| GTECH Signs Agreement With Pinbridge To Launch
First Online Sports-Betting Wagering System In Ghana
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, USA (July 15, 2008) –
Lottomatica S.p.A.’s wholly-owned
subsidiary GTECH Global Services
Corporation has signed an agreement with Pinbridge Ltd., the holder of a
10-year sports-betting license in Ghana, to be the technology solutions and
consultancy services provider for the first online sports-betting wagering
system in the country. Pinbridge was granted its license in July 2007 by the
Ghana Gaming Commission, and has an exclusive relationship with the Ghana
Football Association (GFA) for the coverage of local soccer matches, in
addition to the planned coverage of international soccer matches. Pinbridge is
an affiliate of international, privately-owned STL Limited, a leading
integrated solutions provider in Ghana. GTECH expects revenues to grow as the
retailer base and product offerings expand over time.
“With this new
contract in Ghana, GTECH has expanded its presence in Africa working together
with our valued partner Pinbridge to bring the first online sports-betting
wagering system to Ghana,” said GTECH President and CEO Jaymin B.
Patel. “Strategically, this is important for us in that we are
expanding beyond traditional lottery-based offerings by delivering automated,
secure wagering solutions for sports-betting pool games in Ghana. This also
marks the first deployment of our newest central system technology offering,
GTECH GO.” GTECH GO™ is an innovative
brand-new, base-level platform specifically designed for rapid startups or
existing offline lotteries in developing nations or countries with a smaller
retail base. It can be configured to accept wagers of all traditional lottery
and sports-betting pool games. “This contract
is also further evidence of the flexibility of GTECH’s systems and our
ability to adapt to ever-changing market requirements,” continued Mr.
Patel. “Pinbridge is very pleased to select
GTECH to be our partner in Ghana,” said Pinbridge Chairman Moshe Edry.
“The launch of GFA-supported sports-betting in Ghana is a market
milestone and the first step in the development of Pinbridge’s gaming
operations in Africa. We are also looking forward to closely collaborating with
the GFA in assisting the Ghanaian community through the improvement of sports,
sports education, and facilities.” In
addition to the Company’s GO central system, over the duration of the
license, GTECH will provide more than 1,500 terminals at locations such as
sports bars and convenience stores. As the licensed operator, Pinbridge will
manage all aspects of the sports-betting operations in Ghana, and install and
operate its own VSAT/RF communications network. It is anticipated that the
wagering system for sports pool games will become operational in October 2008.
GTECH and Pinbridge also plan to expand the business operations into fixed odds
sports-betting in the coming years. GTECH is a
leading gaming technology and services company. With 5,900 people in over 50
countries, GTECH provides innovative technology, creative content, and superior
service delivery to effectively manage and grow today's evolving gaming
markets. GTECH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lottomatica, one of the
world's largest commercial lottery operators and a market leader in the Italian
gaming industry. For more information about the Company, please visit GTECH's
website at www.gtech.com. Contact: Robert K. Vincent,
Public Affairs, GTECH Corporation, 401-392-7452. 
Lottery Dynamics Announce A 12.7% Addition To
Florida Lotto™ Sales Through The Recent Introduction Of Lotto
Plus™ DALLAS, Texas, USA
(July 15, 2008) -- Lottery
Dynamics today announced positive results through June 30, 2008 for the
recent introduction of LOTTO PLUS™. Through a license agreement with
Lottery Dynamics, the Florida Lottery
began offering its customers earlier this year a customized version of LOTTO
SILVER+™ – an “add-on” game within the Lottery
Dynamics family of proprietary, patent-protected, lottery-enhancing products.
That “add-on” game is now known in Florida as LOTTO
PLUS™.
LOTTO PLUS™ currently
offers players the opportunity to add either $10 million* or $25 million* to
their FLORIDA LOTTO™ base game (Base Game) jackpot by wagering, together
with their $1.00 Base Game wager, an additional $1.00 or $2.00 in the LOTTO
PLUS™ “add-on” game. Although
the addition of secondary prizes is now being actively considered by the
Florida Lottery as a possible future enhancement to LOTTO PLUS™, a
“jackpot-only” version of LOTTO PLUS™ was originally
selected and is currently being operated by the Florida Lottery.
