| Patented GTECH Process Helping Retailers Manage
Daily Instant-Ticket Sales Now Available Through Elsym Consulting, Inc.
Subsidiary PROVIDENCE, Rhode
Island, USA (May 29, 2008) – GTECH
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Lottomatica S.p.A., announced that it
has entered into a licensing agreement with Ticketrac, Inc. of Kennesaw,
Georgia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elsym Consulting, Inc., giving Ticketrac
the right to use the intellectual property covered by GTECH’s
“Inventory Control System and Method” patent.
GTECH’s patent
involves an inventory control process necessary to provide retailers with a
quick and easy way to manage the average $83 million a day in U.S.
instant-ticket sales. The technology provides retailers with a simple automated
solution that tracks the quantity and value of instant tickets sold by shift or
by day so that they can quickly reconcile those ticket sales to the
store’s cash drawer -- saving them time and controlling shrink. By
licensing the intellectual property of its patent, GTECH has enabled Ticketrac
to market its product, “Ticketrac,” as a stand-alone retail solution
for instant-ticket inventory and management. “GTECH is completely committed to helping retailers,
who are so fundamental to lottery success, manage the work associated with
carrying lottery products. This licensing agreement extends the benefits of
automated instant-ticket inventory control and management to a larger number of
retailers, especially for those who do not have access to the GTECH integrated
Balancing Tool solution,” said Connie Laverty O’Connor, Chief
Marketing Officer at GTECH. “Elsym Consulting,
through Ticketrac, is pleased to provide this significant improvement in
scratch ticket inventory management,” said Len Simonis, CEO and Founder of
Elsym. “This product will provide a significant benefit to lotteries,
retailers, and the industry as a whole.” For
more information on these valuable new products, please contact
Ticketrac’s Len Simonis at (678) 564-5074, or GTECH’s James Breindel
at (401) 392-7626.
About GTECH
GTECH is a leading gaming technology and services company,
providing innovative technology, creative content, and superior service
delivery. Lottomatica is one of the world’s largest commercial lottery
operators and a market leader in the Italian gaming industry. 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 2007, had more than €1.7
billion in revenues and 5,900 employees in over 45 countries when combined with
GTECH. In 2007, Elsym Consulting, Inc. formed its
subsidiary Ticketrac, Inc. to provide a simple solution to the problem of
tracking Scratch Ticket inventory in a retail environment. Since 1988, Elsym
Consulting, Inc. has been providing software services to audit computer
generated transactions and provide software internal controls for the lottery
industry. Last year, Elsym Consulting audited over 20 billion transactions for
over 20 lottery agencies and organizations worldwide. CONTACT: Robert K. Vincent, Public Affairs, GTECH Corporation
401-392-7452. Scientific Games
Announces Proposed Private Offering of $200 Million of Senior Subordinated
Notes NEW YORK, USA (June 2,
2008) -- Scientific Games Corporation
(Nasdaq: SGMS) today announced that its subsidiary, Scientific Games
International, Inc., intends, subject to market and other conditions, to offer
$200 million aggregate original principal amount of senior subordinated notes
in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule
144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
It is expected that the
notes will pay cash interest through maturity of the notes. The notes are not
proposed to be convertible into common stock at any time.
Scientific Games intends to use the net proceeds from the
offering, together with the net proceeds of a new $250 million senior secured
revolving credit facility and a new $550 million senior secured term loan
credit facility, to repay all outstanding borrowings under its existing senior
credit facilities and for general corporate purposes. This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a
solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities. The notes have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable
state securities laws. Unless so registered, the notes may not be offered or
sold in the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws. SOURCE: Scientific Games Corporation. CONTACT:
Investor Relations of Scientific Games, +1-212-754-2233.
