|
Beijing Lottery and GTECH Corporation Deploy Innovative Android
Lottery Application on Samsung Mobile Phone
Mobile Android Lottery
Application designed by GTECH's Polish Software Team now in use in China on
Samsung Mobile Phones
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (May 17,
2012) – As part of a pilot rollout project, a small number of Beijing
Lottery retailers have started using an Android lottery application developed
by GTECH Corporation for
mobile phones. The application allows the Beijing Lottery retailers to offer
lottery games (draw based games as well as instant games) to the public in
venues other than Beijing Lottery outlets.
This solution supports two popular
online games (3D and Union Lotto) as well as validation of all online games and
instants games. The "terminal" is a powerful Samsung Galaxy SII™
that speaks wirelessly to a portable wearable Zebra thermal printer. The
application is based upon the Android operating system and leverages the
phone's camera functionality and the retailer graphical user interface. The
application was specifically developed for the Beijing Welfare Lottery
retailers.
"The explosion of mobile devices
globally, coupled with the adoption of Android, provides a compelling new
paradigm for our lottery industry. This joint endeavour between the Beijing
Lottery and GTECH is indicative of the innovation we expect with respect to
retail solutions going forward," said GTECH Corporation Chief Innovation
Officer Donald Stanford.
The mobile solution, consisting of
mobile phones and portable thermal printer, was developed in GTECH's Warsaw
technology center. A Polish team, comprised of several engineers, took three
months to develop the solution which was tailored to the specific needs of the
Beijing lottery market. GTECH's Rhode Island and Asia Pacific Technology Teams
also contributed their expertise to the Beijing delivery in terms of testing
the Chinese user interface, ensuring a secure implementation, and designing the
3G network.
The Chinese market is the fastest
growing lottery market in the world with a sales growth rate estimated at 30%
per annum.
The solution was created in
collaboration with Samsung engineers who worked with GTECH engineers to develop
the technical solution specific to Samsung phones.
"This solution was a direct
result of our global expertise and partnerships. Our development hub in Warsaw
Poland did most of the application work supported by our colleagues in the
region. We see great potential in leveraging 3rd party off-the-shelf components
to meet specific lottery needs," said GTECH Corporation Chief Technology
Officer Matthew Whalen.
About GTECH
GTECH is a leading gaming technology
and services company. With 8,000 people in approximately 60 countries when
combined with Lottomatica Group, GTECH provides innovative technology, creative
content, and superior service delivery to effectively manage and grow today's
evolving gaming markets. GTECH is a subsidiary of Lottomatica Group, one of the
world's largest commercial lottery operators and a market leader in the Italian
gaming industry. For more information about GTECH, please visit
www.gtech.com.
CONTACT: Robert Vincent, Senior Vice
President, Corporate Affairs, GTECH Corporation, Media Line: 401-392-7452.
SOURCE: GTECH.
Shareholders’ Annual General Meeting - 20 Years INTRALOT Growing
Together
ATHENS, Greece (May 16, 2012) --
“INTRALOT has
created a new global business landscape in the lottery sector developing and
delivering innovative gaming technology and solutions. We are very proud that
during the past 20 years we have grown together with our customers, shaping an
exemplary and technologically-advanced sector”, stated
Mr. Constantinos
Antonopoulos, CEO of INTRALOT Group, during the Company’s Annual
Shareholders’ Meeting that took place today in Athens, Greece.
“Innovation is one of the
Company’s competitive advantages and major driving force to its
international expansion. From Eastern Europe to Latin America, from USA to
Western and Central Europe, from Oceania to Asia and Africa, INTRALOT within
its 20 years of operation has managed to become the key player of the gaming
sector. "
"The company’s success has
been driven by our people and their commitment, hard work and dedication to our
values. We are now into a challenging period for the whole gaming sector,
having though in the centre of our corporate philosophy the same fundamentals
that have led us to our current leading position; Passion for achieving
challenging goals; Commitment to customer satisfaction; Focus on designing and
developing innovative and effective solutions”.
Mr. Antonopoulos revealed the new
corporate roadmap for the years ahead with the vision of further strengthening
the position of the INTRALOT Group and its customers in a highly demanding and
exciting industry.
About INTRALOT (www.intralot.com)
INTRALOT, a public listed company,
is the leading supplier of integrated gaming and transaction processing
systems, innovative game content, sports betting management and interactive
gaming services to state-licensed gaming organizations worldwide. Its broad
portfolio of products & services, its know-how of Lottery, Betting, Racing
& 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 53 countries, with
approximately 5.500 people and revenues of €1.2 billion for 2011, INTRALOT
has established its presence on all 5 continents.
For more information CONTACT: Ms
Persa Kartsoli, Head of Communications, Phone: +30-210 6156000, Fax: +30-210
6106800, email: kartsoli@intralot.com.
Texas Lottery Celebrates 20th Birthday with New Scratch-Off
Game
Two Decades Of The Texas
Lottery Brings New Game
AUSTIN, Texas (May 14, 2012) –
The Texas Lottery is
celebrating its 20th birthday with a 20th Anniversary scratch-off game,
NBC5 reported today.
