| Lottomatica Subsidiary GTECH Corporation and
Medstroms AB Acquire Approximately 92 Percent of Boss Media
AB ROME (Italy) - PROVIDENCE,
Rhode Island, USA (March 3, 2008) - Lottomatica S.p.A.'s wholly-owned
subsidiary, GTECH Corporation, and
Medströms AB announced today that the public cash offer to the
shareholders of Boss Media AB to acquire all outstanding shares of
Boss Media at SEK25.00 (EUR2.66) has
resulted in the Companies acquiring approximately 92 percent of the outstanding
share capital and voting rights in Boss Media.
The offer period has
expired and the Companies have declared the offer unconditional. Having
surpassed certain ownership thresholds, Swedish law allows for GTECH and
Medströms to request that the Board of Directors of Boss Media commence a
process to compel the sale of the remaining minority interests.
Further detailed information may be obtained at
www.gemed.se. The
Offer is not being made (nor will any tender of shares be accepted from or on
behalf of holders) in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the
acceptance of any tender of shares therein would not be made in compliance with
the laws of such jurisdiction. The Offer is not being made, directly or
indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, or the United
States of America. About Lottomatica
(www.gruppolottomatica.it) and
GTECH (www.gtech.com)
Lottomatica is one of the world's largest commercial
lottery operators and a market leader in the Italian gaming industry. GTECH is
a leading gaming technology and services company, providing innovative
technology, creative content, and superior service delivery. GTECH and
Lottomatica together create a fully integrated lottery operator and gaming
technology solutions provider - a combined company with worldwide scale,
considerable financial strength, and industry-leading customer solutions.
Lottomatica is majority owned by De Agostini, which belongs to a century-old
publishing, media, and financial services group. Lottomatica is publicly traded
on the Italian Stock Exchange (LTO), and in 2006, had approximately EUR1.7
billion in revenues and 5,900 employees in over 45 countries when combined with
GTECH. For further information: AD HOC Communication
Advisors 02/7606741, Mario Pellegatta - Matteo Cidda 335/1415585.
GTECH Contact: Robert K. Vincent Public Affairs
1-401-392-7452. INTRALOT Signs
Contract In Turkey ATHENS, Greece
(February 29, 2008) -- INTRALOT announces
that its subsidiary in Turkey, INTELTEK, signed a contract with the Turkish
State Organization, Spor Toto, to continue the operation of the popular sports
betting game Iddaa for up to one year. INTELTEK will
continue uninterruptedly the operation of the game in the 4.000 points of sale
that it has established in Turkey.
The new contract came as a
result of the recent law that has been voted by the Turkish Parliament that
sets the framework for the operation of sports betting in Turkey. According to
this law, it is expected that during this year a tender will be procured for
the operation of sports betting in Turkey for the next period of up to 10
years. INTRALOT S.A. CEO,
Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos,
stated: We are pleased to continue our successful cooperation with
Spor Toto. Moreover, we are very proud that our investment in the Turkish
market has yielded to the local community and will continue to add value to the
Turkish state, to the football clubs and the agents. 2008 is expected to be a
milestone year for the game Iddaa, since the presence of the
Turkish national team in Euro 2008 will stimulate the interest of the Turkish
players and further boost the sales of the game.
About INTRALOT (www.intralot.com) INTRALOT, a public listed company, is the leading supplier of
integrated gaming and transaction processing systems, innovative game content
and sports betting management, to state-licensed gaming organizations
worldwide. Its broad portfolio of products & services, its know-how
of Lottery, Betting & Video Lottery operations and its leading-edge
technology, give INTRALOT a competitive advantage which contributes directly to
customers efficiency, profitability and growth. With presence in more
than 40 countries, with 4.000 people and revenues of 791,4 m. for 2006,
INTRALOT has established its presence on all 5 continents.
For more information please CONTACT: Ms Persa
Kartsoli, Head of Corporate Affairs, Phone: +30-210 6156000, Fax: +30-210
6106800, email: kartsoli@intralot.com.

