketing Tom Nieman.

Built on the award-winning iVIZION® bill validator’s foundation of intelligent validation, DNA is an incredible set of bundled enhancement tools that empower casino operators to do much more than ever thought possible, and in real time.

Operating wirelessly or hard-wired, DNA passively monitors the EGM “SAS” line for critical housekeeping data, while securing two-way communication with all critical peripheral components. With JCM’s DNA, operators can get extensive reports and alerts in real time and deliver firmware updates instantly, with no downtime, across the entire operation. DNA also enables regulators to instantly verify peripheral devices, software versions, view reports and more. In other words, this original technology is even further enhancing profitability, productivity and efficiency.

MDI Extends Agreement with Hasbro, Inc. for MONOPOLY and 14 Other Hasbro Brands

ALPHARETTA, GA – February 26, 2013 – MDI Entertainment, LLC, a subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq: SGMS), announced today that it has signed a multi-year extension to its agreement with Hasbro, Inc. (Nasdaq: HAS). The new agreement extends MDI’s exclusive global rights to offer lotteries instant, terminal-generated and digital games featuring Hasbro brands. This includes the MONOPOLY brand, one of the most popular brands for licensed games in the lottery industry, as well as SCRABBLE, BATTLESHIP, CONNECT 4, TWISTER, YAHTZEE, CLUE, BOGGLE, THE GAME OF LIFE, OPERATION, BARREL OF MONKEYS, TRIVIAL PURSUIT, MOUSE TRAP, RISK and CRANIUM.

“Hasbro is pleased to continue our relationship with MDI in delivering our brands to the lottery industry,” said Mark Blecher, SVP of Digital Media & Marketing at Hasbro. “MDI has been a valued and trusted licensee, and has consistently presented our properties in ways that maintain the integrity of our brands, perform well for the lotteries and provide enjoyable experiences for players.”

“The Hasbro brands are undoubtedly some of the greatest among licensed games in the lottery space,” commented Steve Saferin, President, Properties Group and Chief Creative Officer for Scientific Games. “As lotteries become more immersed in the digital age and search for quality web-based content to engage players online, having the familiarity and popularity of the Hasbro brands at their disposal for online executions should prove vitally important. Our relationship with Hasbro is significant not only to us but to the industry as a whole, and we’re tremendously gratified to continue it.”