According to the news service, the
new game features more than $21.5 million in prizes including nine top prizes
of $250,000 and more than 100 second-tier prizes of $1,000.
Odds of winning any prize in the new
game are one in 3.52.
"We continually strive to
incorporate innovation into our products to provide Texans with the best games
available," Texas Lottery Commission executive director
Gary Grief, told the
news station "We are in constant pursuit of new technologies and games that
enhance the services we provide to our customers, reduce our operating expenses
and generate funds for Texas schools."
The lottery, when passed, was
designed to direct funds into Texas' education system. To date, lottery
officials say billions have been sent that way since 1997.
"Over the past 20 years, the
Texas Lottery has generated $20 billion in revenue for the state and we are
particularly proud of the $14 billion our retailers and players have helped us
to contribute to public education since 1997. Those numbers are certainly
something to commemorate and we look forward to another 20 years," said
Grief.
Two decades ago when the Texas
Lottery began, Lone Star Millions was the only game around. Now, Texans can
choose from 80 scratch-off games and seven draw games, including
Powerball®, Mega Millions®, Lotto Texas®, Texas Two Step®, Pick
3™, Daily 4™ and Cash Five.®
Lottery officials added that plans
are also under way for a new draw game, All or Nothing™, to be launched
later this year.
Lottery facts over the last
20 years:
- $65 billion in total sales, including a record
sales year of $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2011.
- Distributed more than $38 billion in prizes paid to
winning players.
- Contributed $14 billion to the Foundation School
Fund, which supports public education in Texas.
- Texas Lottery products are sold by nearly 17,000
retailers across the state.
- Based on calendar year 2011 sales, the Texas
Lottery ranked fourth among United States lotteries and 15th among lotteries
worldwide, according to La Fleur's Magazine
SOURCE: Texas Lottery.
Kambi Signs Contract with Spanish Acrismatic to Supply Full Sports
Betting Platform
LONDON, U.K. (May 15, 2012) --
Kambi Sports Solutions,
Unibet’s B2B provider of sports betting services, has signed a contract
with Grupo Acrismatic, one of Spain's leading casino groups, to deliver a
complete sports betting service.
The service includes odds
compilation, risk management, customer profiling and a technical platform. The
contract is initially for two years and gives Kambi exclusivity to develop
Acrismatic’s sports offer online, on mobile and via retail in Spain.
The launch is expected before the
Spanish League starts in late August 2012.
Grupo Acrismatic, which has 36 years
experience in the gaming industry, is the fifth largest casino group in Spain
and has a leading position especially in Comunidad Valenciana, with 2,600
points of sale and two casinos.
"It is excellent news for us
that, in competition with other suppliers, we have been selected as a supplier
to one of Spain's leading casino groups. By using Kambi’s sportsbook
solution, Acrismatic will be perfectly positioned to compete profitably and
successfully in the re-regulated Spanish sports betting market," says
Kristian Nylén, CEO Kambi.
For more information CONTACT: David
Kenyon, CFO, Kambi +44 7595 106 647
About Kambi
Kambi is a B2B supplier of quality
sports betting products on an in-house developed proprietary software platform.
The goal for Kambi is to be an independent and preferred partner to larger
private operators and to the state lotteries around the world. Today, Kambi is
run independently with its own offices in London, Stockholm, Malta and Manila.
It has 250 employees and consultants and provides fully hosted sports betting
services and the pool betting products Supertoto and Superscore to both Unibet
and operators outside the Unibet group. Kambi’s clients include Unibet,
Paf, Expekt, Nordicbet, Interwetten and AsianLogic.
More information about Kambi Sports
Solution can be found on www.kambi.com
About Unibet
Unibet was founded in 1997 and is an
online gambling company listed on NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm.
Unibet is one of the largest privately-owned gambling operators in the European
market and provides services in 27 languages through www.unibet.com,
www.unibet.dk, www.unibet.fr, www.unibet.it, www.unibet.com.au, www.maria.com
and www.mariacasino.dk. Today, Unibet has more than 6.2 million customers in
over 100 countries. Unibet is a member of the EGBA, European Gaming and Betting
Association, RGA, Remote Gambling Association in theUK and is audited and
certified by eCOGRA in relation to responsible and fair gaming.
More information about Unibet Group
plc can be found on www.unibetgroupplc.com
SOURCE: Unibet Group plc.
Colorado Lottery and Colorado Tourism Office Partner to Create
“Hidden Gems Of Colorado” Scratch
Ticket
Game Developed To Help
Promote Colorado Tourism
DENVER, Colorado (May 14, 2012)
– New to the Colorado
Lottery this month is a Scratch game called "Hidden Gems of
Colorado." The game was developed by the Colorado Lottery and Colorado
Tourism Office to boost awareness of things to see and do across the state.The
game was inspired by the Colorado Tourism Office’s official vacation
guide, “99 Gorgeous Places in Colorado.” The ticket’s
graphic elements and unique prize structure; every prize ends in “9,”
comes from the 99 Gorgeous Places theme.