SAZKA's Regular General
Meeting PRAGUE, Czech Republic
(May 28, 2008) -- The regular general meeting of SAZKA, a.s., which was held in the company's
registered office today, approved the Report on Business Activities and Assets
including the Financial Statement for 2007. The participants in the general
meeting also decided to distribute the generated profit and elected members of
statutory bodies, the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board.
| Advertisement |
 |
In 2007, SAZKA generated
total revenues of CZK 10.4 bn, earnings before tax were CZK 1.5 bn, and net
profit exceeded CZK 1.4 bn. Betting and lottery activities – instant and
number lotteries; odds betting and sports betting; and the StarPort gaming
system – made up 90.2% of earnings after tax. The proportion of
non-lottery activities – the mobile phone top-up service; ticketing;
payments by paying-in slips, invoice and insurance premium payments; financial
services and leases – was 9.8%. Compared
to 2006, when the company hit an all-time record, revenues rose while earnings
after tax fell. Year-on-year figures were influenced by extraordinary one-off
revenues generated in 2006, notably the refund of incorrectly assessed taxes
for previous periods from the Revenue Authority and income from the sales of
land. Financial results for the second half of 2007 were also affected by the
high frequency of players hitting a jackpot in the Sportka number lottery. The
interpretation of the Amendment to the Act on VAT by the Ministry of Finance
led to a decline in earnings by more than CZK 283 m. Proceeds to good causes will again exceed CZK 1 bn,
with SAZKA to pay out nearly CZK 285 m more to good causes in sport, physical
education, culture, healthcare and charity than it has to pursuant to Act No.
202/1990 Coll., on Lotteries and Other Similar Games. "Last year, we invested in company's further development,
its technological equipment and customer services," said Chairman of the Board
of Directors and Director General of SAZKA, a.s., JUDr. Aleš
Hušák. "We completed the project of the central on-line system
conversion and the replacement of all end terminals, the StarPort gaming system
continues to be enhanced, we built the e-SAZKA Internet portal with the SAZKA
Club loyalty scheme, progress was made in the preparations of a new non-lottery
service - the payments for goods ordered over the Internet at our terminals.
These investments will return within the next few
years." In July 2007, Standard & Poor's upgraded SAZKA's
corporate rating and the rating of the SAZKA bonds issued in conjunction with
funding the construction of the multi-purpose arena by one point, from B to B+,
with a stable outlook. After analysing the 2007 financial results, Standard
& Poor's also affirmed this rating in 2008. Some
of the new products that SAZKA launched in 2007 include new instant lotteries
Zlatá cesta (Golden Path), Štěstí (Fortune) and
Horoskopy (Horoscopes), while the StarPort offer was extended to include
Solstice Gold, Diablos Gold and Dragon video games.
In May 2007, at the
general meeting of the European Lotteries association, the company signed the
Code of Conduct for Sports Betting, focused on fighting corruption in sport,
supporting responsible gaming and enhancing sports ethics.
The e-Sazka Internet portal, designed for the preparation
of bets over the Internet, with the Klub SAZKA (SAZKA Club) loyalty scheme,
which enables players to place bets by phone, was launched by SAZKA in January
2008. The number of the odds offered rose from 800 odds up to 4,000 odds a day,
the quantities of events picked within a single bet also increased
significantly, and so did system bet options. The
regular general meeting of SAZKA, a.s., elected members of the statutory
bodies, the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board of the company.
SAZKA's Board of Directors, which convened after the regular general meeting,
elected its chairman for the next period, with the position to be held by JUDr.
Aleš Hušák. Shareholders of SAZKA,
a.s., the largest non-governmental provider of funds to good causes in the
Czech Republic, include civil associations active in sport and physical
education – the Czech Sports Association, Czech Sokol Organization, Czech
Association - Sport for All, Autoclub of the Czech Republic, Association of
Sports Unions of the Czech Republic, Czech Olympic Committee, Czech Shooting
Federation, Association of Sports Unions and Clubs of the Czech Republic, and
Orel. SAZKA, a.s., is a regular member of the most
important international lottery organizations, European Lotteries and World
Lottery Association. CONTACT: PhDr. Zdeněk
Zikmund, SAZKA, a.s. Press Spokesperson, Tel.: 266 12 92 22, Fax: 266 12 26 67,
E-mail: zikmund@sazka.cz.