Numbers Show
World Poker Tour® Most Popular Lottery Poker Brand
ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA
(March 3, 20080 -- MDI Entertainment, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games
Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS), announced today that after three years of
lottery market experience, numbers show that World Poker Tour® (WPT)
instant lottery games are the unquestioned leader in popularity among lotteries
and their players. WPT instant games have been sold at over 46,000 retail
locations generating nearly $1 billion in sales. MDI has offered its customers
WPT lottery games since 2004 and it has continually ranked as one of, if not
the, most popular brand. We evaluated the
available poker licenses and determined that World Poker Tour is far more
popular and successful with lotteries and their players than any other poker
brand, said Steve Saferin, MDI president. The World Poker
Tour is without a doubt the strongest and most appealing poker
brand. In the three years that MDI has
represented World Poker Tour, nearly 72 Hold Em Poker instant games were
launched in North America, 78 percent of which were World Poker Tour branded.
The brand continues to excel in the Lottery space. WPT
instant tickets have also seen success across Canada while several European
lotteries have expressed interest in running WPT games in 2008.
What sets World
Poker Tour apart from other poker brands is the depth and quality of its
experiential marketing partnerships, Saferin said. Lotteries
have taken advantage of these unique and exclusive prize and promotional
opportunities. To remain pre-eminent in the
poker sports, entertainment and gaming space, WPT continually penetrates new
markets and reaches new audiences across various platforms, including wireless
gaming through WPT Mobile, the fourth-ranked overall mobile game in the US;
subscription gaming club, www.CLUBWPT.com; WPT Cruises; WPTAPL, which provides
the WPT experience in over 23,000 amateur poker events annually across the
country; and many other programs, events and product lines that have seen
incredible success. WPT was honored with the Best Sports Brand License of the
Year Award in 2006. About Scientific Games
Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated
supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries worldwide, a
leading supplier of server-based gaming machines and systems, Amusement and
Skill with Prize betting terminals, interactive sports betting terminals and
systems, and wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel operators. It is also
a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut, Maine 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.
CONTACT: Max Montgomery, 770-664-3807.
Scientific Games Signs Contract to Provide 25,000
Leonardo/WAVE Terminals to Sisal in Italy
Revenue Estimated at $90 Million
NEW YORK, USA (February 29, 2008) --
Scientific Games (Nasdaq: SGMS) announced
it has signed a contract to provide 25,000 "next generation"
Leonardo/WAVE terminals to Sisal
S.p.A., a leading gaming company in Italy. The Leonardo/WAVE terminal
was jointly developed with Sisal, and is a customized version of the WAVE
terminal currently deployed in Connecticut and Maryland. Terminal delivery and
installation should begin in April 2008 and span over the next 36 months. The
contract is expected to generate approximately $90 million in revenue to
Scientific Games over the course of three years. The
Leonardo/WAVE terminal is a new sleek and small lottery terminal that is
designed to deliver improved business efficiencies for retailers, increase
lottery sales, and enable lottery expansion into new retail store formats. The
Leonardo/WAVE has the fastest ticket document processing and printing
speeds in the industry making it easier and faster to use as well as the most
versatile lottery retail terminal in the world. Among the Leonardo/WAVE's
extensive list of features is a 15" wide screen color LCD operator display
utilizing the latest in touch screen technology and a 12" color LCD customer
display with audio and full motion video capability combined to provide a
single customer information and advertising center. The Leonardo/WAVE
terminal is realized to meet Sisal's specialized design requirements and will
be delivered with a long list of other industry-first features to help Sisal
continue its success for many years to come.
"We have been working
with Scientific Games since when we together designed Extrema, the first
terminal, and have always received quality products, great service and superior
results," said Giorgio Sandi, CEO of Sisal S.p.A. "We trust in
Scientific Games as a leader in the industry and, renewing our strong
collaboration, we have worked closely with them to engineer the new state of
the art Leonardo/WAVE(TM) terminal, which will enhance our revenue growth
capabilities and satisfy our retailers and our customers."