“The game encourages players
to get out and enjoy the many recreational opportunities partially funded by
Lottery proceeds,” said
Abel J. Tapia, director
of the Colorado Lottery. “The game ties in nicely with the
Lottery’s tagline, “Don’t forget to play,” which reminds
people to play the games of the Colorado Lottery, and also to get out and play
in Colorado.”
Hidden Gems of Colorado will be a $5
game with a $199,999 top prize and a $9 minimum win (a first for a $5 game).
Approximately 1.8 million tickets will be distributed to more than 3,000
Lottery retail outlets throughout Colorado. The game will be on the market
through August. Overall odds are 1 in 4.28.
Unique to this ticket is a special
Second-Chance drawing that features Colorado vacation getaway packages to some
of Colorado’s top destinations. The prize packages were submitted by
tourism industry businesses and destinations across the state. Some of the many
prize packages include a getaway to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, overnight
accommodations and spa treatments at a Vail Resort, and a Colorado Wine Country
excursion. To enter the Second-Chance drawings, players enter their non-winning
Hidden Gems tickets online at
www.coloradolottery.com. One prize package will be given
away each week during the life of the game.
“We are thrilled to partner
with the Colorado Lottery in showcasing some of our state's most special
places. There are far more than 99 gorgeous places in Colorado and we invite
everyone to go out and discover the treasures that exist right in your
backyard," said Al White, director, Colorado Tourism Office.
Proceeds from the Colorado
Lottery’s games – MatchPlay, Mega Millions, Cash 5, Scratch, Lotto
and Powerball - stay in Colorado to improve the quality of life in the state.
The Lottery has returned more than $2.3 billion to the state of Colorado since
it was established. Through Great Outdoors Colorado, the Conservation Trust
Fund and Colorado State Parks, the Lottery has provided funding for new trails,
precious open space and wildlife protection. For more information, visit
www.coloradolottery.com.
SOURCE: Colorado Lottery.
Camelot Launch New £10 National Lottery
Scratchcard
LONDON, U.K. (May 14, 2012) –
Camelot, the licensed operator of the
UK National Lottery, has
launched its first £10 Scratchcard game – £4 Million Blue
– as part of its well-publicised strategy for long-term, responsible
growth. The continuing success of this approach – which is based on
offering players an enhanced and regularly-refreshed portfolio of games, and
focusing on innovation to give them what they want, when they want – has
seen total UK National Lottery sales increase by over 20% since 2002 and the
number of players grow by over 5% in the last five years alone.
£4 Million Blue is the result
of extensive research into a number of different product components – such
as game design, layout, call-outs and top prizes – with the best elements
combined to create the ultimate £10 National Lottery Scratchcard. As a
result, the game was received very positively in consumer research, with a
significant number of people liking the idea and being interested in buying the
product.
With five different games, four huge
top prizes of £4 million and over £120 million in total cash prizes
available to be won, £4 Million Blue delivers great play value. At 1 in
3.3, it offers the best overall odds of winning any National Lottery
Scratchcard prize and, at 74.3%, offers the highest-ever National Lottery
Scratchcard prize payout. It’s also physically the largest National
Lottery Scratchcard available and is printed on foil to make it stand out in
in-store dispensers. Some 16.5 million tickets have been printed for the game,
with around 23,500 National Lottery outlets with proven demand for
higher-priced games set to stock the game.
Camelot is also supporting the game
with an extensive marketing campaign in June and July.
Encompassing TV, outdoor, retail and
consumer PR, the campaign will reinforce Camelot’s new creative design and
tagline for National Lottery Scratchcards: ‘Reveal a win in an
instant.’
As well as the new £10 game,
Camelot has launched a second £3 Scratchcard, Pot of Gold.
With a full range of £1 and
£2 games on offer as well, the company is giving National Lottery players
even greater choice – and ensuring that, in an increasingly competitive
market, its range of products appeals to as many people as possible so that it
continues to maximise returns to National Lottery Good Causes.
CONTACT: Sarah Icken, Communications
Manager, Camelot Business Solutions Limited, Tel: 020 7632 5742, Web:
www.camelotgroup.co.uk.
SOURCE: Camelot Release.
Georgia’s Wheel Of Fortune® Players Win Big In
Hollywood
ATLANTA, Georgia (May 14, 2012)
– Five Georgia Lottery
players recently won more than $81,000 from the exclusive non-broadcast,
lottery players-only Wheel of Fortune Second Chance Promotion with Pat Sajak
and Vanna White in Hollywood, Calif.
Georgia’s winners
were:
- Lonnice Rivers of Ridgeland, S.C., who won
$56,865;
- Derrick Shaver of Montgomery, Ala., who won
$10,900;
- Frances Burke of Riverdale, who won $10,000;
- Marlene Souza of Rincon, who won $1,750;
- Lisa Goggins of Mineral Bluff, who won $1,500.
To participate, players entered
non-winning Georgia Lottery Wheel of Fortune instant tickets into the second
chance promotion. The Wheel of Fortune experience was an exclusive
non-broadcast, lottery players-only admittance with a chance to win up to $1
million.