Through its first (partial) fiscal year of operations
(since launch on March 2, 2008, through June 30, 2008), LOTTO PLUS™ has
added over $28 million to total Lotto sales, or over $1.65 million per
week on average. This represents a 12.7% addition to FLORIDA LOTTO™ Base
Game sales during this same period. The
availability of LOTTO PLUS™ has been a key factor contributing to the fact
that, since the launch of LOTTO PLUS™, total Lotto sales (which include
sales of both the FLORIDA LOTTO™ Base Game and LOTTO PLUS™) have
performed better than sales of all other on-line games in the Florida
Lottery’s on-line product mix; and also better than sales of scratch-off
game products during this same period as well. Independent analysis (including linear regression analysis)
also shows no evidence of “cannibalization” of FLORIDA
LOTTO™ Base Game sales resulting from the introduction of LOTTO
PLUS™. In fact, a slight increase in Base Game participation
has been observed, especially when Base Game jackpots are at their lowest
levels, and the relative appeal of LOTTO PLUS™ (compared to the Base Game)
is, therefore, at its peak. About Lottery
Dynamics: Lottery Dynamics Corp. is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Integrated Group Assets Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, a
company which offers, through its network of exclusive and independent
licensees, proprietary and patent-protected games and programs to enhance
lottery revenues and good cause contributions. The company’s games and
programs are fully customizable, and work with any matrix or currency around
the world. Lottery Dynamics currently offers three
proprietary, patent-protected, and lottery-enhancing games – Lotto
Gold+™, Lotto Silver+™, and Lotto Platinum+™ – which are
all designed to optimize lottery sales every single draw, with multiple-price
points that offer players higher jackpots and better prize choices, and offer
lotteries a viable method for increasing both revenues and net good cause
contributions without increasing the lotteries’ “all-in”
cost basis. For more information, visit www.lotterydynamics.com; or
CONTACT: Michael Frick (North America) at (850) 926-8762;
mfrick@lotterydynamics.com or
Tim Green (International) at 44-1483-212-629 (London);
tgreen@lotterydynamics.com
* Estimated prize to a single winner, paid over 30 years.
The game’s matrix and odds of winning remain the same.
SOURCE: Lottery Dynamics Corp.
Connecticut
Lottery Corporation Announces Record Fiscal Year; Exceeds Expected General Fund
Transfer NEW BRITAIN, Connecticut,
USA (July 14, 2008) -- The Connecticut Lottery
Corporation has announced that $283.0 million was transferred to the
state's General Fund for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.
According to Anne M. Noble, President and CEO of the CT
Lottery, the profit returned to the state was achieved through record sales of
approximately $998.5 million (unaudited).
The fiscal 2008
contribution to the General Fund was approximately $4.5 million above the
budgeted amount of $278.5 million. CT Lottery profits support services
and programs statewide, including education, public health and safety,
conservation, Medicaid, judicial services, and more.
"The CT Lottery consistently makes a significant fiscal
contribution to the state of Connecticut, and we are pleased that our General
Fund transfers this year exceeded anticipated results. We
appreciate the efforts of our more than 2,700 authorized retailers to promote
the lottery as well as the dedication of the Lottery's staff," said
Noble. "Looking ahead, we will continue to
monitor economic trends and shift business plans as needed to create
efficiencies and ensure variety and excitement in our product mix to maximize
payments to the state. As we expand, a commitment to responsible play and
integrity will remain paramount." In
comparison to fiscal 2007 actual results, the CT Lottery achieved a $41.5
million, or 4.3 percent increase in sales and a $4.0 million, or 1.4 percent,
increase in General Fund transfers. Scratch ticket sales accounted for
the largest segment gain, with an increase of $24.0 million above fiscal 2007.
CONTACT: Diane Patterson, Communications Director,
860-713-2701, Fax: (860) 713-2695.
Stars Shine,
Records Tumble, at 75 Year Celebration
OSBORNE PARK, Western Australia (July 11, 2008) -- A
ballroom in Perth, Western Australia came alive last night during
Lotterywest’s ‘Night of
Stars’ celebration of it’s 75th Anniversary year.