Annual
Shareholders' Meeting of Tipp24 AG  Tipp24 Pays Out First Dividend
Annual Shareholders' Meeting Resolves to Pay Dividend of 50
Cents Per Share Oliver
Jaster Elected to Supervisory Board HAMBURG,
Germany (May 29, 2008) -- The third Annual Shareholders' Meeting of
Tipp24 AG was held on 29 May 2008 at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Hamburg. Around 55 shareholders and guests were present
at the event. A total of 56.18 percent of share capital was represented.
The Executive Board of Tipp24 AG can look back on a
successful fiscal year 2007. The record jackpot helped produce a massive
increase in customer figures and the company’s UK market entry led to a
further expansion of foreign activities.
As a result of strong
progress over the last few years, the Annual Shareholders' Meeting decided to
pay out the company’s first-ever dividend, amounting to 50 cents per share
for the fiscal year 2007. The payment is to mark the beginning of regular
dividend distribution. Despite adverse conditions
brought about by the German State Treaty on Gaming, the company succeeded in
maintaining its dynamic growth. Jens Schumann, founder and Chairman of the
Executive Board of Tipp24, states: “Numerous legal experts and
institutions, such as the Federal Cartel Office, the EU Commission and the
Scientific Services of the state parliament of Schleswig-Holstein, believe that
the State Treaty on Gaming contravenes constitutional, antitrust and EU law.
This has also been confirmed by 14 Administrative Courts. We also continue to
believe that this State Treaty contravenes valid law. This made our
achievements in 2007 all the more remarkable.”
Following the investment of Günther Holding, now the
largest shareholder Tipp24 AG with 25.45 percent of share capital, Oliver
Jaster – CEO of the successful family company – has been elected to
the Supervisory Board with immediate effect. He replaces Dr. Hans-Wilhelm
Jenckel, who no longer stood for election after serving almost seven years on
the Supervisory Board. The Annual Shareholders'
Meeting adopted all items on the agenda. About
Tipp24 AG: Tipp24 was established in 1999 and is
now the market leader for lottery products in the Internet on the basis of
billings. The company has succeeded in achieving impressive growth rates right
from the start. Almost all state lottery products are supplied. It only takes a
few mouse clicks to buy a lottery ticket – round the clock, quickly and
reliably. The ticket receipt is kept safely, winners are notified about their
prizes automatically by text message and e-mail and prizes are credited
automatically. Subsidiaries of Tipp24 (www.tipp24.de) are Ventura24 in Spain
(www.ventura24.es), Puntogioco24 (www.puntogioco24.it) in Italy and MyLotto24
(www.mylotto24.co.uk) in the UK. Shares in Tipp24 AG have beent traded at the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2005. Press contact:
Tipp24 AG, Andrea Fratini, Head of Media and Public Relations, Phone: +49 40 32
55 33-660, Fax: +49 40 32 55 33-5600.
SmithGifford
Promotes Games for the Virginia Lottery
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, USA (June 2, 2008) -- In a
continuation of their award-winning campaign, the SmithGifford/Qorvis
Communications partnership has created a pair of :30 spots promoting the
Virginia Lottery. Fast Play Dodge
Ball, a new game with a new play action, and Harley-Davidson® will begin
airing throughout Virginia during the first week of June. Like all Virginia
Lottery products, proceeds from the tickets benefit the state s K-12 public
school system.
In "Dodge Ball," our
Hero, walking the city streets while crossing off the numbers of his Fast Play
Dodge Ball Virginia Lottery ticket, is blissfully unaware of the havoc he
leaves in his wake. Although he remains unscathed, first an innocent
pedestrian, then a passing cyclist, an artist sketching on her stoop, and
patrons and a waiter in a sidewalk café are hit by numerous red dodge
balls, all of which he has inadvertently dodged.
In "Harley-Davidson®," a couple, purchasing
drinks at a convenience store, are intrigued, first by the roar of a
motorcycle, and then by the manly rider who enters and purchases a beverage.