Each Wheel of Fortune experience
prize included round-trip airfare, 5-day, 4-night deluxe hotel accommodations
and ground transfers from Los Angeles International Airport, hotel and studio
for the prize winner and up to three guests. Each prize winner also received
$1,000 in spending money.
Georgia Lottery players not selected
for the Hollywood trip still have a chance to win. Entries will be entered into
a preliminary Second Chance Drawing where five names will be selected for a
multi-state drawing for a cash prize of up to $1 million.
Georgia Lottery finalists have from
July 5 until Aug. 17 to enter non-winning tickets. The drawing date for the
multi-state second chance drawing is Aug. 18.
Wheel of Fortune is a $3 instant
ticket loaded with cash prizes of up to $100,000.
Since its first year, the Georgia
Lottery Corp. has returned more than $13.4 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
Pre-K Program. More than 1.4 million students have received HOPE, and more than
1.1 million 4-year-olds have attended the state-wide, voluntary prekindergarten
program.
For more information on the Georgia
Lottery Corp., please visit:
www.galottery.com and
www.lotterybenefitsgeorgians.com
SOURCE: Georgia Lottery.
La Fleur’s 2012 World Lottery Almanac -- The 20th
edition
ROCKVILLE, Maryland (May 14, 2012)
-- The 472-page La
Fleur’s 2012 World Lottery Almanac is the complete reference source on
the $262 billion worldwide lottery industry.
Section I features a “Fast
Facts” compilation of data on North American lotteries, including startup
history, guide to product mix, government profits earmarking, North American
& Australasian lotto matrices, and video lottery terminal guide.
| Classified
Advertisement |
 |
Section II features four-page
profiles on 45 U.S., five Canadian and six Australasian lotteries. Each profile
traces the lottery’s calendar 2011 versus 2010 sales by game (instant,
3-digit, 4-digit, lotto, cash lotto, keno, VLTs, niche games), its calendar
2011 versus 2010 instant sales by price point ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $7, $10,
$20) and its projected fiscal 2012 versus fiscal 2011 ad budgets by media and
by game. Each profile tracks the lottery’s five-year annual sales by game
from fiscal 2007 through fiscal 2011. Each profile features the number and the
percentage of total, instant and online retailers by type of business, plus
each retailer’s fiscal 2011 total, instant and online sales.
Section III is divided into seven
chapters: worldwide lottery sales; fiscal 2011 sales, profit and expense
analysis; the retailer network; ad expenditures; historical analysis;
contractor survey; and calendar 2011 U.S. lotteries’ weekly sales by game.
The worldwide lottery sales chapter
tracks calendar 2011 traditional game sales and VLT net machine income in local
currency and converted to U.S. currency for 181 lotteries worldwide, including
rankings by total and per capita sales for instant, lotto, total, keno, toto
and draw games. There is a separate section on VLT net machine income rankings.
The historical analysis section
features the U.S., Canadian and Australian lotteries’ annual sales by year
for the past decade for instant, pulltab, 3-digit numbers, 4-digit numbers,
in-state lotto, cash lotto, bloc lotto, Powerball, Mega Millions, fast draw and
daily keno and video lottery terminals.
The contractor guide features a
monetary guide to U.S. lotteries’ instant ticket and online system
contracts. In addition, there is a worldwide guide to instant printers and
terminal system contracts by lottery organization.
The appendix includes a glossary of
terms.
SOURCE: TLF Publications, Inc.
Tipp24 SE Report Online Lottery Marketing Allowed - Court Stops
Prolongation of State Treaty on Games of Chance
- Internet bans in state GlüStV
legislation contravene EU law
- Court pre-empts new State
Treaty
HAMBURG, Germany (May 16, 2012) --
The Internet ban continued by German state laws since the expiry of the State
Treaty on Games of Chance ('Glücksspielstaatsvertrag' - GlüStV) in
late 2011 contravenes European law and is inapplicable. This was the verdict of
the Regional Court of Bremen which has lifted a preliminary ban preventing
Tipp24 Deutschland from
online brokerage of the state-run lottery in Bremen. As of February 2012,
Tipp24 has been brokering lottery tickets via its
www.lotto24.de website, as new gaming
legislation in Schleswig-Holstein made such activities legal again.
Lotto Bremen wanted to prevent this
online competition in Bremen. The court, however, saw no grounds. The Internet
ban regarding the organization and brokerage of games of chance is no longer
applicable, as the State Treaty on Games of Chance expired at the end of 2011.
The state of Bremen's own gaming legislation has not been notified with the
European Commission, although this is required by the EU Information Directive.
| Advertisement |
 |
The prolongation of the Internet ban
included in Bremen's state law therefore contravenes European law. In its
verdict, the Regional Court of Bremen referred to a verdict of Germany's
Federal Supreme Court ('Bundesgerichtshof'). In 2011, the latter had already
indicated that should state laws seek to tighten any provisions of the State
Treaty on Games of Chance, such legislation could not be effectively enforced
without conducting the prior EU notification procedures.
There are similar Implementation
Acts in all federal states - with the exception of Schleswig-Holstein - which
prolong the regulations of the expired State Treaty on Games of Chance until
new legislation has been adopted. As none of these state laws has been notified
with the European Commission, they are all likely to contravene EU law and be
largely inapplicable.