"Sisal has been a customer of Scientific Games since
1998, and we are thrilled that they will be our first European customer to use
the new WAVE terminal," said Lorne Weil, Chairman and CEO of
Scientific Games. "We have always recognized Sisal as a high quality, very
creative and extremely efficient operator and we believe these new
Leonardo/WAVE(TM) terminals will contribute to that reputation."
About Scientific Games Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated
supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries worldwide, a
leading supplier of server based gaming machines and systems, Amusement and
Skill with Prize betting terminals, interactive sports betting terminals and
systems, and wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel operators. It is also
a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut, Maine 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. About
Sisal S.p.A SISAL Group is a leading player in the
Italian Gaming and Betting market, where it has been working for over sixty
years with companies deeply specialized in all diversified business sectors:
numerical games, sport and horse games, lotteries, AWPs and betting, both in
shops and online. With more than 20.000 retailers located throughout the
Italian territory, SISAL offers to its customers also a wide range of payment
services, such as debit cards and utilities. The Group's activity covers the
complete cycle of the necessary operations: organisation, sales, technology,
administrative and financial activity. SISAL has recently been awarded the
licence to manage SuperEnalotto for the next nine years: SuperEnalotto is the
first jackpot game in Italy, which SISAL launched in 1997 and continuously
renews to make it the most appreciated game in the Italian market.
SOURCE Scientific Games: CONTACT: Investor Relations of
Scientific Games Corporation, +1-212-754-2233. Vermont Lottery Hits the Big
3-0 New Anniversary Game
Has Top Prize of $1 million BERLIN, Vermont,
USA (February 29, 2008) -- The Vermont
Lottery marks its 30th Anniversary this month with a new game that gives
players the chance to win $1 million later this year.
After being formed by the
1977 General Assembly, the Vermont Lottery Commission introduced its fi rst
ticket, Green Mountain Game, on Feb. 14, 1978. Since July 1998, all profi ts
from the Lottery have been earmarked for the states Education Fund, which
in Fiscal Year 2007 totaled more than $23 million. To
celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Lottery has introduced a new instant game,
the Vermont Lotterys 30th Anniversary Ticket - with a
second-chance grand prize of $1 million. The game is now available for sale
through all Lottery agents. The Lottery also will hold other promotions during
the year, with a variety of prizes to be awarded. Vermont lottery games are sold at almost 700 locations
throughout the state. For information on lottery games and on-line game draw
results, please visit: www.vtlottery.com All profits from Vermont Lottery are used to support the
Vermont Education Fund. Vermont Lottery officials encourage everyone to play
responsibly. SOURCE: Vermont Lottery. CONTACT: Hadley
Melendy, Phone: 802-476-0103, E-mail:
hadley.melendy@state.vt.us
SD Lottery to Release Sturgis Motorcycle
Rally Instant Scratch Game
 |
| South
Dakota Lottery's instant scratch game in celebration of the 68th Annual Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally. |
STURGIS, South Dakota, USA
(February 28, 2008) - The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally announced
this week that the South Dakota Lottery
will release an instant scratch game in celebration of the 68th Annual Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally, a first for both the Lottery and the Rally.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally instant scratch game will
arrive at stores on April 30, 2008. The $2 scratch tickets will be sold
at the South Dakota Lotterys 600 plus retail locations statewide.
The game will have more than $467,000 in prizes for players to win, including
three top prizes of $10,000. Officials expect
that the motorcycle image and the use of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally trademark
on the tickets will make the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally game tickets popular with
the thousands of tourists who will visit South Dakota throughout the summer, as
well as the hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts that make the
annual pilgrimage to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally each August.
Its a matter
of great state pride for us to do a game with the world famous Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally, said Norm
Lingle, executive director of the Lottery. And were
pleased to feature on the tickets a very cool motorcycle built by Twisted
Choppers here in South Dakota. We think this unique game will appeal to
our players and to those visiting our state. Its something you
wont find anywhere else in the country.