Once in the checkout line, the husband, pink lemonade in hand, gets macho with
the purchase of the drink and Harley-Davidson® Scratcher ticket from the
Virginia Lottery. The actual lottery game of dodge
ball is about avoiding having your numbers match. The fun part is throwing a
big red ball at other people. So we developed a scenario where both were
happening at the same time. We had to hire a lot of stunt people to get the
full effect," explained Bruce Gifford, SmithGifford Creative Director. On the
other hand, The Harley-Davidson® scratcher ad taps into a little part of
all of us (at least us men) who realize we may not be as cool as we think we
are. And when we're made aware of that fact, we search for a way to become the
person we pretend to see in the mirror every morning. All the ad had to do was
suggest that getting a chance at owning a Harley-Davidson® 105th
Anniversary Fat boy® Motorcycle sure would help us get a little closer to
our goal, continued Gifford. SmithGifford partner Matt
Smith added, We are selling the fun of playing dodge ball with the
potential of winning big money in the process. Meetings discussing the
spot were hysterical and the shoot was a blast. At 10 you are in the
schoolyard wondering why you are playing this game and all these years
later we are being paid to throw dodge balls at actors. What a life! In
Harley-Davidson® we capture that moment when our Hero
feels he may have become a little too metro-sexual and a
Harley-Davidson® might be just the thing to up his testosterone quotient.
How blessed can you be to work on such projects?
Representing SmithGifford
were President Matt Smith, Creative Director Bruce Gifford, Copywriter Drew
Magary, Art Director Kevin Richards and Producer Dana Cole.
Qorvis Communications LLC (McLean, VA), SmithGifford s
partner on the lottery account, was responsible for Account Management, print
and general marketing and was represented by Senior Director Karen
Gauthier. Dodge Ball and Harley were filmed on
the streets, and in a convenience store, in Richmond, VA by Boxer Films (Los
Angeles, CA) Director Robert Groenwold and Executive Producer John Quinn and
FilmYard Productions (Alexandria, VA) Executive Producer Les Wells.
The Park Group (Richmond, VA) and Editor David Corman and
Audio Mixer Eric Heiberg contributed their skills to this project.
Company 3 (New York, NY) and Colorist Victor Mulholland
were responsible for the film-to-tape transfer. About SmithGifford: SmithGifford is an award-winning full-service advertising
agency headquartered in Falls Church, VA, just outside Washington, DC. Over the
last six years the creatively-focused agency has attracted a handful of
carefully selected clients who want to build strong brands using highly
creative thinking. The company s portfolio includes high-profile work for both
regional and national clients including Roy Rogers, AOL, Discovery Channel
Stores, Virginia Lottery, Centex Homes, American Trucking Associations,
SourceFire, Voxant, Approva, Titan America and Brown s Car Stores.
SmithGifford is located at 106 West Jefferson Street,
Falls Church, Virginia 22046; Phone 703.532.5992; Fax 703.532.8011.
For more information or to see a reel contact Matt Smith
at: msmith@smithgifford.com and
visit the agency s website at http://www.smithgifford.com.
Click here to view
the spots: SOURCE: SmithGifford press release
distributed by DMN Newswire. 
OLG Update on New
Safeguards for Lottery Customers, Better Protection for Lottery
Players TORONTO, Canada (June 3,
2008) -- A year ago the Ombudsman delivered his findings and recommendations on
how to strengthen Ontario's lottery system. OLG has been dedicated to its
implementation. To date, 176 actions of 177 recommended by the Ombudsman and
KPMG have been completed. Numerous safeguards have
been put in place to enhance security and build integrity in the system to
restore public confidence for today's lottery players:
| Advertisement |
 |
- The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
is now Ontario’s lottery regulator. Insider and suspicious wins will be
investigated by OPP officers assigned to the AGCO. All calls regarding
potential fraud or theft are routed directly to Investigations.
