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LOTTERY
INSIDER
is brought to you with the compliments
of
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| Vol. 30 No. 13 -- Monday March 28, 2005 |
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GTECH's Third Technology Center Earns Prestigious CMM Level Three Rating WEST GREENWICH, Rhode Island (March 23, 2005) -- GTECH Holdings Corporation (NYSE: GTK - News) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, GTECH Corporation, has earned the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Software Capability Maturity Model (CMM®) Level 3 rating for its Warsaw Technology Center, located in Warsaw, Poland. The Warsaw Technology Center joins GTECH Technology Centers in Austin, Texas, and Chennai, India as CMM Maturity Level 3 certified for the Company's software engineering practices, representing a major technological milestone for the Company. "GTECH has solidified its position as the industry leader with this impressive achievement," said GTECH President and CEO W. Bruce Turner. "GTECH joins a short list of prestigious global corporations who have successfully reached Level 3 certification in three separate facilities in three geographic locations. The amount of dedication required to embrace this type of process change across organizations and continents is significant. "Customer service is GTECH's top priority and the CMM Level 3 certification process has resulted in significant improvements to the Company's business efforts," continued Mr. Turner. "GTECH has realized numerous cost efficiencies, quality improvements, improved employee morale and, most importantly, improved customer satisfaction as a result of our CMM initiative. Without question, these improvements have proven to be a competitive differentiator."
The SEI ratings are comprised of five maturity levels and are an indication of an organization's commitment to providing an organized and managed approach to software development. GTECH's CMM Level 3 maturity was confirmed through an independent assessment led by the Systems and Software Consortium, Inc. (SSCI), a nonprofit organization of industry, government, and academia focused on helping its members advance the business performance of their systems and software engineering practices. CMM Level 3 maturity demonstrates that GTECH has implemented and documented a standard process for creating and maintaining software, and reflects GTECH's ability to consistently apply software engineering and management practices across its IT project portfolio. Although it was not necessary for Austin and Chennai to be reassessed for Level 3 maturity, GTECH requested the reassessment to confirm that the Company sustained its maturity level across all Technology Centers while integrating the Warsaw service team into its processes. Established in 1986 at Carnegie Mellon University, the SEI Capability Maturity Model assists many government agencies and private sector organizations in selecting reliable and high quality suppliers of software products and services. About GTECH GTECH, a leading global information technology company with
over $1 billion in revenues and more than 5,400 people in over 50 countries,
provides software, networks, and professional services that power
high-performance, transaction processing solutions. CONTACT: Robert K. Vincent, Public Affairs, Phone:
401-392-7452 Lottery’s First Year is a "Win" for North Dakota BISMARCK, North Dakota (March 22,2005) -- When the North Dakota Lottery sold its first ticket on March 25,2004, there was excitement and big expectations. Players wanted to win big cash prizes and state officials wanted new income generated for the state coffers – both won.
"This first year is something everyone can be excited about," said Chuck Keller, director of the North Dakota Lottery. "Players took home more than $4 million in prizes and almost $6 million was raised for state programs and projects," he added. Sales projected for the 2005-07 Biennium are estimated at $36 million. "We’ve got a variety of new games, promotions and some new player services planned for the 2005- 07 Biennium. We’re going to be offering even bigger jackpots for players to bring home. We ’re just warming up!" Keller said. SOURCE: Office of Attorney General media release. ATLANTA, and PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (March 18, 2005) -- Ryla Teleservices, a leading provider of outsourced customer contact solutions, is expanding operations to Providence, Rhode Island, by opening a new call center facility to handle inbound support phone calls for new client GTECH Corporation. Initially, the center will handle incoming calls from GTECH lottery customers in Rhode Island, Michigan, and Kentucky. Once the call center is operating at full capacity, Ryla’s employees will handle approximately 20 percent of GTECH’s retailer help desk calls.