According to Sturgis Mayor Maury LaRue, Sturgis is
equally excited with its new sponsorship with South Dakota Lottery.
This adds another dimension to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It gives
our visitors another opportunity to enjoy what is unique about this event and
this state said LaRue. And, it provides a huge promotional
element for the Rally through the visibility offered at the hundreds of lottery
retail outlets across the state, LaRue interjected.
Id guess that at almost every stop that motorcycle riders will
make as they travel through our fine state, they will see South Dakota Lottery
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally promotional signage, LaRue continued.
The 68th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is August
4-10, 2008. For more information, log on to the official website
www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com.
SOURCE: South Dakota Lottery. CONTACT: Ronda Gusinsky,
OutSource Solutions, Inc., Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Sponsorship
Agent of Record, 605/716-9190 or Mike Mueller, South Dakota Lottery,
605/773-5770.
Pollard
Banknote Awarded New Multi-Year Instant Ticket Contract by Frances
National Lottery Contract Valued
At An Estimated $30 Million (CDN) Over Initial Term WINNIPEG,
Canada (March 4, 2008) -- Pollard Banknote (www.pollardbanknote.com) is pleased
to announce it will continue to serve as a key supplier of instant tickets to
La Française des Jeux (FDJ), the national lottery of France.
A new three-year contract
that took effect in January is valued at an estimated $30 million (CDN), based
on Pollard Banknotes historical production levels for FDJ. Three
subsequent one-year extensions can also be exercised at FDJs option.
Pollard
Banknote has applied its printing expertise and lottery industry knowledge
to FDJs instant games since 1996, said Gordon Pollard, Co-Chief
Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote. Earning the Lotterys trust
for another multi-year term re-affirms that our approach to FDJs instant
game business is valuable and highly effective. We welcome this continued
production, because FDJs sophisticated games and high standards for
quality always bring out the best in Pollard Banknote.
Along with production of FDJs base instant games,
Pollard Banknote has also partnered with the Lottery to launch games with
unusual programming requirements, as well as games commemorating special
events. In 2005, Pollard Banknote and FDJ created 7Extra, a unique cardstock
envelope bringing together for the first time some of the Lotterys
distinct instant games in a joined strip of tickets. About Pollard Banknote Limited Partnership
Pollard Banknote Limited Partnership (Pollard
Banknote) is one of the worlds leading full-service lottery vendors
and is a major supplier to North Americas charitable gaming industry. The
firm manufactures instant tickets and provides related programming, design, and
marketing support. As well, Pollard Banknote manufactures ticket vending
machines, pull tab tickets and bingo paper, and supplies lottery management
services (including warehousing and distribution). Established in 1907, the
firm is owned by the Pollard family and the Pollard Banknote Income Fund and
currently serves more than 45 lotteries worldwide, including some of the
largest and most respected lotteries in the United States, Canada, Europe,
Asia, and Central and South America. About Pollard
Banknote Income Fund
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Pollard Banknote Income
Fund (TSX: PBL.UN) is an unincorporated, open-end trust which owns 26.7% of
Pollard Holdings Limited Partnership, which in turn owns Pollard Banknote
Limited Partnership. About La Française des
Jeux La Française des Jeux offers a range
of lottery and sports-betting games that provide a fun and entertaining outlet
for adult players in France. With 29 million players and sales of (euro)9.3
billion in 2007, it is a leader in the French gaming sector and the
third-largest lottery worldwide. Its 930 employees rely on Frances
largest network of some 39,500 points of sale, as well as on the development of
multimedia distribution channels. The company develops
its offer within the context of a responsible gaming model that upholds the
core values of public order and health. Nearly 30% of gaming revenues are
circulated back into the community to finance public-interest missions. In
addition, some 2% of lottery revenues are used to finance sport for all.
