| Lottomatica
Announces That It and Subsidiaries GTECH Corporation and GTECH Global Services
Corporation Receive Licensing Approval in Nevada to Own an Interest in
Atronic ROME, Italy - PROVIDENCE,
Rhode Island (December 21, 2007) -- Lottomatica S.p.A. announced that the
Nevada Gaming Commission voted unanimously to permit it, together with its
wholly-owned subsidiaries, GTECH
Corporation and GTECH Global Services Corporation, licensing approval to
own an interest in a Nevada licensee, in this case, Atronic International and
Atronic Americas.
"The approval in Nevada
is a significant step toward the completion of our acquisition of Atronic,
which is on track to close in the first quarter of 2008," said Lottomatica
Chairman, Lorenzo Pellicioli. “It is also meaningful and
gratifying in that the Nevada Gaming Commission carefully examined the
ownership, the corporate structure, and the individual managers of Lottomatica,
De Agostini, and GTECH, prior to giving such approval. Receiving approval to
acquire a Nevada licensee is an acknowledgement that the Company, and those
involved in its management, commit to the most rigorous standards of
transparency, compliance, and ethical conduct. Beyond the immediate
positive business impact on the Atronic transaction, the Nevada licensing
approval is a vitally-important aspect of our gaming solutions growth
strategy." All parties in the Atronic transaction
have agreed that the closing will take place in the first quarter of
2008. To date, GTECH, together with its VLT subsidiary Spielo
Manufacturing ULC, are licensed to sell products in over 100 gaming markets
globally. About Lottomatica (www.gruppolottomatica.it)
Lottomatica is one of the world's largest commercial
lottery operators and a market leader in the Italian gaming industry. GTECH is
a leading gaming technology and services company, providing innovative
technology, creative content, and superior service delivery. GTECH and
Lottomatica together create a fully integrated lottery operator and gaming
technology solutions provider a combined compaany with worldwide scale,
considerable financial strength, and industry-leading customer solutions.
Lottomatica is majority owned by De Agostini, which belongs to a century-old
publishing, media, and financial services group. Lottomatica is publicly traded
on the Italian Stock Exchange (LTO), and in 2006, had approximately €1.7
billion in revenues and 5,900 employees in over 45 countries when
combined with GTECH. For further information: AD HOC
Communication Advisors 02/7606741, Mario Pellegatta - Matteo Cidda 335/1415585
or GTECH CONTACT: Robert K. Vincent Public Affairs 1-401-392-7452 , GTECH web
site: www.gtech.com
INTRALOT Signs Syndicated Revolving Credit
Facility Agreement
ATHENS, Greece (December
21, 2007) -- INTRALOT signed today the
syndicated revolving credit facility agreement for EUR 500 million with a 5
year duration (the "Facility"). Barclays Capital, the
investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, BNP Paribas and Citigroup
Global Markets Limited acted as arranging banks, Book-runners and Mandated Lead
Arrangers. The Facility was launched on 7th November
2007 as a EUR 300 million facility and was eventually increased to EUR 500
million given the strong oversubscription. The 5-year
transaction is for general corporate purposes, including the refinancing of
existing indebtedness, acquisitions, investments and capital expenditure.
Moreover, it is anticipated to improve both the capital structure and overall
financial cost of the INTRALOT Group. SOURCE:
INTRALOT. Scientific Games
Awarded New Contract with William Hill
NEW YORK, USA (December 21, 2007) --
Scientific Games (Nasdaq: SGMS) announced
that its wholly owned subsidiary The Global Draw Ltd. has been awarded a four
year contract to supply multi-game server-based gaming terminals to William
Hill (LSE: WMH.L) betting shops. This contract establishes Global Draw as the
supplier of gaming machines to a minimum of 548 William Hill betting shops,
which will house approximately 2,100 terminals. William Hill has over 2,250
betting shops across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with an installed base of
over 8,300 gaming machines.
This new contract follows
the recent change in British gaming law in September 2007, which allows betting
shops to have up to a total of four of either Category B2 (formerly FOBTs) or
Category B3 (Jackpot Machines) gaming machines. Global Draw upgraded all of its
gaming machines to Nevada™ dual screen terminals which can offer either
Category B2 or B3 content on the same machines. The contract award follows a
trial of these new machines in a limited number of William Hill shops. William
Hill will be replacing all of the machines in each of the 548 shops following
the conclusion of its current supplier's contract in January with up to four
Global Draw Nevadas™. The machines should all be fully installed during
the first quarter of 2008. "William Hill is the
largest betting shop operator in the UK and one of the best known names in the
betting industry and we are proud to become a part of their family," said
Lorne Weil, Chairman and CEO of Scientific Games. "Global Draw has worked
extremely hard to create a new standard for gaming machines following the
recent changes in British gaming laws and we are extremely encouraged by this
contract award." Ian Chuter, Group Director,
Gaming of William Hill stated, "We have been very impressed with the
performance of Global Draw's new Nevada™ terminals and level of service we
have received during our trial period. The Global Draw dual purpose machines,
server-based gaming technology and in-house content should ensure greater
choice and flexibility for William Hill's betting shop customers and we are
looking forward to rolling out these machines in approximately one-quarter of
our estate." "We would like to thank William
Hill for their display of confidence and we look forward to expanding our
relationship with them," said Steve Frater, Managing Director for The
Global Draw Ltd. "
We have been extremely
pleased with the performance of our new Nevada™ terminals and this is a
further endorsement of the dual purpose B2/B3 machine strategy pioneered by
Global Draw. This order will expand our installed base of Nevadas™ to over
11,400 machines and will make us the leading supplier of B2/B3 machines to the
UK LBO market." About Scientific
Games Scientific Games Corporation is the
leading integrated supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to
lotteries worldwide, a leading supplier of server-based gaming machines and
systems, Amusement and Skill with Prize betting terminals, interactive sports
betting terminals and systems, and wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel
operators. It is also a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut,
Maine and the Netherlands and is a leading supplier of prepaid phone cards to
telephone companies. Scientific Games' customers are in the United States and
more than 60 other countries. For more information about Scientific Games,
please visit our web site at http://www.scientificgames.com.
