| GTECH Printing Corporation Selected by the
Connecticut Lottery as a Provider of Instant-Ticket Printing Services
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, USA (July
12, 2007) -- GTECH Printing Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Lottomatica S.p.A., announced
that the Connecticut Lottery
Corporation (Connecticut Lottery) has chosen the Company as a provider of
instant-ticket printing services, under a three-year contract, commencing
August 19, 2007. The contract also provides for two one-year extension options,
and is the result of a competitive procurement. GTECH’s instant-ticket
printing subsidiary, Creative Games
International (CGI), will manufacture the tickets at its printing facility
in Plant City, Florida.
“This award
demonstrates the Connecticut Lottery’s confidence in the quality of our
products and creative execution, and comes on the heels of our
recently-announced instants contract in Rhode Island,” said Ross
Dalton, GTECH Senior Vice President of Printed Products and Licensed Content.
“CGI has had a very positive relationship with the Connecticut Lottery
over the past 12 years, and we look forward to enhancing their instant-ticket
program with creative new content over the next three years.”
GTECH subsidiary CGI has been providing instant-ticket
printing services to the Connecticut Lottery since 1995. With respect to its
contract with the Connecticut Lottery, GTECH expects to receive revenues of
approximately $5.0 million to $7.5 million over the three-year contract
term. 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 2006, had more than euro 1.7 billion in revenues and 6,000
employees in over 50 countries when combined with GTECH.
CONTACT: Robert K. Vincent, Public Affairs, GTECH
Corporation, 401-392-7452. SOURCE: GTECH
Corporation. INTRALOT Partner
in ‘Nanum Lotto’ Consortium the New Operator of South Korea’s
National Lottery ATHENS, Greece
(July 16, 2007) -- INTRALOT announces
that the “Nanum Lotto” consortium, in which the Company
participates, following an international tender won an exclusive license to
operate South Korea’s National Lottery’s lotto games, which currently
have a turnover of approximately $2.5 billion annually. The duration of the
license is five (5) years and operations will commence on December 2nd, 2007.
The games will be offered through a total of 9,000 online terminals.
South Korea has a population of 50 million, with a healthy
per capita GDP in the mid-20,000 USD, has exhibited strong GDP growth of
approximately 5% and a very low unemployment rate of 3.3%
The “Nanum Lotto” consortium, in which INTRALOT
is a minority shareholder, is composed by Eugene Group, LG CNS, NH Bank, KTeMS,
Angel Lotto and Samseong. Moreover, INTRALOT will
have two significant roles in this project: it will be the main provider of the
necessary technology for the implementation of this project, which entails the
procurement and installation of 9,000 CORONIS HEE & microLOT terminals,
their peripherals and the technologically advanced core operating system
“LOTOS” and the lottery services provider to the consortium.
INTRALOT S.A. CEO,
Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos
stated: “We are very pleased to have been awarded this contract in S.
Korea as members of a consortium composed of world-call leading companies and I
would like to congratulate all our partners for their excellent work. The
successful license award by the Korean Lottery Committee proves once again
INTRALOT’s leading position in the gaming industry. We commit to provide
superior and state-of-the-art gaming solutions to S. Korea, one of Asia’s
most technologically advanced countries. We are confident that the Lottery has
great growth potential and 'Nanum Lotto' consortium will contribute to the
Lottery’s further development and profitability to the benefit of all the
stakeholders”. About
INTRALOT (www.intralot.com)
INTRALOT, a public listed company, is the leading supplier
of integrated gaming and transaction processing systems, innovative game
content and sports betting management, to state-licensed gaming organizations
worldwide. It’s broad portfolio of products & services, its know-how
of Lottery, Betting & Video Lottery operations and its leading-edge
technology, give INTRALOT a competitive advantage which contributes directly to
customers’ efficiency, profitability and growth. With presence in over
than 40 countries, with more than 3,600 people and revenues of €791,4 m.
for 2006, INTRALOT has established its presence in all 5 continents.
