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LOTTERY
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| Vol. 32 No. 9-- Monday August 29, 2005 |
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Lottery Contributes Record Dividend to State’s General Fund RHODE ISLAND, USA (August 19, 2005) -- Despite some challenges that kept sales of several Rhode Island Lottery games in check, the Lottery was able to increase its overall revenue, adding a record $308 million into the state’s General Fund.
Video Lottery revenue from Rhode Island’s two VLT facilities increased 11%, contributing to the nearly 10% increase in lottery revenue to the state. In March 2005, the Rhode Island state legislature passed a bill that prohibits smoking in restaurants, bars and taverns – some of the most popular Keno and HotTrax® venues. This, as well as PowerBall®’s frequent wins, proved to limit sales on these profitable games. Over the past fiscal year, Retailer incentives and player promotions helped to encourage sales on instant ticket, on-line and monitor games. With the PowerBall® game change and revisions to the HotTrax® games scheduled for release in 2005, the Rhode Island Lottery will continue to respond to players’ needs and the best interests of the state. SOURCE: Rhode Island Lottery media release. TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (August 24, 2005) -- The Florida Lottery announced today the Department’s contribution to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) for fiscal year 2004-2005 was a record-breaking $1.1 billion, surpassing the previous year’s record by more than $50 million. Florida Lottery achievements in fiscal year 2004-2005 also include an all-time record high in total net sales of $3.47 billion.
“Fiscal year 2004-2005 was another record-breaking year for the Florida Lottery," Florida Lottery Secretary Rebecca D. Mattingly said. “For the third consecutive year we contributed more than $1 billion to public education in Florida. This brings the Lottery’s commitment to education revenue transfers to more than $15 billion to date. I’d like to thank our players, retailers and business partners for making this year a success.” Although Florida Lottery contributions make up only a portion of the state’s overall investment in education, the Lottery is very proud of its commitment to public education in the state. Lottery dollars are used to help support public schools, including school construction and maintenance of more than 400 public schools, K-12 funding, pre-K early intervention programs, community colleges, state universities, and financial aid. Additionally, the Florida Lottery fully-funds the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which has awarded more than $1 billion in scholarships to more than 220,000 students in the state. Florida Lottery proceeds are allocated by the Florida Legislature and the Department of Education. By a two-to-one margin, Florida voters in 1986 approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to operate a Lottery for the purpose of generating significant additional moneys for education. For more information regarding the Florida Lottery’s record-setting year and its operations, visit our Web site at www.flalottery.com When you play, we all win. “$15 Billion for Florida’s Schools” SOURCE: Florida Department of Lottery
media release. NEW YORK, USA (August 22, 2005) -- Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq: SGMS - News) announced that it has been selected as the full service vendor to provide online and instant lottery tickets and related services for the new Oklahoma Lottery. The contracts are valued at an estimated $6 million for the initial contract term (nine months) and contain six one-year renewal options. The Oklahoma Lottery start up will be the fastest in the thirty-year history of modern lotteries with instant lottery tickets sales scheduled for launch on or before October 12, 2005 and the online lottery scheduled for launch on November 10, 2005.
"It is wonderful to once again be chosen to aid in the start up of a new lottery," said Lorne Weil, chairman and CEO of Scientific Games Corporation. "We have been the vendor of choice for more lottery start-ups than any other company in the world and are proud of our record of reliability, security and innovation. Our customers constitute the fastest growing lotteries in the country and we believe our services and products contribute to that performance. We are looking forward to assisting the Oklahoma Lottery in its goals to support educational programs." Jim Scroggins, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Lottery, said, "We are excited to have our selection process behind us so we can move forward to make the Oklahoma Lottery a reality. Partnering with Scientific Games will allow us to bring innovative and creative products to our players while maximizing our contribution to Oklahoma Education." The Oklahoma Lottery was established by order of the legislature in November 2004 with net proceeds benefiting education within the state. 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 http://www.scientificgames.com. SOURCE: Scientific Games Corporation. Company Contact: Lisa D. Lettieri, Phone: 212-754-2233. Missouri Lottery Wins Top Accounting Award For Fifth Time JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, USA (August 19, 2005) -- For the fifth consecutive year, the Missouri Lottery's Accounting division has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada.
"We are very proud to receive this award five years in a row," said Gary Gonder, interim director for the Missouri Lottery. "Our controller, Larry Jansen, and our financial accounting analyst, Cathy Long, make sure that our accounting procedures meet the highest standards. It takes an enormous amount of organization, detail and expertise to prepare the comprehensive annual financial report that is required by the GFOA." The GFOA certificate of achievement award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The Lottery's comprehensive annual financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the GFOA program. The organization also said the Lottery's report demonstrated "a constructive 'spirit of full disclosure' to clearly communicate the agency's financial story." The GFOA, which has offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C., is a non-profit professional association that serves more than 16,000 government finance professionals. SOURCE: Missouri Lottery media release.