- It is now mandatory for customers to sign their
lottery tickets. If tickets are not signed when validated by a retailer, the
retailer will ask the customer to sign them. Retailers cannot validate tickets
that are not signed.
- A news release is issued for every lottery winner
over $10,000 and the information is posted on OLG’s website, OLG.ca, for
approximately 30 days.
- For Inside winners, defined as people who sell,
redeem and distribute lottery products, or family members (spouse, children,
parents, siblings as well as any other relative not described here who resides
in the same household) of Insiders, a news release is also distributed and
posted on the OLG website for approximately 30 days and payment of the prize is
withheld for that 30 day period to give anyone with concerns about the win, an
opportunity to come forward.
- Ticket Checkers are available at all lottery
terminal retailers for customers to check their own lottery tickets (all
on-line games such as LOTTO 6/49 and SUPER 7). At present, customers cannot use
the Ticket Checkers to check INSTANT lottery tickets (scratch and win games).
We expect to introduce this feature later this year.
- The lottery terminal ‘freezes’ when a
winning ticket worth $5,000 or more is validated. The freeze sends a signal to
OLG data centre, prompting an OLG representative to immediately call the
customer at the retail outlet to confirm the win with the retailer and the
customer by telephone.
Enhancements to the lottery terminal Customer Display
Screens include:
- Whenever a ticket is checked by a retailer at a
lottery terminal, customers will see a video message on the Customer Display
Screen and hear a winning or non-winning jingle with a voice-over message.
These alerts will tell you whether you have a winning ticket or not.
- Jingles and videos play for a longer time when a
winning ticket is validated, and winning/non-winning messages appear in a
larger print font.
- A new video, jingle and voice-over message plays
for winning tickets worth $5,000 or more along with a display indicating
“BIG WINNER”.
- All on-line lottery tickets are branded along the
front, left-hand side as winning or non-winning when validated through the
terminal.
- OLG has conducted public education campaigns to
remind people to sign and check their tickets and to call our hotline if they
have any concerns.
- Our Customer Excellence Centre provides services 20
hours a day (6am-2am), 7 days a week.
Building more protections
as we move forward Last year the Ombudsman raised
concerns about OLG’s ability to analyze data on inside winners. OLG is in
the process of building a new database to address those concerns.
Our systems are already much stronger than they were a
year ago. However, in order to extract all possible learnings from the
shortfalls of the past and to apply those learnings to the work that is being
done now, OLG has retained Deloitte and Touche to conduct a comprehensive
forensic audit and review of our winners database going back to 1995. The
review will provide information and recommendations on:
- Trends in player winnings, especially those of
insiders
- Enhancing the capabilities of OLG to conduct data
analysis and audit
- A review of our processes and record keeping
practices
Any additional findings that
suggest criminal behavior by retailers will be turned over to the authorities
immediately. Deloitte and Touche are expected to
report their findings in the fall 2008. In addition,
OLG has recently created a new Office of Player Protection, which will be led
by Lenna Bradburn, who holds the title of OLG Chief Security and Compliance
Officer. A former Chief of Police of the City of Guelph, Bradburn was most
recently the Director of the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division with
the City of Toronto. Under Bradburn’s leadership
the Office of Player Protection will be aggressively seeking proactive
opportunities to strengthen the integrity of OLG systems to protect the
interest of players. For further information: John
Letherby, OLG Public Affairs, (416) 662-6320. Independent Lottery Research 3rd Annual Research
Camp to Include Illinois Senator CHICAGO, Illinois (June 3, 2008) -- Independent Lottery
Research will hold its third Research Camp July 21-22nd in Chicago, Illinois.