For more information please CONTACT: Ms Evi Ioannidou,
Communications Director, Phone: +30-210 6156000, Fax: +30-210 6106800, email:
ioannidou@intralot.com -
MDI’s Lucy
Impersonator Advances to Show’s Final Round
MDI Encourages Lottery Friends to
Vote ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA (July 17, 2007)
-- The Lottery industry’s favorite Lucille Ball impersonator is on her way
to the big time thanks to ABC’s hit show “The Next Best
Thing.”
Suzanne LaRusch, who has
dazzled crowds and audiences for years impersonating Lucille Ball and who has
helped several lotteries promote their I Love Lucy instant tickets, has made it
to the show’s finals. The next episode featuring Suzanne is on Wednesday,
July 18, 8/7 p.m. central. She faces Elvis, Paris Hilton, Tina Turner and
George Bush. MDI
Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ:
SGMS), took note of Suzanne’s talent several years ago and has contracted
with her on behalf of several lotteries to launch their I Love Lucy instant
games. There are currently two states planning a Lucy instant game with the
possibility of promotional overlays. “Suzanne
is one of the best impersonators I’ve ever seen and she has brought many
Lucy lottery tickets to life,” said Steve Saferin, MDI president.
“Any state planning to run a Lucy ticket should take advantage of her
incredible talent. We’ve seen repeated success from a PR standpoint with
Suzanne promoting the game. And even if she doesn’t win ‘The Next
Best Thing,’ she’s a star in our eyes. We’ll all be voting for
her.” In each episode of “The Next
Best Thing,” a panel of popular judges -- comedians Jeffrey Ross
(Comedy Central Roasts, The Aristocrats), Lisa Ann Walter (The Parent Trap,
Shall We Dance?) and Elon Gold (Stacked, Cheaper by the Dozen) -- use their
sharp wit and comedic skills as they evaluate, critique and sometimes skewer
celebrity impersonators based on how much they look, sound and act like the
celebrity they're impersonating. American viewers vote for the final winning
impersonators and the winner will receive a grand prize of $100,000.
"Since I've been
competing on ABC's reality show THE NEXT BEST THING/The search for the greatest
celebrity impersonator, I've heard from some of my friends at MDI as well as
folks from some of the states who had invited me to promote the I LOVE LUCY
Scratch-off Lottery tickets. It's meant a lot to me hearing all the well
wishes and encouragement as I head into the FINAL round,” LaRusch
said. “America will choose the winner by voting via phones, text or
on-line. Pretty awesome competition on this show, but it's fun and I'm
enjoying it. Thanks again for sharing your love and support and hopefully
there will be more I LOVE LUCY scratch-off's in our future!”
Suzanne first played Lucy Ricardo on special assignment to
Universal Studios. She quickly came to the attention of Lucie and Desi Arnaz
Jr. who authorized her to portray their mother’s work in other venues. The
estate and CBS Worldwide recognize Suzanne as the “Official Lucy
Performer.” About Scientific Games
Scientific Games Corporation is the leading
integrated supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries
worldwide, a leading supplier of fixed odds betting terminals and systems,
Amusement and Skill with Prize betting terminals, interactive sports betting
terminals and systems, and wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel
operators. It is also a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut,
Maine and the Netherlands and is a leading supplier of prepaid phone cards to
telephone companies. Scientific Games' customers are in the United States and
more than 60 other countries. For more information about Scientific Games,
please visit our web site at www.scientificgames.com. CONTACT: Max Montgomery, 770-664-3807. Ohio State Lottery Receives Certificate of
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
10th Consecutive Award By The Government Finance
Officers Association CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA
(July 16, 2007) -- For the 10th consecutive year, The Ohio State Lottery has earned the
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting awarded by the
Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).
In June, the Lottery
received the award for the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the
year ending June 30, 2006. The certificate of achievement is the highest
form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.
The CAFR produced by the Ohio Lottery has been judged by
an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, including
demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly
communicate its financial story. “Integrity means
everything,” says Director Michael A.
Dolan. “We want all Ohioans to understand that the Ohio
Lottery operates under the highest standards of integrity and
accountability. It’s a great honor to accept this award once again,
and I thank employees for their hard work.” Click here for a copy of the Ohio Lottery’s FY06
CAFR. For more information on the Ohio Lottery Commission and its
commitment to education, please visit; www.ohiolottery.com
CONTACT: Mardele Cohen, Deputy Director, Office of
Communications, 216-774-5685.