Magnus von Zitzewitz, Managing
Director of Tipp24 Deutschland, states: 'The court confirmed our opinion
that the Internet ban is inapplicable. This means that a further court has
ruled that online lotteries are legally permitted.'
In the only legally binding verdict
on online lottery brokerage to date, the Administrative Court of Halle already
declared on 11 November 2010 that all restrictions of the State Treaty on Games
of Chance were inapplicable. The court was thus applying the rulings of the
European Court of Justice, which had already declared the GlüStV
inapplicable on 8 September 2010, as it was neither coherent nor systematic.
One of the main arguments which the Administrative Court of Halle emphasized in
its final judgement was that lotteries do not involve any recognizable danger
of addiction - also not via online brokerage. The court thus exposed the
monopolistic reasons behind the GlüStV's restrictions.
The interesting aspect of the
verdict is that it is based on the most exhaustive enquiry ever conducted. In a
nationwide survey, the court questioned 100 addiction clinics and over 600
guardianship courts with regard to gambling addiction in general and
specifically the danger of becoming addicted to lotteries. This finally
established the absurdity of the 'lottery addiction' argument.
About Tipp24 SE:
Tipp24 SE (formerly Tipp24 AG) was
founded in September 1999 and holds equity interests in a number of companies
in Spain, Italy and the UK, which enable participation in lottery-based games
via the Internet, especially via the websites
www.ventura24.es,
www.giochi24.it,
www.mylotto24.co.uk and
www.tipp24.com.
From its foundation to the end of
2008, Tipp24 SE brokered tickets worth over 1.5 billion euros to the state
lottery companies - in the latter years over 330 million euros annually.
Following its successful IPO in 2005 (Prime Standard), the company was admitted
to the SDAX index in June 2009 and has been trading as a European public
limited company since December 2009.
CONTACT: Tipp24 SE, Andrea Fratini,
Head of Media and Public Relations, Tel.: +49 40 32 55 33-660.
Playtech Release AGM Statement
Annual General Meeting
Statement
LONDON, U.K. (May 16, 2012) –
At the Annual General Meeting of
Playtech Limited this
morning the Company's Chairman, Roger Withers, will make the following
statement:
"I am pleased to report another
year of growth and progress by Playtech with excellent top line performance and
strong growth in EBITDA. In 2011 gross income increased by 41% to €243.6
million and revenues by 46% to €207.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 22% to
€125.5 million, including the Group's share of profit from William Hill
Online.
The Board and its advisers are
committed to moving to a Premium Listing on the Official List of the London
Stock Exchange and preparations continue to progress well. A prospectus will be
published and an application made for the move, as soon as possible.
Turning to current trading, the
strong performance experienced in the first quarter has continued in the six
weeks since the end of March. PTTS has outperformed expectations and the Group
is preparing for regulated activity in the German and Spanish markets which is
anticipated to commence later in the year when licences are granted in
Schleswig-Holstein and Spain.
Our joint venture with William
Hill, William Hill Online, continues to perform strongly and demonstrates
Playtech's ability to forge significant earnings enhancing partnerships with
leading gaming businesses around the world. The stake in William Hill Online is
a valuable asset for the Company.
As ever, Playtech's continued
success could not have been achieved without the commitment of the executive
management team and everyone working for the Company, and I thank them for yet
another excellent performance in 2011.
In conclusion, after an exciting
year of progress and investment, we believe Playtech continues to perform
strongly and is well positioned for continued growth. We remain confident of
the Company's future prospects and look forward to further progress in
2012.”
For further information CONTACT:
Playtech Ltd +44 (0) 20 7861 3232, Roger Withers, Chairman or Mor Weizer, Chief
Executive, David Mathewson, Chief Financial Officer
SOURCE: Playtech Limited.
JCM Global Brings Australasia's Best Currency Solutions to G2E
Asia
LAS VEGAS (May 14, 2012) - More
operators and suppliers across Australasia trust
JCM Global, the automated
transaction solutions provider, than any other company.
Now JCM Global is bringing its
award-winning solutions to G2E Asia. JCM Global will be in stand #929, and will
show the first final design of its revolutionary iV8 table game bill validator,
a solution developed for the high-volume table game marketplace. Additionally,
JCM will show its standard-setting, award-winning iVIZION® bill validator,
Intelligent Cash Box (ICB®), the new iPRO-RC™ recycling bill
validator, and the PayCheck 4™ thermal printer.
JCM created the iV8 bulk note bill
validator specifically for high-volume table game markets, and unveiled the
first prototype at G2E Asia 2011. Now, based on extensive in-field research and
customer feedback, the unit's overall design has been modified and compacted.
iV8 counts currency at 8 notes per
second, dramatically increasing table game speed and the number of games played
per hour. Instead of hand-counting, with iV8, the dealer presents a brick of
notes into the bezel, where the notes are validated, counted and sorted. Then,
the stack total value is displayed to the player, the dealer, the pit and the
overhead surveillance camera, all at the incredibly fast speed of 8 notes per
second. Rejected bills are automatically sent to a separate tray. Its 83mm-wide
bill opening can accept a wide range of currencies.