Lottery Reminds Retailers “Not 18 Yet, No Bet”
TRENTON, New Jersey, USA (August 19, 2005) – The New Jersey State Lottery today announced that it has launched a special retailer review program to ensure that each of its 6,100 lottery agents are properly posting special “Not 18 Yet, No Bet” decals on their Lottery green machines. What's more, retailers will be reminded of the Lottery statutes that prohibit the sale of Lottery tickets by or to anyone under the age of 18.
“We welcome every opportunity to reinforce our responsible play message to our network of retailers,” said Executive Director Michellene Davis, Esq. “Often times, these agents act as our eyes and ears in the community , and they can be an important advocate in preventing underage gambling.” Section 5:9-15 of the Lottery statute states: “No ticket or share shall be sold to any person under the age of 18, but this shall not be deemed to prohibit the purchase of a ticket or share for the purpose of making a gift by a person 18 years of age or older to a person less than that age. Any licensee who knowingly sells or offers to sell a lottery ticket or share to any person under the age of 18 is a disorderly person.” The penalty for selling a lottery ticket to any person under 18 years of age may include mandatory attendance at an Informational Conference at which time the Deputy Director of Security may recommend a fine of $100 up to $10,000 and/or a temporary or permanent suspension of their lottery license. According to Davis, the retailer review program is being conducted by a combination of Lottery security and sales staff and will be completed by the end of September. This initiative supplements the Lottery's existing Responsible Play campaign that includes a close working relationship with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. “I am very grateful to the lottery for their support and commitment to all of our initiatives,” said Council President Harvey Fogel. “The Lottery continues to be a great partner in promoting the importance of playing responsibly.”
The Lottery has participated on the Council of Compulsive Gambling's Board of Directors since June 1999. Furthermore, the Council's gambling hotline (1-800-GAMBLER) is printed on every Lottery ticket, brochure and signage, and also appears as a tag line on all of our radio advertisements. Finally, the Lottery's website directs visitors to the Council's site (www.800gambler.org) which provides people with free information and help for compulsive gambling. This September, the Lottery's Public Information Officer will participate in the Council's 23 rd Annual Statewide Conference on Compulsive Gambling entitled: "Adolescent Gambling: A Dangerous Beginning." “This State Lottery has a longstanding commitment to promoting responsible play and discouraging underage gambling of any kind,” continued Davis. “As a former criminal defense attorney I have witnessed the vestiges of the disease of addiction; I am sensitive to the addiction of compulsive gambling and am especially dedicated to uphold our commitment to the Lottery's Responsible Play initiative.” About the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. Since 1983, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. has helped problem and compulsive gamblers. The group was one of the pioneers in the compulsive gambling field and remains one of the leaders in providing professional and compassionate services to a wide range of audiences. The council's mission is to provide prevention, education and referral services to anyone affected by this illness. They operate the most widely recognized gambling help number in the world, the 1-800-GAMBLER ™ Helpline. The help number is now available in 13 states and offers 24-hour, immediate, confidential assistance to anyone affected by gambling problems.
About the New Jersey Lottery Since its inception in 1970, the New Jersey State Lottery has contributed over $13.9 billion to State education and institutions. As the state's fourth largest revenue producer, the New Jersey State Lottery saved taxpayers over $794 million in fiscal year '04 by returning game proceeds to important educational programs and state-run facilities. On average, 6,100 businesses throughout the Garden State prosper from their partnership with the New Jersey State SOURCE: New Jersey Lottery media release.
NEW YORK, USA (August 23, 2005) -- Scientific Games Corporation announced that it has been awarded a two-year extension from the Hoosier Lottery worth $13.86 million. The agreement commences January 1, 2006. The Hoosier Lottery recorded over $739.34 million in sales for fiscal 2005 of which 63% were from instant lottery ticket sales. The Lottery has returned $2.5 billion to the state of Indiana since 1989 to lower drivers' license plate costs, supplement firefighters', policemen's and teachers' pensions, reduce property taxes and other worthy causes. "We are very happy to be awarded another extension from the Hoosier Lottery," said Lorne Weil, chairman and CEO of Scientific Games Corporation. "The fact that we are the Hoosier Lottery's vendor of choice for both instant lottery tickets and the online lottery operation is a testament to the fact that we are doing a good job for one of the most successful lotteries in the country. We are very proud of our role in assisting the Lottery to maximize sales to fund so many worthwhile projects." "Thanks to a fantastic partnership with Scientific Games, the Hoosier Lottery has increased scratch-off sales by $47.7 million last year and we're looking forward to even greater increases over the next two years," said Esther Q. Schneider, Executive Director of the Hoosier Lottery. "Not only are we excited about continuing innovative ways to increase scratch sales, but we're working very closely with Scientific Games to develop new approaches to increase online games." 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. SOURCE: Scientific Games
Corporation. California Lottery Director Resigns Chon Gutierrez Announces Retirement from Public Service; Announcement Comes After Leading Lottery to Achieve Its Best Year Ever SACRAMENTO, California, USA (August 25, 2005) -- After more than 34 years of public service for the state of California, Acting Lottery Director Chon Gutierrez announced today that he will finally retire. "My plan was to retire after the Bill Jones Administration more than two years ago," said Gutierrez. "The Schwarzenegger Administration knew this but asked me to head up the DMV, CPR and the Lottery. From my perspective, now is the perfect time for me to finally retire."