Scientific
Games Awarded New Contract with Great Canadian Gaming
Adds Two Tracks in Ontario and Renews Three Tracks
and the Teletheatre Network in British Columbia
NEW YORK, USA (July 17, 2007) -- Scientific Games Racing,
a division of Scientific Games (Nasdaq:
SGMS), has signed a new contract to run all of the pari-mutuel wagering systems
for Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (TSX: GC). Scientific Games will be
supplying racing terminals as well as its Quantum™ System for processing
wagers. This agreement includes the renewal of Great Canadian’s British
Columbia racetracks and Teletheatre network (TBC) in addition to new contracts
for its two racetracks in Ontario. The two new
pari-mutuel contracts include all wagering systems for Flamboro Downs in
Hamilton, Ontario and Georgian Downs in Barrie, Ontario as well as their
off-track teletheatres. They will come online with Scientific Games Racing in
August 2007. The four contract renewals in British Columbia are for Hastings
Racecourse in Vancouver, Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino in Surrey, Sandown
Park in Sidney and the Teletheatre network (TBC). In addition to coming online
with the Quantum™ System, the tracks will be upgrading some of their
terminals to the new BetJet® series.
“We are excited to
expand our relationship with Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, a premier
casino and racetrack operator,” observed Lorne Weil, Chairman and CEO
of Scientific Games. “This is also a vote of confidence for our
Quantum™ System, which will revolutionize the way in which race wagering
operations all over the world interact with their patrons and with other
racing, wagering, and content providers.” “Scientific Games is the leader in pari-mutuel
wagering technology, and we are looking forward to upgrading our systems and
terminals which should improve handle and efficiency for Great Canadian in the
coming months,” said Chuck Keeling Vice President, Racing of Great
Canadian Gaming. About Scientific Games
Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated
supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries worldwide, a
leading supplier of fixed odds betting terminals and systems, Amusement and
Skill with Prize betting terminals, interactive sports betting terminals and
systems, and wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel operators. It is also
a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut, Maine and the
Netherlands and is a leading supplier of prepaid phone cards to telephone
companies. Scientific Games’ customers are in the United States and more
than 60 other countries. For more information about Scientific Games, please
visit our web site at www.scientificgames.com.
About Great Canadian Gaming
Great Canadian Gaming Corp. is a multi-jurisdictional
gaming and entertainment operator with facilities in BC, Ontario, Nova Scotia
and Washington State. Great Canadian operates eleven casinos, a thoroughbred
racetrack, four standardbred racetracks, a community gaming centre, a hotel,
two show theatres, and various food and beverage facilities.
SOURCE Scientific Games.
CONTACT: Investor Relations
of Scientific Games, +1-212-754-2233
Kansas
Lottery’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ Promotion, Players Have Chance
to Win a Seat at World Poker Tour Event
TOPEKA, Kansas, USA (July 12, 2007) -- Did you ever wonder
how you would do in a World Poker Tour tournament?
The Kansas Lottery is giving its players a
chance to find out. Beginning today, players who enter their non-winning $5
Texas Hold ‘Em instant scratch tickets into a drawing will become eligible
to win a seat at a World Poker Tour event. The second-chance drawing will be
held at Lottery headquarters in Topeka, January 18, 2008.
There will be two grand
prize winners, who will each receive a prize package consisting of one entry
into a World Poker Tour tournament of their choice in the United States
(maximum $10,000 buy-in), along with round trip airfare for two, round trip
ground transportation from the airport to the hotel/tournament, 7 days and 6
nights hotel accommodations, two tickets to watch the World Tour Poker finals
of the chosen tournament, and $1,000 spending cash. Plus the Lottery will pay
the mandatory income withholding taxes on the prize. Each grand prize winner
and guest will also receive an officially licensed World Poker Tour merchandise
prize pack. To become eligible for the second-chance
drawing, mail non-winning $5 Texas Hold ‘Em tickets to:
Texas Hold ‘Em Drawing c/o
Kansas Lottery P.O. Box 750980
Topeka, KS 66675-0980 Entries
must be received no later than the morning mail pickup in Topeka, Kansas on
January 15, 2008. No later than 5:00 p.m. on January 15, 2008, players may also
deposit entries for this drawing into any receptacle specifically designated by
the Lottery. Players may enter as often as they wish, but may only win one
prize in the drawing. A person must be at least 21 years of age to participate
in any World Poker Tour tournament. Maximum $10,000 buy-in has no cash value
and no refund of difference will be paid. Players are responsible for all taxes
on any prize won in the tournament. Each grand prize is valued at approximately
$23,000. SOURCE: Kansas Lottery.