The iVIZION bill validator continues
to set speed records across the global gaming industry, and is the better,
smarter, faster bill validation solution. As the foundation of intelligent
validation, iVIZION is built for today's and tomorrow's casino operations with
unsurpassed validation and anti-fishing technology and a platform built for
growth.
The ICB system helps casinos
eliminate several points of human error for a faster, more efficient drop
process that reduces waste and adds to the bottom line, and ICB's new web
reporting gives users they reports they want, when they want them.
The new iPRO-RC has one of the most
sophisticated sensing and anti-fishing packages JCM has ever created. iPRO-RC
has a note recycling feature that helps operators reduce costs, driven by two
large-capacity chambers with Roller Friction Recycling Technology that holds
recycled notes for instant payouts.
The PayCheck 4 is the fastest,
smartest and most durable printer in the gaming industry, with print speeds and
head life that are twice that of competitive products, and with more standard
memory than any competitive product.
Additionally, JCM Global will be
showing its world-renowned DBV® 300, Taiko™, TBV™, Universal Bill
Acceptor (UBA®) and Vega™ and Vega-RC™. See the entire line of
JCM Global's award-winning products at www.jcmglobal.com.
SOURCE: JCM Global.
Annual Competition Crowns Retailer with Fastest Fingers Title in the
State
Victory is At Hand:
Lewes Lottery Clerk Named Reigning Champ in 2012 XFINGERS
Challenge
DOVER, Delaware (May 10, 2012) --
Victory is at hand for one quick-skilled retailer who competed to earn the
title of “Fastest Fingers” in the state of Delaware. On
Thursday, May 3, 2012, The Delaware Lottery hosted its 2012 XFingers Challenge Final at
the Modern Maturity Center in Dover to determine who among all licensed
Delaware Lottery terminal operators can most adeptly operate lottery
machines.
With fifteen retailers—five
from each county—entering the Finals, the Delaware Lottery crowned Shayne
Edwards of the Daily Market in Lewes as the 2012 XFingers Challenge winner and
leading titleholder.
A four-time XFingers champion (2012,
2011, 2008 and 2006) Edwards beat his second-place competitor by just 13
seconds and was awarded a $1,000 cash prize for having the fastest time of 1
minute and 22 seconds.
“Retailers are an essential
part of the Delaware Lottery’s success by helping to make lottery games
fun and enjoyable for our customers,” Vernon Kirk, Director of the
Delaware Lottery, said. “The annual XFingers Challenge was
designed to recognize and show support and appreciation for the more than 500
Lottery retailers throughout the state who play a key role in contributing to
the state’s General Fund. The Delaware Lottery congratulates Shayne
Edwards and all participants who competed in this year’s XFingers
Challenge.”
Retailer contestants in the XFingers
Challenge are timed on how fast they can enter a variety of lottery ticket
requests and transactions into a terminal, with the fastest players moving on
to the finals. The quick clerk from Lewes was able to beat out hundreds
(over 300 state-wide) of contestants in the county-wide preliminary rounds held
in April, and earn himself a grand prize total of $1,500 along the way, $1,000
in the finals and $500 in preliminaries. Each of the top five competitors
in the counties won cash prizes and advanced to Thursday’s championship
round, staged at Dover’s Modern Maturity Center.
Separated by a mere 7 seconds each,
additional prize-winners of the 2012 XFingers Challenge Finals included:
- 2nd place - Laura Zeller of Acme Market,
Smyrna ($400)
- 3rd place - Melissa Ortiz of Shore Stop, Rodney
Village ($200)
- 4th place - James Farley of Food Lion, Wilmington
($150)
- 5th place - Brad Alwood of Daily Market, Lewes
($100)
Delaware Lottery customers were also
able to join in the 2012 XFingers Challenge by nominating their favourite
clerk(s) to participate in the competition. All participants were automatically
eligible for a variety of great prizes.
About The Delaware
Lottery
Since the start of operations in
1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $3.3 billion to the
state’s General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit
everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL®,
MEGA MILLIONS®, HOT LOTTO®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, DELAWARE CASH 5®, PLAY
3, PLAY 4, and assorted Instant Games. Delaware Lottery game and promotional
details are available at delottery.com, at licensed retailers, and from the
Lottery's office in Dover.
Winner Privacy is our Policy.
CONTACT: Vernon Kirk, Director,
Delaware Lottery, (302) 744-1604.
SOURCE: Delaware Lottery.
Svenska Spel Annual Report 2011 - Third Best Result
Ever
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (May 12, 2012) --
Svenska Spel is proud to present its 2011 Annual Report.
A result of SEK5,077 million, was
for Svenska Spel the third best result ever. The entire surplus is paid out to
the Treasury.
I hope that you will enjoy reading
our Annual Report 2011, Lennart Käll, CEO Svenska Spel,
CLICK HERE
Responsibility Is Part Of Our
Offering
Svenska Spel is part of society and customer care is a key
aspect of our mandate. Our approach is that gaming should be enjoyable for
everybody, but we are keenly aware that this is not always the case. Each
individual who develops a gambling addiction is a failure for our industry.