"The opening of this call center is important to GTECH as it demonstrates our long-term commitment to our new corporate hometown, Providence," said GTECH President and CEO W. Bruce Turner. "We are pleased to contribute to the ongoing revitalization of the city by creating jobs and furthering the city’s economic development goals. We look forward to working with Ryla and welcome them to the GTECH family." The new building will be located in the Providence "historical district" (also known as South Providence) and will be Ryla’s second contact center in the U.S. GTECH awarded a three-year contract to Ryla based on the company’s ability to fulfill project requirements and its status as a U.S.-based minority-owned firm. "GTECH’s new call center represents another success in my efforts to create 20,000 new jobs," said Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri. "GTECH is one of our state’s most important employers, and their relocation to Providence is a key in the continued redevelopment of Rhode Island’s Capital City. I want to thank GTECH and Ryla for making this important investment in Rhode Island’s economy and in its people." Ryla is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, where the company employs more than 200 business associates and performs customer contact services including customer care, lead generation, surveys and data collection for such customers as D&B, LexisNexis, and BellSouth. "We are honored to have been selected as the contact center provider for GTECH and are equally excited about moving into and doing business in the wonderful city of Providence," said Mark Wilson, President and CEO of Ryla Teleservices, Inc. "I am very proud of this unique business partnership and we expect our vision will make a positive impact on the city." According to Richard Larson, Managing Director of SJF Ventures, a community development venture capital fund, and Ryla Teleservices Board member, "The members of Ryla’s Board of Directors wholeheartedly support our expansion into Rhode Island, and see this expansion as an integral part of the Company’s overall goals related to future growth. GTECH along with government and community leaders have been extremely supportive of this new partnership, and we view Rhode Island as a place where our businesses will be able to prosper." "We are extremely pleased by this new development," said Michael McMahon, executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC). "GTECH is bucking a trend of taking these kinds of jobs overseas. Anyone who has researched Ryla knows that they are the premier player in their respective space. Together, they will help to strengthen each other’s business operations. Our desire is to help them grow and expand their services here just as they have done in Georgia (where their headquarters is based)." About Ryla Teleservices Ryla Teleservices, Inc. is a leader in outsourced customer contact solutions. Ryla’s solutions allow its customers to focus on their core business while the company provides value-added customer contact services in support of client growth initiatives. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with more than 200 employees and performs a variety of customer contact services for such customers as D&B, LexisNexis, and BellSouth. For additional information or a sample copy, contact Robb Duke at 1-888-YES-RYLA (e-mail: pr@rylateleservices.com) or visit Ryla Teleservices online at: http://www.rylateleservices.com . About GTECH Corporation GTECH, a leading global information technology company with over $1 billion in revenues and more than 5,400 people in over 50 countries, provides software, networks, and professional services that power high-performance, transaction processing solutions. The Company’s core market is the lottery industry, with a growing presence in commercial gaming technology and financial services transaction processing. For more information about the Company, please visit GTECH’s website at: http://www.gtech.com . SOURCE Ryla Teleservices media release. ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA (March 22, 2005) -- In the first month since its mid-February launch, the South Carolina Education Lottery’s (SCEL’s) Palmetto Cash 5 game featuring Scientific Games’ patented Group Participation™ multiplier game has increased average weekly five-digit game sales by a staggering 139 percent, Scientific Games announced today. Average sales for the new five-digit game with the multiplier option are more than $860,000 per week, compared to the per-week average of $360,000 for Carolina 5, the SCEL’s original five-digit game, which did not offer this feature.
"The cooperative effort between the South Carolina Education Lottery and Scientific Games is a great example of how a true partnership can advance each entity’s respective business interests and simultaneously produce incremental revenue for a lottery’s beneficiary programs," said Amy Hill, Scientific Games’ Vice President of Online Sales & Marketing. For an extra $1, Palmetto Cash 5 players can purchase Power Up™, the SCEL’s brand name for the multiplier. Winners who choose this option can multiply their prizes from two to five times the base amount. Unique to the Palmetto Cash 5 game, the multiplier applies to all four of the game’s set prize levels, including the $100,000 top prize. Typically, multipliers used in other online games – for example, the Multi-State Lottery Association’s Powerball® Power Play® – apply to all winning tickets, except the rolling jackpot. Since the launch of Palmetto Cash 5, 65 percent of players are paying the extra dollar for the Power Up multiplier. This percentage is significantly higher than the calendar 2005 (year-to-date) playership level of the Colorado Lottery which, at about 40 percent, has the highest level of Power Play® participation among the Powerball jurisdictions. "We are definitely seeing that a multiplier incorporated into a game at launch generates a higher percentage level of multiplier participation compared to games that add this feature at a later date," said Hill. Scientific Games’ patented multiplier feature leverages an industry best practice that has propelled instant game growth for years. "When players see a greater frequency of meaningful prizes being won, they become more interested in the game which helps build credibility with retailers. The resultant sales increase, despite the higher game payouts, produces higher net revenue for a lottery’s beneficiary programs. We have seen this phenomenon on the instant side for years and it’s what we’re now seeing with the new Palmetto Cash 5 game," Hill said. About Scientific Games Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries, and the leading supplier of wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel operators. It is also a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut and the Netherlands and is a leading supplier of prepaid phone cards to telephone companies. Scientific Games’ customers are in the United States and more than 60 other countries. For more information about Scientific Games, please visit our web site at www.scientificgames.com. SOURCE: Scientific Games media release. 
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, USA (March 21, 2005) -- Oberthur Gaming Technologies ("OGT") is proud to announce the Oregon State Lottery will launch their UNO® instant ticket in March 2005. OGT acquired licensing rights from Mattel in 2004, and UNO® is quickly gaining popularity as a licensed property in the industry with Oregon being the second Lottery to introduce an UNO® instant ticket this year. UNO® has been the leading card game in America since 1983, with one in seven households owning at least one UNO® game. 