CONTACT: Karie
Lowe (785) 296-5744, Email: karie.lowe@kslottery.net.
Georgia Lottery
Posts Record-Breaking Year: Raising More Dollars Than Ever For HOPE and Pre-K
ATLANTA, Georgia, USA (July 16,
2007) -- The Georgia Lottery Corporation
announced today that fiscal year 2007 profits transferred to the State
Treasury's Lottery for Education Account amount to $853,550,000, surpassing
last year's record transfer by more than $31 million. This brings the total
raised for educational programs in the state of Georgia to more than $9.3
billion since the lottery's inception in 1993.
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"With all of the dollars
we raise benefiting lottery-funded HOPE and Pre-K, our remarkable year of
record-breaking results is news that all Georgians can celebrate," said
Georgia Lottery Corporation President and CEO
Margaret DeFrancisco. "Our
success is a direct reflection of the dedication and teamwork displayed by
Georgia Lottery employees and retailers along with the support of our
players." Georgia Lottery sales for fiscal year
2007, which spanned from July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007, totaled $3,421,698,000
– the highest in the lottery's 14-year history and more than $244 million
ahead of the previous sales record of $3.17 billion in fiscal year 2006.
Online and instant games performed well during fiscal year
2007 with a strong boost from instant games. Instant game sales were driven by
the success of the extremely popular game Georgia's $500 Million Club and its
corresponding promotion, Georgia's Millionaire Club. "Over the past year, we launched many exciting new games
and promotions," DeFrancisco said. "We will continue to work hard to
raise dollars for HOPE and Pre-K, knowing that the ultimate winners are the
students of Georgia." For more information, please
visit the Media Center on the GLC Web site at: www.galottery.com.
CONTACT: Georgia Lottery Corporation Media Relations
Department, Voice: 404-215-5062, Fax: 404-215-8983, Email:
media@galottery.org.
SOURCE: Georgia Lottery Corporation. South Dakota Lottery Revenue Tops $1.5
Billion PIERRE, South Dakota, USA
(July 12, 2007) -- The total amount of revenue raised by the South Dakota
Lottery topped more than $1.5 billion at the recent completion of the
state’s fiscal year. The Lottery generated nearly
$119.9 million in revenue for fiscal year 2007, which ended on June
30. That brings the revenue raised by the Lottery to $1,565,043,914
since the Lottery began.
Norm Lingle, executive director of the
Lottery, said the year’s total revenue was the largest transferred to
state coffers in a single year. “We’re pleased to celebrate our
twentieth year with another record amount of revenue to help fund education,
lower property taxes, and develop natural resources,” he said.
The Lottery sold its first ticket on September 30, 1987,
less than a year after a constitutional amendment was adopted to allow a
state-operated lottery. Product performance for the
2007 fiscal year was mixed, with total revenues surpassing the previous year by
less than $1 million. Scratch ticket sales generated
at least $4 million in revenue for FY07. Lotto ticket sales generated at
least another $5.2 million. The year’s totals for both are expected
to increase after an audit is completed and a second revenue transfer
made. Video lottery generated $110.4 million in revenue.
Scratch ticket sales for the fiscal year declined a half a
percent to $18.4 million, nearly $100,000 short of last year.
Lingle attributed the slower sales to high gas prices, but
also noted the Lottery was still able to increase revenues. “We
negotiated a new ticket printing contract and lowered our costs
significantly. We sent nearly a half million dollars more to the general
fund this year even with slightly lower sales,” he said.