In front of more than 900 guests, Lotterywest’s
Minister, Ljiljanna Ravlich, announced a record return to the community - $95
million for WA’s hospitals and health services, $12 million each to WA
sporting organisations and the arts and $86.8 million to more than 1,000
community groups. The record community return was the
result of record sales of $654 million by Lotterywest retailers during the
year.
Lotterywest Chief Executive
Officer, Jan Stewart, said the Night
of Stars theme was especially relevant in a year of achievements for WA’s
lottery. “This has been a big year for all our
retailers,” she said. “We’ve
successfully installed a whole new gaming system – worlds away from the
charity ticket and ‘draw lotteries’ of yesteryear.
“But what has driven us throughout our 75 year
history remains the same; to give players a reason to dream while generating
funds that make WA a better place to live.” The theme of community support was evident during the
official presentation of Lotterywest’s ‘Community Connect
Awards’. Now in their third year, the awards honour Lotterywest
retailers and staff who are actively involved in supporting their local
community. This year’s award winners were Raj
‘Sel’ Selvendra (Metropolitan Retailer category) for his support of
the St Vincent de Paul Society; Noel Holdsworth (Regional Retailer category)
for his support of the St John Ambulance in Bridgetown and Sherrilee Kingston
(Lotterywest Staff category) for her work as a volunteer fire-fighter.
The awards were attended by more than 900 Lotterywest
retailers, staff, business partners and grant recipients, including some
representatives of the 40 community groups that shared in funds raised from the
first lottery run by the Lotteries Commission in 1933. Lotterywest’s record-breaking return means the total
raised for the WA community over Lotterywest’s 75 years is a remarkable
$2.8 billion. During that time, sales of lottery games
have totalled $9.6 billion and West Australians have won $5.6 billion in
prizes. CONTACT: Gina Zanotti, 9340 5227 / 0438 996
884. South Carolina Education Lottery Executive
Director Elected Chair of Powerball Group
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, USA (July 10, 2008) –
South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL)
Executive Director Ernie
Passailaigue has been elected Chairman of the Powerball Group and Vice
President of the Multi-State Lottery Association
(MUSL). Passailaigue was elected to the position by the 31 member lotteries
that offer the Powerball game. His term started July 1, 2008, and will run for
one year. Passailaigue is also currently serving as President of the
North American Association of State and
Provincial Lotteries (NASPL).
As chairman of the
Powerball Group, Passailaigue’s duties will be to oversee the management
and marketing of the brand; establishment of its budget; establishment of rules
and policies; and approval of new Powerball membership.
Passailaigue has served as Executive Director of SCEL
since its inception in 2002. Under his leadership, cumulative lottery sales
have exceeded $6.1 billion, with more than $2 billion in lottery profits
appropriated to support education in the Palmetto State. In fiscal year 2008,
SCEL celebrated its second best revenue year ever, with more than $992 million
in sales. Upon learning that Passailaigue was elected
Chairman of the Powerball Group, South Carolina Education Lottery Chairman Tim
Madden said, “All South Carolinians should share the Lottery
Commission’s pride in Ernie’s continued success in the lottery
industry. In a few short years he is now the leader of all North American
lotteries, and the premier multi-state jackpot game, Powerball. We are
fortunate to have him as Executive Director and appreciate his dedication to
our mission and the outstanding representative he is for our
state.” Prior to being appointed SCEL’s
Executive Director, Passailaigue was a practicing certified public accountant
for over forty years. In addition, he is a former South Carolina State Senator
(1988-2001). Passailaigue holds a Master of Business
Administration from The Citadel and a B.S. in Business Administration from the
University of South Carolina. A native of Charleston, SC, he and his wife,
Margaret, have seven children and seven grandchildren.
The Multi-State Lottery
Association is a government-benefit, non-profit association entirely owned and
operated by 31 member lotteries. Powerball is the association’s best-known
game. Other games sold through the association include Hot Lotto, 2by2 and Wild
Card. The 31 MUSL members are comprised of the D.C.