The US $1 UNO® scratch ticket promises to give players their money’s worth with eye-catching graphics and impressive multiple-colored inkjet imaged symbols, a process unique to OGT. To play the game, the player reveals the "card needed" and his/her five UNO® cards. If one of the UNO® cards matches the color or number of the "card needed", the player wins the prize indicated for that card with prizes ranging from $1 to $5,000. "Players, especially those who already love the original UNO® game, will enjoy playing the instant game as the play action closely resembles the actual game," said Art Kiuttu, Account Executive at OGT-USA. "When designing the Oregon UNO® game, we tried to emulate the way the popular card game play," stated Carole Bono, Oregon Lottery Assistant Director for Marketing. "Based on our research, we believe this game will have strong appeal to both our regular playing audience and a younger audience (21 – 34)."
About Oberthur Gaming Technologies (www.oberthurgt.com) About Mattel NOTE: UNO is a trademark owned by Mattel, Inc., used under license. ©2005 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SOURCE: Lyse Trudel, Communications Officer, Oberthur Gaming
Technologies, (+1-514) 254-3600, ext. 101, Email:
lyse.trudel@mtl.oberthurgt.com. NEW YORK, USA (March 21, 2005) -- Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ:SGMS) today announced that its subsidiary, Scientific Games International GmbH in Vienna, Austria, has signed a contract with SWISSLOS, to deliver a new online gaming system that will operate all of SWISSLOS’ games. The contract is valued at €6 million and is scheduled to commence operation in November 2005.
The contract encompasses the delivery of the system and all project services including ongoing maintenance and support services for a projected period of ten years. The software for the existing terminals will be provided by the incumbent terminal vendor Wincor Nixdorf, which will provide its products as a subcontractor to Scientific Games Austria. The agreement also includes an option for SWISSLOS to purchase instant tickets over the next three years valued at additional €1.5 million. Lorne Weil, Chairman and CEO of Scientific Games Corporation said, "This agreement significantly expands our business with SWISSLOS and we are looking forward to working with them to further increase the market for online and instant ticket games throughout Switzerland." SWISSLOS currently has online retail sales of approximately $800 million. About Scientific Games Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated
supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries, and the leading
supplier of wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel operators. It is also
a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut and the Netherlands and
is a leading supplier of prepaid phone cards to telephone
companies. SOURCE: Scientific Games Corporation media
release. GLI Europe Launches New Website; Tri-lingual Website Designed Specifically for Europe HILLEGOM, The Netherlands (March 22, 2005) – Regulators, manufacturers and operators across Europe now have one easily accessible source for information on gaming regulations and requirements across the continent. GLI Europe BV, a subsidiary of Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has launched a website specifically designed for jurisdictions across Europe.
The site is accessed through www.gaminglabs.com. From that page, users simply click either the Hillegom, Netherlands, or Bologna, Italy, buttons to jump to the European site. The new European site is completely translated in English, Dutch and Italian, and provides a wealth of information, including detailed submission guidelines and links to 26 ministries and regulatory bodies. The website also carries the latest news regarding regulatory changes and updates in European jurisdictions. GLI Europe Director of Operations and Engineering Roger Farrell said, "Customer service is extremely important to everyone at GLI, and we designed the website to be the access point to all European manufacturers, operators and regulators in the gaming industry." Site users can download forms and documentation, including regulatory documentation. Additionally, the site offers current GLI Europe customers restricted access to an FTP area, where they can quickly upload and download data. The site also features a list of GLI Europe’s extensive services, news, profiles and contact information.
The entire site is translated into English, Dutch and Italian and allows users to seamlessly jump from one language to another with one mouse click. "We serve the entire continent, and we wanted to provide as many language options as was reasonably possible, to serve our customers as best as possible," Farrell said. GLI has either consulted and/or tested machines for more than 400 jurisdictions worldwide including Aland, Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and The United Kingdom. Gaming Laboratories International, Inc. is the world’s most technologically advanced gaming device ands systems testing company. GLI currently operates wholly owned and fully staffed gaming test laboratories in Lakewood, N.J.; Golden, Colo.; Las Vegas, Nev.; GLI Europe, B.V. in Hillegom, The Netherlands; GLI Africa in Midrand, South Africa; and GLI Italia, in Bologna, Italy. Gaming Laboratories Australia operates fully accredited test laboratories in Sydney and Adelaide under license to Gaming Laboratories International, Inc. GLI employees number approximately 300 worldwide, providing more than 100,000 certifications annually to over 400 gaming regulatory bodies worldwide. GLI was founded in 1989 by James R. Maida and Paul J. Magno and was the first independent laboratory of its kind. Contact: Christie Eickelman, Director of Worldwide Marketing, +1 (702) 914-2220 or c.eickelman@gaminglabs.com. Gaming Laboratories International, GLI Europe B.V., GLI Africa, GLI, and Gaming Laboratories Australia and associated globe logos are trademarks of Gaming Laboratories International, Inc. Press release distributed by Steinbeck Communications.