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Scratch ticket sales raised
$4 million for the general fund in FY07. Each year, half of the general
fund is used to support K-12 and higher education. Lotto ticket sales increased 2% to $21.3 million for the
fiscal year, despite a drop in Powerball sales. Record high Powerball
jackpots prompted a big jump in sales in FY06, something that was hard to match
in FY07. “We made up the difference with our other lotto
games. Hot Lotto and Wild Card 2 had their own record high jackpots that
boosted sales and Dakota Cash performed well too,” Lingle said.
Lotto ticket sales raised $1.4 million for the general
fund and $3.8 million for the capital construction fund, which is used for
water and environment projects, ethanol production incentives and the state
highway system. Video lottery revenue grew less than
1% in FY07. Play of the machines generated $110.4 million for the
property tax reduction fund while licensing fees generated $60,000 for the
general fund. SOURCE: South Dakota Lottery.
CONTACT: Mike Mueller, 773-5770.
Tennessee
Lottery Announce Another Record Fiscal Year And A Hint Of What’s To
Come NASHVILLE, Tennessee, USA
(July 16, 2007) -- The Tennessee Lottery
has had another record fiscal year, with a return of $284.2 million to
education, bringing the total raised since inception to over $919 million.
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Gross sales for the fiscal
year, which ended June 30, were over $1 billion—gross sales since
inception are over $3.3 billion. “We are
pleased to report that we’ve continued to increase sales and the return to
education each year since we began,” said
Rebecca Paul Hargrove, President and CEO
of the Tennessee Lottery. “The Lottery is committed to continuing this
success to benefit students and families in Tennessee.”
During the past fiscal year, Lottery funds were used to
assist nearly 60,000 students at higher education institutions in the state, to
fund 290 Pre-K classes, and to fund grants to 126 after-school programs.
Game highlights from the Lottery’s past year include
the sell-out success of Million $ Madness, a raffle-style game that created
four millionaires; the introduction of Play it Again!, a program that gives
instant ticket players a second chance to win prizes; the launch of Hot Trax
Champions; 38 new instant ticket games, including “Deal or No
Deal” and “NASCAR”; and the first winner of a $2
million Powerball prize. “Looking ahead, we
will continue to introduce new products, operate with the utmost integrity and
provide superior customer service,” said Hargrove.
Upcoming developments include:
- A new prize level in the popular
game, Lotto 5, which will allow a player to win by matching two of five numbers
in addition to three other prize levels in this game
- An exciting new way to hold
drawings using the latest in automated technology, joining numerous lotteries
throughout the country that use similar computerization
In addition to $3.3 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 $1.9 billion in prizes
won by players, including:
- More than 675 winners of $50,000
or more.
- Of those, 17 were wins of $1
million or more
- Nearly $216.8 million paid in
retailer commissions
Out of every dollar spent on
tickets during fiscal year 2006-2007, about 27.5 cents is given to the Lottery
for Education Fund; about 58.5 cents is awarded in prizes; about 7 cents is
paid to retailers; and about 7 cents is used for operational costs.
SOURCE: Tennessee Lottery.
CONTACT: Kym Gerlock,
615-324-6556 Office, 615-604-2827 Mobile.
JUDr. Aleš
Hušák, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
Officer of SAZKA, a.s., Celebrates his 50th Birthday
CZECH REPUBLIC (July 17, 2007) --
JUDr. Aleš Hušák
(1957), Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of
SAZKA, a.s., celebrates his 50th birthday in
July this year.
 |
| Dr.
Aleš Hušák, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer of SAZKA, a.s. |
JUDr. Aleš
Hušák graduated from the Faculty of Law of the Charles' University,
Prague. Among other positions, Hušák has worked in the Foreign and
Economic Administration of the National Bank of Czechoslovakia, served as the
Sales Director of the Výstaviště Praha exhibition centre and
as the Economic Vice Chairman of the Czech Sports Association (ČSTV).
In 1995, Mr Hušák was elected Chairman of the
Board of Directors and appointed Chief Executive Officer of SAZKA, a.s., the
biggest lottery company in the Czech Republic.
Since 1996, he has also
been active in international lottery organisations and, at the 4th congress of
European Lotteries, held in May 2007 in Budapest, he was re-elected Member of
the Executive Committee of this association. Aleš Hušák is
married with two children. His most favourite hobbies include literature, film,
wine and gastronomy, swimming, snowboarding and skiing.