Lottery (District of Columbia), the Virgin Islands Lottery and 29 state
lotteries, including: Arizona Lottery, Colorado Lottery, Connecticut Lottery
Corporation, Delaware Lottery, Idaho Lottery, Hoosier Lottery (Indiana), Iowa
Lottery, Kansas Lottery, Kentucky Lottery Corporation, Louisiana Lottery
Corporation, Maine Lottery, Minnesota State Lottery, Missouri Lottery, Montana
Lottery, Nebraska Lottery, New Hampshire Lottery Commission, New Mexico
Lottery, North Carolina Education Lottery, North Dakota Lottery, Oklahoma
Lottery, Oregon Lottery, Pennsylvania Lottery, Rhode Island Lottery, South
Carolina Education Lottery, South Dakota Lottery, Tennessee Education Lottery,
Vermont Lottery, Wisconsin Lottery, and the West Virginia Lottery.
SOURCE: South Carolina Education Lottery.
EM Boosts Betting Business for JAXX
AG
- European Championship and Deutsches Derby
bring JAXX record sales and earnings
- Greater independence from German lottery
market following successful expansion of betting business
ALTENHOLZ, Germany (July 11,
2008) -- The European Championship in football and the Hamburg Derby Week,
Germany's largest flat racing event, have broken all the records at JAXX AG
(formerly FLUXX AG, ISIN DE000A0JRU67).
Sales, gross profit and new customer registrations for June all reached their
highest level since JAXX AG ventured into sports betting at the start of
2006. Consolidated sales from sports and horse betting
scratched the EUR 10 million mark in June 2008. "We benefited particularly
by avoiding one particular dreaded scenario: the favourites did not win either
the European Championship or the Derby, and that enabled us to post a healthy
profit," explained Stefan Hänel, Finance Director of JAXX AG.
The bookmaking margin was
well above the average for the industry. Net betting income was correspondingly
good: Never before has JAXX generated gross profit (hold) of more than EUR 2.0
million in a single month with its betting products. The overwhelming portion of betting business is now generated
outside Germany and therefore avoids the restrictive controls of the State
Treaty on gaming. The controversial legislation in any case does not apply to
horse betting. By successfully expanding its betting business, JAXX AG is
gradually achieving greater independence from the German lottery market.
The number of new customers who registered for the JAXX
Group's services in the course of the European Championship and Derby likewise
easily topped the previous record. "Our carefully targeted advertising had
the desired effect," added Stefan Hänel. "We achieved the best
possible output during the European Championship at relatively little
cost." About JAXX AG The Gaming Company
JAXX is a leading specialist in the European gaming
market. Whether as a service provider for lottery companies and racecourses, as
an expertise partner for major Internet players such as AOL, Yahoo! and Lycos
or as a supplier of its own gaming platforms such as jaxx.com and myBet.com,
JAXX is participating in the multi-billion gaming market in many different
ways. The necessary rights and licences and the
technical and market-relevant expertise place JAXX in a position to be able to
arrange any form of gaming and gambling, along a variety of sales channels,
between the consumer and the state licence holders. In addition to
self-marketed services, JAXX makes its products and services available to other
companies and organisations with extensive customer contacts. The shares of
JAXX AG have been traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since September
1999. The group parent JAXX AG is exclusively a
management holding and has its Headquarters in Altenholz, near Kiel, in the
northern part of Germany. There are other locations in Hamburg and Berlin, as
well as Austria, Malta, Spain and UK. SOURCE: JAXX
AG. Georgia Lottery Sets Record, Surpasses $10 Billion
Mark For Education
ATLANTA, Georgia, USA (July
15, 2008) -- The Georgia Lottery
Corporation today announced that it has transferred a total of $10 billion
for education to the state of Georgia since the lottery’s inception in
1993. Governor Sonny Perdue joined Georgia Lottery Corporation President and
CEO Margaret DeFrancisco at
Georgia Lottery headquarters to mark the milestone. The Georgia Lottery has experienced extraordinary success as
one of only two traditional lotteries in the nation to experience 10
consecutive years of growth in profits. “Today, we mark $10 billion in total that the Georgia
Lottery has contributed to education in Georgia since it was launched in
1993,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “In those 15 years,
we’ve seen record payouts, record ticket sales and, now, this staggering
contribution to the future of Georgia’s children and our state as a
whole.” DeFrancisco presented Governor
Perdue with an oversized check for $10 billion made payable to “Georgia
Students” during today’s ceremony.