The two day event, which
will include presentations on lottery trends, the break through attribute
analysis technique of developing instant and online games, and presentations by
lotteries on using research to develop long term marketing plans and the first
successful use of GAME PLAN to develop instant game prize structures, graphics,
and price points, will also include a Street Talk seminar at a White Sox game
Monday night for all attending campers. Many of you
will have read about the ongoing discussion of the pros and cons of lottery
privatization and selling lottery tickets over the Internet that dominated the
recent Illinois Legislative session this year. Research Camp will include a
presentation by Illinois Senator John Cullerton (www.senatorcullerton.com) on
the issues and politics of what happened legislatively and what the prospects
of both issues are in the near future. Senator
Cullerton was the sponsor of the Internet Test Bill and was a major force in
changing the template of lottery privatization from an outright sale to a
revenue sharing model. He also is a strong proponent of consideration of having
a private operator manage the lottery for a fee. This
year’s camp will be held on July 21 and 22 at the ILR headquarters in
downtown Chicago. ILR has extended their early bird
rates for the Research Camp to July 7th, 2008. Visit
our website www.ilresearch.com/camp for more
information regarding this year’s Research Camp. CONTACT: Brooke Hendricks, Independent Lottery Research,
312-546-5925 x6, Email: brookeh@ilresearch.com
Australasian
Gaming Expo to Showcase the Latest Industry Trends
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia (May 30, 2008) -- The
Australasian Gaming
Expo, held August 24-26 2008, is shaping up to be one of the most
successful in its 18 year history, with record registrations to date for the
conference and over 180 exhibitors showcasing their products at the Sydney
Convention and Exhibition Centre. "Competition for
the entertainment dollar and the tightening economy are just a few factors
influencing gaming operators in their purchasing decisions. So, expect to see
some fabulous new products at this year’s Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE),
in addition to innovations that we haven’t seen before,” said
Ross Ferrar, Executive Officer of the Australasian Gaming Machine Manufacturers
Association (AGMMA), and organisers of the annual AGE
www.AustGamingExpo.com.
There will be a plethora of
cutting-edge products and services to the gaming, hospitality and entertainment
industry, including gaming machines and table games, gaming systems, cash
handling equipment, security and surveillance, interior design and fit out,
signage and displays. The major gaming machine
manufacturers have each booked large exhibit spaces at the AGE, and are
expected to use this year’s event to release a number of new games –
and perhaps a few technology surprises. A sign of the
gaming technology and innovation emanating from Australia is reflected in the
exports generated from our gaming machine manufacturers.
“The original local mainstream manufacturers now
operate worldwide – companies originally set up in Australia now generate
more revenue internationally than domestically,” explained Mr
Ferrar. “There’s now around
200,000 gaming machines in Australia – slightly less than 2.4% of the
world’s total – and governments collect around AU$6 billion annually
from an adult population of 15.6 million.” In
addition to the trade show, there are also plentiful information opportunities
at the AGE gaming conference, which is held each day of the show from early
morning until mid afternoon. Featuring leading
industry experts and feature speakers, the conference is free of charge to
those in the gaming industry, and offers separately bookable sessions.
Delegates will learn about topics including innovation and efficiencies on the
gaming floor, regional and global industry trends, design and corporate social
responsibility, and gaming technology challenges and solutions.
Further information about the Australian gaming industry,
including research, can be found at www.AGMMA.com. About AGMMA AGMMA is a
not-for-profit industry association whose members provide technology and
equipment to hospitality venues in over 250 jurisdictions around the world.
AGMMA’s members are Ainsworth, Aristocrat, Aruze,
Global Gaming, IGT, Konami and Stargames. AGMMA hosts
and operates the Australasian Gaming Expo and the New Zealand Gaming Expo.
For further information CONTACT: Contact: Ross Ferrar,
Executive Officer, AGMMA, Phone: +61 2 9960 0125, Fax: +61 2 9960 0124, Email:
info@agmma.com SOURCE: Australasian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association
(AGMMA). New Holographic Ticket Sure To Dazzle
Players! COLUMBIA, South Carolina,
USA (June 4, 2008) – Beginning Wednesday, June 11,
South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL)
players will notice something new shimmering in the lights at their favorite
lottery retailer. The instant ticket, $100,000 Super Cash, launches and is sure
to catch players’ attention. “This ticket is the first SCEL ticket
printed on holographic paper,” said
Ernie Passailaigue, SCEL’s
Executive Director. “Our players will quickly notice the 3-dimensional
quality as dollar signs seem to jump off the ticket!”