Oberthur Gaming Technologies and Boss Media to Announce North American Long Term Strategic Alliance MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada (March 23, 2005) -- Oberthur Gaming Technologies ("OGT") and Boss Media AB ("Boss Media") have agreed to formalize terms for a North American, long-term strategic alliance to jointly provide solutions for the converging gaming market. This alliance will combine Boss Media world-leading innovative e-gaming software and solutions (payment and accounting system; player behavior tracking and performance evaluation; strategic marketing; prize structures and wagering limits to prevent addictive play) with OGT’s Cyber Games™ portal. Lottery clients will get access to state-of-the art technologies that will lead them in the digital world to extend their player-base with a new generation of consumers. About Boss Media AB The Group Boss Media AB (publ) is one of the world's leading suppliers of systems for digitally distributed gaming entertainment. Boss Media develops gaming solutions for such distribution channels as personal computers, interactive video terminals, mobile phones and digital TV. Licensees are offered a customized gaming system, an integrated payment system as well as related services. The Boss Media-share is listed on the O-list (Attract 40) of Stockholmsbörsen (Stockholm Stock Exchange). More information about Boss Media is available at www.bossmedia.se.
About Oberthur Gaming Technologies (www.oberthurgt.com) With more than 35 years of lottery-specific expertise and over a century's experience in the security printing industry, Oberthur Gaming Technologies is the world’s leader in the printing of innovative instant lottery tickets. Comprehensive services include strategic game planning and innovative conceptual design with OGT’s Dream Team™, mobile gaming, Cyber Games™ as well as state-of-the-art Global Operations and Lottery Distribution System (GOLDS). OGT currently supplies a full range of high quality and innovative products and services to 100 clients in some 50 countries. The company has production units and offices in Montreal, Canada; San Antonio, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the U.S.; Paris, France; Vienna, Austria; and Sydney, Australia. SOURCE: Lyse Trudel, Communications Officer, Oberthur Gaming
Technologies, (+1-514) 254-3600, ext. 101, Email:
lyse.trudel@mtl.oberthurgt.com.
ITALY (March 21, 2005) -- As provided for by Community requirements, during 2004 Lottomatica started the project for transition to IAS/IFRS for consolidated accounts drafting. A first project phase concerned the analysis of the main differences between the Italian national accounting standards and the abovementioned IAS/IFRS, as well as the assessment of alternative accounting treatments. The most significant innovations will regard:
A second project phase is ongoing in which it is previewed that, for each consolidated company, new financial statements structures are defined, the amendments to corporate procedures are evaluated and the IT systems are adapted. This project will be completed upon half-year Report as of June 30, 2005 approval. The results will be properly shared with the independent auditors. SOURCE: Lottomatica media release. Loteria Electronica and Scientific Games Launch Successful Conversion NEW YORK, USA (March 18, 2005) -- Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq: SGMS) announced today that the largest system conversion in Puerto Rico’s history was launched for Loteria Electronica. In less than six months Scientific Games designed and implemented a new modern and technologically advanced online gaming system that will save the government of Puerto Rico approximately $77 million over the seven-year life of the contract. Scientific Games won the contract through a competitive request for proposal process. "We are extremely pleased to provide a state-of-the-art online lottery system in record time that meets the needs of the Loteria as it seeks to expand and modernize for the benefit of the Puerto Rican people," said Scientific Games chairman and CEO, Lorne Weil. "Scientific Games appreciates the Loteria’s selection and support of our company to operate and manage their new lottery system, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with a dedicated and highly regarded partner." The system in Puerto Rico comprises nearly 1,900 new EXTREMA® terminals, an integrated central system with advanced software, and an innovative hybrid communications network designed specifically for Puerto Rico. The contract, signed on September 22, 2004, is for a period of seven years. "Scientific Games is a proven partner in the lottery industry, and has delivered a modern gaming system that provides new, cutting-edge touch screen terminals, enhanced ease of use and speed, along with the capacity to play new and exciting games," stated Teresita Carrion, the director of Loteria Electronica. "In addition, we are especially happy that Scientific Games was responsive to our particular needs including completing the conversion in a compressed period of time."
About Scientific Games Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated
supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries, and the leading
supplier of wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel operators. It is also
a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut and the Netherlands and
is a leading supplier of prepaid phone cards to telephone companies.
SOURCE: Scientific Games Corporation media
release. Issuers of news releases and not Interplay Multimedia Pty Ltd. are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
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Interplay Multimedia Pty. Ltd. disclaims all liability for information provided within Lottery Insider -- Data supplied by named sources. |