For further information CONTACT: Gordon Pollard (gpollard@pbl.ca) or John Pollard (jpollard@pbl.ca), Co-Chief Executive
Officers, Phone: (204) 474-2323,
Changes Prepare
the Way for New Lottery Era WESTERN AUSTRALIA (February 29, 2008) -- Preparations are
well-advanced for an upgrade to new technology throughout
Lotterywests State-wide network of
lottery outlets.
New lottery terminals,
together with new customer display screens, ticket checkers and thermal
printers are currently being installed next to existing terminals on the
counters of Lotterywest outlets, in readiness for an expected switchover in
May. In preparation for the go
live of the new system, some Advance Wager and Multiweek ticket
options for Lotto, OZ Lotto, Powerball, Soccer Pools and Cash 3 will be
unavailable from 6pm on Monday 3 March until the new system is activated.
During this same period, players will also be unable to
apply for Player Registration Cards. Full details
about the temporary suspension of some ticket types will be available from
Lotterywest outlets and Lotterywests website at
www.lotterywest.com.au.
The website also has an overview of the enhancements WA
lottery players can look forward to with the introduction of the new
system. SOURCE: Lotterywest. Flaming Hot New Campaign; Camelot Launches New
Bingo Scratchcard Campaign
LONDON, UK (February 29,
2008) -- National Lottery operator Camelot
is launching a TV advertising campaign on 2nd March to support its new
Scratchcard game Flamin Hot Bingo. The campaign comes hot on the
heels of a bumper period for lottery players following two massive jackpot
weekends in the last month both of which were heavily supported by
advertising and marketing campaigns.
The new £2
Scratchcard has five top prizes of £50,000 and offers an extended play
experience with two games to play. Flamin Hot Bingo adverts will be
on-air from Sunday 2nd March 2008 and will run intermittently until 20th April.
The adverts will be accompanied by in-store support material including
Scratchcard dispenser header cards and advertising on in-store digital media
screens. The new TV advert opens on a close-up of a
bingo hall on a typical-looking high street. Its early morning and
everything appears to be closed. An elderly lady appears on screen, steering
her electric mobility cart along the street. She sees that the Bingo hall is
not open yet and looks disappointed. Then the familiar
Scratchcard sound is heard as a scratch effect sweeps across the up-to-now
rather ordinary scene. Revealed underneath is a different landscape altogether.
The lady is now driving along what looks like a sun-drenched Miami promenade
and we can see a beach in the background. Shes
got a sun visor on and both she and her cart have been transformed with a
bling-style makeover. Hip-hop music blares from speakers on her bright green
cart, the chrome wheels glint in the sunlight and fiery hot-rod flames are
streaked along the side. A voiceover says:
Play the Flamin Hot Bingo Scratchcard from the National
Lottery. The camera pulls back and as the cart speeds off, flames
spew from the two large exhaust pipes at its rear. The ad finishes on a shot of
the new Scratchcard itself with the flames still visible in the background.
Richard Bateson, Controller of Game Development &
Scratchcards at Camelot said: We always see a fantastic response from
players to new Scratchcard game launches, especially those that receive
advertising and marketing support.
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Our recent Deal or
No Deal, Monopoly and Pirates of the Caribbean games have been phenomenally
successful. We expect Flamin Hot Bingo to be yet another success in this
long line of popular National Lottery Scratchcards based on entertainment and
lifestyle themes. The TV adverts will allow us to get maximum exposure for the
game and to capitalise on the increased excitement among players that we have
seen in recent weeks and months. Flaming
Hot Bingo is launching on the back of a really exciting period for National
Lottery players following a £56 million EuroMillions jackpot and Triple
Lotto Rollover all in the same weekend in January. The Lotto Triple Rollover
generated sales of over 50% up compared to a normal week and two weeks later a
£95 EuroMillions jackpot saw sales up by over 500% on a normal
EuroMillions base week when the jackpot is a guaranteed £10 million.