The new $100,000 Super Cash
is a $5 instant game with prizes from $5 to $100,000. The dazzling display of
graphics on the ticket is a result of special holographic paper. The ticket was
inspired by a player’s suggestion. “We often ask our retailers and
players what would make our tickets more appealing and unique. The idea of a
multi-dimensional and distinct ticket was born,” said David Barden,
SCEL’s Director of Marketing and Product Development.
The new ticket is unlike any other in SCEL’s lineup.
“$100,000 Super Cash will be the jewel of lottery ticket dispensers
this summer. This exciting ticket exemplifies the fun, entertaining character
SCEL aims to put in all instant tickets,” said Carolyn Cabell,
SCEL’s Product Manager. The eye-catching $100,000
Super Cash ticket is the 24th, $5 instant game introduced by the Lottery.
Since its inception in 2002, the South Carolina Education
Lottery has launched more than 260 instant games and six online games.
Currently, SCEL offers 39 instant games and five online games. SCEL produces an
average of four new games each month in a variety of themes, play styles, and
price points of $1-$10. During the past six years, the support the South
Carolina Education Lottery has received from players and retailers is
responsible for the General Assembly appropriating more than $1.74 billion for
educational purposes through fiscal year 2008. SOURCE:
SCEL. Svenska Spel Takes the Lead on Climate
Issues SWEDEN (June 5, 2008) --
Now Svenska Spel is joining the state
organisations stepping into the breach to put some serious effort into climate
work. The company’s own emissions of carbon dioxide are set to be reduced
by 90 per cent by 2015 compared with levels in 2005. “We want to be a company at the absolute leading edge
of sustainable development, but without compromising on profitability and
efficiency within the organisation,” says Anders Hägg, Acting
Managing Director at Svenska Spel.
| Advertisement |
 |
The company’s own
estimated total emissions for 2005 amounted to around 7,700 tonnes of carbon
dioxide, and the aim is to bring this figure down to 1,020 tonnes by 2015. To
achieve this target independently, the company has produced an aggressive plan
of action which focuses on energy, transport and products. The list of the
things that need to be done includes: using “green” cars only,
30–50 per cent fewer flights, overhauling heating systems and implementing
some radical measures with regard to both freight transportation and paper
materials. The company as a whole is also aiming for environmental
accreditation to ISO 14001 by 2010 at the latest. “With our work, we want to inspire other companies to
start focusing on climate issues by demonstrating that these measures can
involve major cost savings in the long term. For our staff transport alone, we
estimate that we can save about SEK 120 million by 2015,” says
Anders. So this has everything to do with the company
keeping its own house in order. But with 5 million clients, more than 8 000
representatives and 1 900 employees, Svenska Spel also has an unusually wide
range of opportunities to implement various kinds of pro-climate initiatives
that can really benefit the environment enormously – opportunities which
the company will, of course, never surrender. “I look forward with great confidence to leading
Svenska Spel throughout this exciting phase while we take on a lot more
responsibility for both people and our environment,” says Anders
Hägg. Earlier environmental work – a
brief summary Svenska Spel has been working with
environmental issues since the early 1990s, and has implemented an in-house
environmental council as one of its measures. The number of members of this
environmental council doubled in 2007. In December, a decision was made to
increase the company’s focus on the environment, and an Environmental
Manager was appointed on 1 January. A sustainability report has been published
for the past four years. One new aspect of this year’s sustainability
report is that it is now compliant with generally accepted international
guidelines for sustainability reporting (GRI – Global Reporting
Initiative), and it is also reviewed externally by the company’s
auditors. Please contact the following for more
information: - Anders Hägg, Acting Managing
Director, Svenska Spel, tel. +46 70 566 36 59. - Petra
Forsström, Environmental Manager, Svenska Spel, tel. +46 70 545 18 88.
|