“The Georgia
Lottery Corporation has a success formula that works and delivers results for
Georgia’s students and families,” DeFrancisco said.
“Lottery-funded HOPE Scholarships and Pre-K Programs have made a
fundamental difference in the lives of so many Georgians. The transfer of our
$10 billionth dollar to education is a tremendous accomplishment that we can
all celebrate.” The Georgia Lottery’s
fiscal year 2008 profits transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for
Education Account amount to $858,355,000, surpassing last year’s record
transfer by more than $4.8 million. Georgia
Lottery sales for fiscal year 2008, which spanned from July 1, 2007 to June,
30, 2008, totaled $3,519,341,000 – the highest in the lottery’s
15-year history and more than $97.6 million ahead of the previous sales record
of $3.42 billion in fiscal year 2007. The mission of
the Georgia Lottery Corporation is to raise revenue for education in Georgia.
Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corporation has returned over $10.1
billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go
to pay for specific educational programs including Georgia’s HOPE
Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Prekindergarten Program. More than 1
million students have received HOPE, and more than 860,000 4-year-olds have
attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.
For more information, please visit the Media Center
on the Georgia Lottery Web site at: www.galottery.com.
CONTACT: Tandi Reddick, Media Relations Manager, Georgia
Lottery Corporation, P: (404) 215-5062, F: (404) 215-8983, C: (404) 323-4644,
Email: treddick@galottery.org
Charities Given
Society Lottery Jackpot Boost LONDON, UK (July 16, 2008) -- Plans to double jackpot and
proceeds limits for charity lotteries were announced by Minister for Sport
Gerry Sutcliffe today. The proposal, announced in a
written statement to Parliament, will see the maximum jackpot for individual
draws increased from £200,000 to £400,000 and the maximum amount
raised for charity from each draw increased from £2m to £4m.
The move, designed to help charities raise more money,
will now go to consultation and should come into force early next year.
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Mr. Sutcliffe said:
"Many people already enter charity lottery draws to
support a good cause like local hospices, air ambulances and local sports
clubs. Indeed, these kind of lotteries helped raise around £100 million
for good causes in the last year alone. "But
even more can be done to raise more money if the lotteries are made more
attractive. That's why I have decided to allow this unprecedented increase in
overall jackpots and limits on amounts raised. "This will not only benefit around 630 charity lotteries
already licensed to run draws, but I hope will provide some encouragement for
other charities to set up lotteries too. " Garth
Caswell, Chairman of the Hospice Lotteries Association (HLA) said:
"All hospice lotteries and particularly the HLA are
extremely grateful to both the Minister and the MPs who have supported us in
agreeing this increase. This will enable hospice lotteries to combine their
skills and raise even more money through lotteries for the hospice movement in
the UK." The Department today launched a three
month consultation on the proposals. If Ministers then decide to proceed,
necessary Orders will be put forward which will need to be approved by
Parliament. This will require a debate, and potentially a vote, in both Houses.
SOURCE: Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
CONTACT: Department for Culture, Media and Sport Tel: +44 (0)207 211 6200, WWW:
http://www.culture.gov.uk
Education Is
Lottery’s Biggest Winner! Lottery Announces Another Record
Year NASHVILLE, Tennessee, USA
(July 16, 2008) - The Tennessee Education
Lottery has closed out its fiscal year with a record total return for
education of $286.1 million. This brings the total raised since inception to
over $1.2 billion. Gross sales for the fiscal year, which ended June 30, were
over $1 billion—gross sales since inception are over $4.39 billion.