The SAZKA joint-stock company is the biggest lottery and
the largest non-governmental provider of funds to good causes in the Czech
Republic. It is active in instant and number lotteries, sports and odds
betting, operates a central lottery system with interactive video lottery
terminals, and offers numerous non-lottery activities such as prepaid mobile
phone top-up service; sales of tickets for sports, cultural and other events;
as well as bill payment & insurance payment services and the option of
payments by paying-in slips. Prague's SAZKA ARENA, the construction of which
was financed by SAZKA, is the most modern multi-purpose venue for sporting
& cultural events and family shows on the European Continent.
SOURCE: PhDr. Zdeněk Zikmund, SAZKA, a.s. Press
Spokesperson, Tel.: 266 12 92 22, Fax: 266 12 26 67, E-mail:
zikmund@sazka.cz. Pollard Banknote Adds Mr. Bean™ to Licensed
Properties Portfolio WINNIPEG,
Canada (July 18, 2007) -- Pollard Banknote
is about to give lottery tickets a whole new face. And it’s a funny
face. Pollard Banknote has acquired through The Sharpe
Company Inc. the rights to offer instant games based
on the animated Mr. Bean™-the hilarious and popular comedic character that
has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades.
“Mr. Bean™ is a beloved, familiar character
that is instantly recognizable and always evokes a smile,” said Sina
Aiello, Director, Licensed Products, Pollard Banknote. “The character
is a perfect fit for an instant ticket because the brand is associated with the
type of side-splitting, universal humor that appeals to a wide
demographic.”
Since debuting in 1990, the
original Mr. Bean™ live-action series has been airing consistently in more
than 200 countries. Five years after the 1997 release of the film Mr. Bean -
The Ultimate Disaster Movie, Mr. Bean™ was transformed into a hugely
successful animated series that is now seen in over 65 countries.
“The image of Mr. Bean™ allows for a number
of humorous, eye-catching ticket concepts,” said Aiello. “The
brand also offers a well-developed merchandise program that includes DVDs,
books, and promotional packages to entice players at retail.”
The icon that is Mr. Bean™ stumbles into even more
slapstick misadventures in 2007, with the worldwide release of the new film,
Mr. Bean’s Holiday, which has already grossed more than $160 million.
Pollard Banknote offers a turnkey solution for licensed
games, including ticket design and manufacturing, prize structure consultation,
merchandise selection and fulfillment, publicity and promotional opportunities,
and second chance draw process management (including all customer service,
Internet marketing, and post-game analysis). The
Sharpe Company-based in Manhattan Beach, California-is the North American agent
for the Mr. Bean™ property on behalf of Tiger Aspect Productions in the
UK. About Pollard Banknote Limited
Partnership Pollard Banknote Limited Partnership
(“Pollard Banknote”) is one of the world’s leading full-service
lottery vendors and is a major supplier to North America’s charitable
gaming industry. The firm manufactures instant tickets and provides related
programming, design, and marketing support. As well, Pollard Banknote
manufactures ticket vending machines, pull tab tickets and bingo paper, and
supplies lottery management services (including warehousing and distribution).
Established in 1907, the firm is owned by the Pollard family and the Pollard
Banknote Income Fund and currently serves more than 45 lotteries worldwide,
including some of the largest and most respected lotteries in the United
States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America.
About Pollard Banknote Income Fund
Pollard Banknote Income Fund (TSX: PBL.UN) is an
unincorporated, open-end trust which owns 26.7% of Pollard Holdings Limited
Partnership, which in turn owns Pollard Banknote Limited Partnership.
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About The Sharpe
Company, Inc. The Sharpe Company, Inc. is an
entrepreneurial intellectual property management
boutique, serving as a licensing agent and consultant, strategic brand
development manager, and entertainment packager. The core focus of
Sharpe’s activities is to bring a truly global perspective to the business
of marketing intellectual properties. The company was founded by international
licensing expert Charles Day, known for creating and building the global
licensing and marketing program of Harvey Entertainment of Los Angeles and the
international expansion of Europe’s largest licensing company, Copyright
Promotions of London. The Sharpe Company is based in Manhattan Beach, CA.