Consequently, we see it as our ultimate responsibility to prevent
gambling problems and minimise the hazardous aspects of gaming.
As part of our social
responsibility, we also seek to limit the environmental impact of our
operations and products. We also impose environmental requirements throughout
our procurement activities not least in areas that entail
substantial environmental impact – such as goods transport – and
systematically monitor our suppliers’ environmental efforts.
Svenska Spel’s responsibility
programmes are based on a recognised global standard, namely, European
Lotteries, and we pursue an exchange with other gaming companies – both
national and international –as regards know-how and positive experiences.
Our objective is to be at the forefront, continually identifying new paths to
superior responsible gaming.
Dialogue with our customers,
politicians and other stakeholders is also a key source of knowledge and, using
this dialogue, we can identify community expectations regarding our role.
We are now working on the development of a model to estimate Svenska
Spel’s social value as a tool for communications. Among other points, this
involves how we contribute to society in the form of sponsoring, research,
salaries, enjoyment and excitement. But we will also show the social costs
arising from our gaming activities.
As we now enter a new year, we view
collaboration with research a significant component in the development of
responsible gaming for the next generation. Among other insights, we need
to know which gaming measures are actually useful and thus focus resources on
in-house development of the right action programmes. In cooperation with
external gaming companies and our own research council, we aim to develop new
insight and new approaches in 2012.
We view our responsible gaming
programmes as a key feature of our customer offering. We can contribute to
positive social development by enabling customers to gain control of their
gaming.
Lennart Käll, CEO
Zenita Strandänger, CSR
Manager
Some Highlights Of 2011
|
Key Data, Svenska Spel |
|
Group |
2011
SEK million |
2010
SEK million |
|
Gross gaming revenue |
22,284 |
21,751 |
|
Net gaming revenue, total
|
9,687 |
9,624 |
|
Net sales from gaming
operations, etc. |
7,919 |
7,885 |
|
Operating profit |
4,940 |
4,795 |
|
Operating margin, % |
21.9 |
21.8 |
|
Income for the year |
5,007 |
4,766 |
|
Average number of
employees |
1,774 |
1,764 |
Svenska Spel In Brief
- Svenska Spel is Sweden’s only wholly
State-owned gaming company.
- Svenska Spel arranges sports betting, number games
and lotteries via retailers, subscriptions, mobile phones and on
svenskaspel.se, as well as gaming on Vegas VLTs in restaurants and bingo halls.
The Group includes Casino Cosmopol AB which runs Sweden’s four
international casinos in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Sundsvall. The
Playscan AB subsidiary pursues the development and sale of the responsible
gaming tool PlayscanTM.
- The gaming offering includes a number of well-known
brands such as Triss, Lotto, Oddset and Stryktipset.
- In 2011, Svenska Spel paid out winnings amounting
to some SEK 12 billion (excluding Casino Cosmopol), transforming 350 customers
into millionaires during the year.
- The Company is Sweden’s major sports sponsor,
and the main sponsor of football, ice hockey and other sports.
- Svenska Spel’s surplus is utilised as
prescribed by the Government. In 2011, the surplus totalled SEK 5,007
million.
Significant Events In
2011
New Chairman
At the Annual General Meeting on 19
April, Anitra Steen was appointed the new Chairman of the Board of AB Svenska
Spel. Anitra Steen was formerly the Managing Director of Systembolaget,
Director-General of the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish Agency for Higher
Education Services, as well as a State Secretary in the Government Offices of
Sweden.
 |
Lennart Käll
CEO Svenska Spel |
New CEO
In May, the Board appointed Lennart
Käll as the new President and CEO of AB Svenska Spel. Lennart Käll,
who was previously President of Wasa Kredit, CEO of Ticket Travel Group,
President of ICA Bank and President of SEB Finans, assumed his position at AB
Svenska Spel on 12 September.
Competition-Impeding Restaurant
Operations
The Swedish Competition Authority
pursued a case against Casino Cosmopol concerning competition-impeding
restaurant operations, although it decided to dismiss the case in January 2011
as a result of Casino Cosmopol presenting an action plan.
Lotto’s Commercials
Nominated For Guldägg (Golden Egg)
Lotto’s commercials, featuring
the rock group Kiss, were nominated for the Golden Egg in the film category, in
Sweden’s largest and oldest competition for creative communications.
Expanded Mobile Telephone
Application
In March, Svenska Spel launched an
updated version of the Score and result service iPhone application. The
application offers an expanded score and result service for more products and a
direct portal to Svenska Spel’s website for the mobile telephone:
m.svenskaspel.se. Svenska Spel’s customers are now offered several of
Svenska Spel’s games in their mobile telephones.
Peter "Foppa" Forsberg Ambassador
For Svenska Spel
During the fourth quarter, the
hockey legend Peter "Foppa" Forsberg, was appointed as a new ambassador for
Svenska Spel. Forsberg will be part of a training programme sponsored by
Svenska Spel for ice-hockey coaches in junior and youth teams, thus supporting
Svenska Spel’s commitment to Swedish sports.