“As the Lottery
closes out this fiscal year and heads toward its fifth anniversary, it’s a
pleasure and a privilege to announce that we have increased our return to
education each year since we began,” said
Rebecca Hargrove, President and CEO of
the Tennessee Lottery. “I’m looking
forward to hearing success stories from some of those who will benefit from the
ever-expanding lottery-funded initiatives, such as the Energy Efficient grant
program, the Helping Heroes scholarships, and a program that will mean awards
for non-traditional students,” said Hargrove.
During the past fiscal year, Lottery funds were used to
assist nearly 68,000 students at higher education institutions in the state,
another 10,000 students in dual enrollment classes, to fund 257 new Pre-K
classes, and to fund grants to 126 after-school programs.
In addition to over $4.39 billion in gross ticket sales
since inception, the Lottery reports the following details about activity since
ticket sales began on January 20, 2004:
- More than $2.54 billion in prizes
won by players, including:
- More than 900 winners of $50,000 or more.
- Of those, 20 were winners of $1 million or more.
- Over $286.3 million paid in
retailer commissions
Since the Tennessee Lottery
began selling tickets on Jan. 20, 2004, it has raised more than $1.2 billion to
fund specific education programs, including college scholarships,
pre-kindergarten and after-school programs. For more information, please visit
www.tnlottery.com.
CONTACT: Kym Gerlock, 615-324-6556 Office, 615-604-2827
Mobile. New Iowa Lottery Games Benefit Iowa Veterans Trust
Fund Games Expected To
Provide $2 Million to $3 Million Annually For Veterans Causes
DES MOINES, Iowa (July 14, 2008) - Veterans from around
the state joined in the celebration Monday of the first
Iowa Lottery games that will raise money to
support veterans and their families through the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund.
The first of the
veterans-benefit games began sales Monday with the debut of “Stars
& Stripes” a $1 instant-scratch game with a red, white and blue
theme. It will be followed by the pull-tab game “All American”
that begins sales July 21. The $1 tickets in that game will feature artwork of
several patriotic symbols including the Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty and
Uncle Sam. Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, a
U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, was the main sponsor of
the legislation that paved the way for Iowa Lottery games dedicated to
veterans’ causes. He joined in Monday’s kick-off celebration for the
games at Camp Dodge in Johnston. “This allows
us to make veterans a priority every day,” Bailey said told those at
the event. “We will create a reliable source of funding for the Iowa
Veterans Trust Fund. This is a great place to use the proceeds from lottery
tickets.” Gov. Chet Culver signed legislation
authorizing the games in March. It calls for the Iowa Lottery to create two new
instant-scratch games and two additional pull-tab games each year, with all
profits from the games dedicated to the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. The governor
was joined by state legislators, government officials and veterans from around
the state on March 11 as he signed House File 2359 during a ceremony at the
State Capitol.
“Iowa’s
veterans have served with dignity and with excellence, and all veterans have
the gratitude of every citizen,” Culver said during the ceremony.
“Throughout my administration, I have been proud to stand up for these
brave Iowans who have fought so hard for our state and nation. Now, we will
stand up for them once more, and use Iowa Lottery profits to support our
hometown heroes.” The Lottery estimates that
the new games will provide about $2 million to $3 million in proceeds annually
for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. John Derner, a Gulf
War veteran who now serves as Adjutant of The American Legion Department of
Iowa, said Monday that the new games will mean valuable assistance to veterans.
“We have been working to find a way to
provide a stable, ongoing source of revenue for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund
and I’m pleased to see our efforts reach fruition,” Derner said.
The Iowa Veterans Trust Fund was created to provide
assistance to qualified veterans to assist in paying for expenses such as:
- Travel expenses for wounded
veterans directly related to follow-up medical care;
- Job training or college tuition
assistance;
- Unemployment assistance during a
period of unemployment due to prolonged physical or mental illness or
disability resulting from military service;
- Dental, vision, and hearing
assistance for veterans living in a long-term care facility or under a home
healthcare contract (further asset limits apply);
- Benefits for a child or children
of a disabled or deceased veteran following September 11, 2001;
- Individual or family counseling
programs (further asset limits apply).
In addition, funds are
available for family and children support groups and honor guard reimbursement.
To learn more about the Veterans Trust Fund, visit
www.iowava.org. SOURCE: The Iowa Lottery.
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