About Tiger Aspect Productions
Tiger Aspect Productions, an IMG Media company, is
internationally recognized as one of the UK’s most successful and prolific
independent television producers. The company portfolio includes animation,
comedy, drama, entertainment and factual genres. Its production slate includes
Robin Hood, Murphy’s Law, The Lenny Henry Show, Mr. Bean™, The Vicar
of Dibley and Sherlock Holmes. IMG is the world’s premier sports,
entertainment and media company, comprising IMG Sports & Entertainment,
which includes its client representation, event ownership and management,
models and fashion businesses - and IMG Media, a global leader in the
production, delivery and distribution of traditional and new media content and
services. For further information: Gordon Pollard, (gpollard@pbl.ca) or John Pollard, (jpollard@pbl.ca), Co-Chief Executive
Officers, Pollard Banknote, Phone: (204) 474-2323,
www.pollardbanknote.com. Multi-State Video Lottery Game Celebrates First
Anniversary! DES MOINES, Iowa, USA
(July 17, 2007) -- Ca$hola, the first ever multi-state video lottery game in
America, is one year old today. On July 18, 2006, the lotteries of
Delaware, Rhode Island, and
West Virginia joined together in the
unique product starting sales of the game at video
lottery terminal (VLTs) located at tracks in the three states. Ca$hola
features a shared prize pool that creates a progressive jackpot game for
players in all three states: a jackpot that currently begins with an annuity
value of $300,000 and grows until won.
Over the past year, a total
of twelve jackpots have been won in the multi-state game, averaging one jackpot
win per month. During the first year, Ca$hola's jackpots have averaged nearly
$1 million ($990,799 to be exact): not bad, for a game that is played only in
venues within the three states. Other notable events
over the past year include a record-breaking jackpot of $3,718,311 won on June
15, 2007, at the Mountaineer park racetrack in Chester, West Virginia. Just
recently two jackpots were won on the same day, just six hours apart. On July
10th, a $589,828 jackpot was won at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, West
Virginia and six hours later a $318,760 jackpot was won at Dover Downs, in
Dover, Delaware. The game can be played in penny, nickel, or quarter
denominations, to be determined by each jurisdiction. There are currently 217
machines feeding these lofty jackpots. Ca$hola is the
first multi-state progressive video lottery game to be offered in the U.S. The
three lotteries of West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Delaware have each operated
progressive jackpot games at a single location and also at multiple locations
within their respective states, but Ca$hola is the first game to tie together
VLTs from different manufacturers and different central computer systems
located in different states. "Ca$hola was a very challenging game to put
together due to its multi-state concept," says
Gerry Aubin, Rhode Island Lottery
Director and Chairman of the three state group know as the Multi-State Wide
Area Progressive (MWATP). "All the hard work has paid off as players have
readily endorsed the Game's progressive jackpot concept."
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To comply with local laws
and rules, each participating machine offers two components of the game: the
base game with odds and payouts unique to each jurisdiction, and the common
progressive jackpot game available to all players. To qualify for a progressive
jackpot win, players must use the max bet option -- a $2.25 play. The odds of
winning the jackpot are one in seven million. Ca$hola's jackpot is based on a
30-year annuity and also is also available as a cash option payment.
The jackpot management system (JMS) was specially built
for the project by GTECH Corporation. The
system's LCD jackpot screens, sales reports, and finances are coordinated
through the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), the non-profit organization
owned by the state lotteries to run multi-state games such as Powerball.
Ca$hola can be played in Delaware at Dover Downs, Dover;
and Delaware Park Race Track & Slots, Wilmington. In Rhode Island the game
is available at Twin River, Lincoln; and at Newport Grand Jai Alai, Newport.
West Virginia offers Ca$hola at Charles Town Gaming, Charles Town; Tri-State
Race Track & Gaming Center, Charleston; Wheeling Island Race Track &
Gaming Center, Wheeling Island; and at Mountaineer Park Race Track, Chester.
For information about the Ca$hola game visit
www.casholagame.com.
CONTACT: Wayne Dolezal, Multi-State Lottery Association,
515.453.1412. SOURCE: Multi-State Lottery Association
(MUSL). 
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