Embezzlement at Casino Cosmopol
in Gothenburg
The internal controls under Svenska
Spel’s security procedures proved that they function as intended when
eight individuals were arrested and detained, suspected of grand embezzlement.
Seven of the detainees were employees of Casino Cosmopol in Gothenburg and have
been dismissed.
Judgments In Cases Concerning
Slot Machines
In two cases on 18 December 2011,
the Swedish Supreme Court ruled that Svenska Spel’s slot machines are the
only legal machines in Sweden.
Advancement Of Responsible
Gaming
The responsible gaming tool
PlayscanTM was upgraded and customers are now offered an even better tool to
monitor their gaming at svenskaspel.se. The tool is primarily aimed at
protecting consumers from developing gambling addiction. Accordingly, the
company has changed its sales strategy to enable private foreign companies that
conduct cross-border gaming operations under the permission of foreign
authorities to offer the tool to their customers.
SOURCE: Svenska Spel.
Maryland Lottery Director Honoured by Maryland Washington Minority
Contractors’ Association
BALTIMORE, Maryland (May 11, 2012)
– Stephen Martino, director of the
Maryland Lottery, was
among the honorees at the Maryland Washington Minority Contractors’
Association’s (MWMCA) 9th Annual Spring Breakfast, receiving the award for
“Most Resourceful Government Agency for Minority Businesses.”
Held on Friday, May 11 at
Martin’s West, the event celebrated individuals and organizations that
have made significant strides in support of the Minority Business Enterprise
(MBE) program.
“Never before has the
Maryland Lottery been so open to minority business inclusion until the arrival
of Stephen Martino,” said Wayne R. Frazier Sr., president of MWMCA.
Established in 2002, MWMCA advocates
for minority business inclusion in all public and private procurement. The
member organization recognized Martino and the Maryland Lottery for the
agency’s MBE participation.
“The Maryland Lottery
enthusiastically supports the MBE program and its goals of inclusion and
advocacy for businesses in Maryland and the DC/Metro region,” Martino
said. “We pride ourselves on incorporating MBE participation in
virtually all of our lottery and casino-related contracts.”
In addition to Martino, this
year’s recipients included Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown of Maryland,
Delegate Barbara A. Robinson, 40th District; Thomas R. Mullen, president &
CEO of Mercy Health Services; and other prominent business leaders.
SOURCE: Maryland Lottery.
OLG Seeks Input on Expansion of Private-Sector
Gaming
TORONTO, Canada (May 17, 2012) --
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming
Corporation (OLG) is today taking an important step forward in modernizing
the province’s lottery and gaming industry by issuing a Request for
Information (RFI) for the expansion of private-sector gaming.
The OLG is seeking input from
potential providers as it expands regulated private-sector gaming in Ontario.
“Issuing the RFI is the next
step in modernizing our business,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President
and CEO. “This is the start of a process to engage private-sector
companies which have the expertise of operating world-class gaming
facilities.”
The process will:
- Help determine the range of options available in
the market and assess potential vendor interest, as well as risks.
- Outline 29 potential Gaming Zones where regulated
private-sector providers will be allowed to operate a single gaming facility,
subject to approvals.
- After the RFI closes, OLG will begin to determine
how it will engage regulated private-sector providers.
- Once the requirements are determined, OLG may issue
a Request for Pre-Qualifications (RFPQ), which would ask vendors interested in
the Request for Proposals (RFP) to submit evidence they are qualified and would
be compliant with OLG and Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
requirements.
- Following the RFPQ process, OLG may then begin the
RFP process as early as fall 2012.
OLG is engaging an independent
fairness monitor to ensure the overall procurement process is carried out
fairly and transparently. “OLG is continuing conversations with
municipalities across the province to gauge interest in participating in our
modernization initiative and we will focus only on communities which are
interested in having a facility,” said Mr. Phillips.
OLG has provided $833 million to
host municipalities in the last decade. When the modernization initiative is
finished in 2017-18, OLG expects that figure to have increased for each host
municipality.
| Advertisement |
 |
By modernizing lottery and gaming,
OLG will in five years contribute an additional $1.3 billion a year to key
public priorities and usher in $3 billion in private-sector capital investment
in Ontario. In addition to 2,300 net new jobs in the lottery and gaming
industry, the initiative would help create an estimated 4,000 jobs in the
hospitality, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail industries.
While the new lottery and gaming
model will include the expansion of regulated private-sector gaming, OLG will
retain complete oversight of the sector, including responsible gaming.
OLG expects to issue a second RFI
for the expansion of lotteries in the coming weeks. Both RFIs will be available
on MERX (www.merx.com). MERX
charges a fee to download this type of material.
OLG Background documents on
OLG’s Modernization Procurement Process, OLG Gaming Zones and Gaming Zone
Maps are also posted on www.OLG.ca.
OLG is a provincial agency
responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975,
OLG lotteries, Casinos, Slots, and Resort Casinos have generated more than $34
billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support
Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities,
communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education,
and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the
Ontario Trillium Foundation.
SOURCE: OLG.
|