Advertising across a huge range of media contributed to a lot of this
uplift. The campaign was created by Abbott
Mead Vickers BBDO with media planning handled by MPG and media buying by
OMD. For further information, please Contact:
Charlotte Gibson, Corporate PR Manager: 020 7632 5716 or Camelot Press Office:
020 7632 5711. AGC's Daily 3
Promotion Set to Begin in Michigan The Michigan State Lottery will introduce a new promotion for
Daily 3 players beginning March 3, 2008. Player's will be paid extra for
winning easy pick straight wagers. The promotion was originally developed by
Advance Gaming Concepts, LLC (AGC) in 2005, and implemented in
a retail outlet in Detroit. During a five-week test period, easy pick sales at
the test outlet increased over 300%. Overall Daily 3 sales increased 18% at the
test location during those five weeks. While many
lottery retailers located near the test location were already paying players
extra for wagering at their stores, Daily 3 players weren't necessarily making
new wagers. This promotion not only got those players to make wagers in
addition to their normal bets, but players also made collateral wagers based on
their easy pick straight bets. When asked about the promotion, AGC officials
noted that the promotion both enticed current Daily 3 players into placing
additional wagers, but also created players from consumers who didn't normally
play the Daily 3 game. In addition, the promotional
payouts at AGC's test outlet were lower than the promotional payouts at the
traditional play here/ win more locations in the metro Detroit area. Because
players do not pick their own numbers, the retailer wasn't exposed to
cumbersome liability should a "favorite" number be drawn. After looking
at the data, the Michigan State Lottery has decided that the promotion was a
success and will offer it statewide for a three-week period.
For more information regarding other successful promotions
or lottery-style games, contact Advance Gaming Concepts, LLC at
syaldoo@agchome.com or call us at
(877) PAR-LAY5 ((877) 727-5295). Daily 3 Offers
Bonus Prize LANSING, Michigan, USA
(March 3, 2008) -- How do you choose your Daily 3 numbers? Do you use your
address? Your kids' ages? Well, there's an easier way
to select your numbers, and now with the Daily 3 Easy Pick Payout, you could
really cash in with an easy pick wager!
Just select the easy pick
option when you place your Daily 3 bet and the new Daily 3 Easy Pick Payout
will pay an extra $50 or $100, just for matching your easy pick straight wager.
This promotion runs March 3-23. All you have to do is
purchase an easy pick straight wager for $.50 or $1 and if your number matches
the numbers drawn in the midday or evening draws, you win! Matching the numbers
on a $1 wager pays a $100 bonus and a $.50 wager will pay an extra $50.
The Daily 3 Easy Pick Payout only applies to easy pick
wagers on the Daily 3 game. Daily 4, boxed, wheeled or two-way bets are not
eligible for the extra payout. Over 95 cents of every
dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of
contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions
to retailers. In fiscal year 2007, the contribution to schools was $748.9
million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than
$14.3 billion to education in Michigan. For additional
information, please visit the Lottery's Web site at:
www.michigan.gov/lottery.
SOURCE: Michigan
Lottery, Contact: Andi Brancato 517-335-5648. Lotto's Giant Nest Eggs Set to
Break NEW ZEALAND (March 5, 2008)
-- Adding a Triple Dip to your chocolate purchase this Easter could net you a
share of a massive $2 million in extra prizes with Lotto's 100 Giant Nest Eggs
promotion.
"Given the success of
the 100 Giant Nest Eggs promotion last year, Lotto is doing it again and this
time it's going to be even bigger and better," says
NZ Lotteries' Chief Executive, Todd McLeay.
"A cash nest egg would be handy to undertake those long
awaited renovations, help with the kids' education or to have that dream trip
overseas," he says. With this promotion there's
100 extra prizes up for grabs, giving more people, more chances to win.
The 100 prizes come in four tiers, with a top prize of
$500,000, three of $100,000, six of $50,000 and 90 of $10,000, making it a
whopping total of $2 million on offer. There's also
going to be fun and funky adverts, so keep an eye out for those giant golden
eggs. The promotion runs from Sunday 9 March till 7.00
pm on Saturday 22 March, and is available with all Triple Dip purchases during
that time. SOURCE: Press Release: New Zealand
Lotteries Commission.  |