Chon Gutierrez has worked for every governor since Ronald Reagan, holding key positions at some of the most prominent state agencies and departments. Some of the posts held by Gutierrez include:
In a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger announcing his retirement, Gutierrez highlighted some of the more notable accomplishments achieved during the past two years serving in his Administration. "As Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles we implemented the Vehicle License Fee refund and reduced the public wait time at every field office from one hour to 20 minutes. As Co-Director of the California Performance Review we produced a landmark report that paves the way to eliminate waste and increase efficiency in government. And, as Acting Director of the California State Lottery, we just had our best year ever, shattering 20 years of records including more than $3.3 billion in sales, $1.79 billion in prizes paid out, and an astonishing $1.17 billion given to California's public education." SOURCE: California Lottery Media Release MDI Takes a “Spin” with New Pat Sajak Instant Games Lotteries can now Acquire License for America’s Most Popular Game Show Host ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA (August 25, 2005) – Lotteries worldwide will be able to offer players a “spin” on traditional instant games, now that MDI Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS), has acquired the rights to Wheel of Fortune game show host Pat Sajak and his new line of instant games. The contract, which extends through 2008, gives lotteries the rights to Mr. Sajak’s name, symbols, designs, likeness and visual representations for lottery games. One game concept already in development includes Pat Sajak’s Slotwords™. Slotwords combines the classic best-selling crossword puzzle play with the exciting feature of slot machines. Lotteries looking to offer an instant ticket featuring Pat Sajak will also be able to use MDI custom-designed TV spots featuring Mr. Sajak.
“Licensed games like TV Guide Crosswords® have been successful performers for our customers in their instant product mix. Pat Sajak’s Slotwords game will be the first of several opportunities for lotteries to extend their existing line of word games, combining the strength of a built-in customer base with the power of marketing opportunities featuring Mr. Sajak” said Steve Saferin, MDI president. After a series of broadcast jobs in Kentucky and Tennessee, Sajak landed a weather man position in Los Angeles where he caught the eye of game show maven Merv Griffin who asked him to host Wheel of Fortune® in 1981. When the evening version of “Wheel” debuted in 1983, it rapidly became the number one game show in America, the title it still holds today. Sajak said he thinks the combined crossword and slot machine game play will appeal to different types of lottery players. “Having a Pat Sajak lottery ticket is a first for me and it’s been a thrill to work with MDI on developing these new game concepts,” Sajak said. “We believe these games will bring fun and excitement to lottery players everywhere.” A native of Chicago, Sajak is seen on TV in countries throughout the world including Canada, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, Barbados, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and many more. He has won three Emmy Awards, a Peoples’ Choice Award and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. About Scientific Games Scientific Games Corporation (www.scientificgames.com) 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. MDI Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation, is the worldwide leader in licensed lottery games and promotions. SOURCE: MDI Entertainment media release.
New Technology Will Allow Lottery To Offer Interactive Gaming From Home WELLINGTON, New Zealand (August 22, 2005) -- New Zealanders could be legally playing interactive gambling games from home within a year, with the blessing of NZ Lotteries, according to New Zealand’s Computerworld. Computerworld said a contract concluded last week with GTECH will see a refresh of New Zealand’s entire population of Lotto terminals, currently numbering 1,450 and growing. This will be followed by the introduction of new products, including "remote interactive gaming", or RIG.
Where RIG has been offered overseas, it has often been provided over the internet as well as through dedicated networks, Computerworld quoted Lotteries spokeswoman Helen Morgan-Banda as saying. Whether it is offered over the internet here will be the subject of further negotiation, “but we have the legal right to offer interactive gaming, under the Gambling Act", she said. The new GTECH network will use IP as its protocol, replacing existing equipment that operated over the Telecom DDS network. The new terminals will support a web interface. The refresh of the network should be finished by the middle of next year, and at that point the new products will start to be introduced, Morgan-Banda says. The total value of the systems renewal contract, including the new gaming and IP systems and ongoing support, is estimated to be about $40 million over its nine-year term. GTECH also provided NZ Lotteries with the existing equipment. SOURCE: Computerworld New Zealand.
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