Company CONTACT: Investor Relations, Scientific Games
Corporation, 212-754-2233 About William
Hill Founded in 1934, William Hill is one of the
leading providers of fixed odds bookmaking services, offering odds and taking
bets on a wide range of sporting and other events, as well as offering gaming
machines in licensed betting offices and operating online casino and poker
sites, interactive bingo and greyhound stadia. It is a market leader in all
major betting channels in the UK with an established international presence
through its online businesses. SOURCE: Scientific
Games Corporation. CONTACT: Investor Relations, Scientific Games Corporation,
+1-212-754-2233. Senior Appointment
Strengthens ACE Interactive R&D Capabilities
LONDON, UK (December 21, 2007) --
ACE Interactive, the Server Based Gaming and
Video Lottery solutions specialist, has strengthened its senior management team
with the promotion of Håkan Andersson to the post of General Manager
R&D. Andersson – who has over 18 years
experience working in the gaming industry, the last three gained with ACE
Interactive – will be responsible for delivering the ACE SBG platform
through Aristocrat to the international casino sector as well as VLT solutions
to the global lottery industry. Reporting directly to CEO Michael Koch, the
appointment is effective from 1st. January 2008.
Expanding on the
appointment, Michael Koch said: “I am grateful to have such an
experienced and talented professional in this role. Håkan has worked in
both development and operations and has a unique insight on how gaming systems
work and how they must be built to meet operators’ requirements.
Håkan and his organisation will be instrumental in executing our business
plan for 2008 and the years to come." Håkan
Andersson will be part of the senior management team representing ACE on the
Aristocrat stand at the forthcoming International Casino Exhibition in London,
2224 January. About ACE Interactive
ACE Interactive is a world leading developer and supplier
of turnkey Interactive Video Terminal (iVT) systems based on a unique
serverbased open platform. The ACE system allows centralised management
including updates and configuration of games, realtime monitoring, central random number generator and the ability
to offer games from any content provider. ACE Interactive is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Aristocrat. For further information visit the company’s
website at www.aceinteractive.se.
About Aristocrat Technologies Europe Ltd
Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) is a leading global
provider of gaming solutions that consistently outperforms the competition. The
Company is licensed by over two hundred regulators and its products and
services are available in over ninety countries around the world.
Aristocrat offers a diverse range of products and services
including electronic gaming machines, interactive video terminal systems,
electronic tables, and casino management systems. For further information visit
the company’s website at www.aristocratgaming.com.
Digital photo attached; caption: Håkan
Andersson SOURCE: Aristocrat Technologies Europe, Ltd.
CONTACT: Olga Pleguezuelos, Phone: +44 (0) 1895 618 500, Email:
olga.pleguezuelos@aristocrat.co.uk,
Web: www.aristocratgaming.com
The Finnish Lotteries Act Reformed Unanimously and
Efficiently Article By:
Ilkka Juva, Communications Director, Veikkaus Oy
VEIKKAUS, Finland (December 20, 2007) -- In Finland, we
are very unanimous about the national gaming policy. People across the
different political parties and belonging to the various beneficiary and gaming
organizations are unanimously in favour of the exclusive rights system. Of
course, perspectives and standpoints vary along with the different tasks and
occupations people have, but there is a strong common will and view as regards
the overall picture of gaming.
The unanimous view also
smoothens down the way to the reform of the Lotteries Act. The first phase of
the reform will be especially easy. The issues to be dealt with during it were
discussed during last Parliamentary season, and
Veikkaus has already implemented most of
them. The reform work will be carried out by a
government officials’ working group which gives its suggestions in two
phases. The first suggestion is due by the end of March. It will cover the
direct reforms which restrict gaming in a new way at the level of legislation.
In addition, it will also tackle the marketing of games more precisely than has
been done so far. The marketing should be based on directing the demand for
games towards the licensed, controlled game operators. The requirement that
marketing should be carried out in an ethically sustainable manner should also
be laid down by law. Finland’s good gaming system
needs sufficient official resources. The most significant flaw in the present
system is that the authorities have had but scarce resources to take measures
against unlicensed gaming activities and its marketing. We believe that this
flaw will be remedied by the future amendment. The
amendments that are being planned will not be difficult from Veikkaus’
point of view. Corporate social responsibility already constitutes the
guideline for Veikkaus’ activities. We are, in fact, already voluntarily
complying with the future restrictions. A more
comprehensive amendment to the Lotteries Act will be prepared by the end of
December 2008. The working group works under the supervision of a steering
group, chaired by State Secretary Ilkka Oksala. Article By: Ilkka Juva, Communications Director,
Veikkaus Oy SOURCE: Veikkaus eNews.
CONTACT: Veikkaus Oy Communications, Tel: +35820 750 750,
Fax: +35820 750 7145. $1 Million Raffle
Announcement Set for December 31st BOISE, Idaho (December 20, 2007) -- At 10 A.M. Mountain Time
on Monday, December 31, 2007, the Idaho
Lottery will announce which one of the 250,000 ticket holders in the Idaho
$1,000,000 Raffle is going to win the million dollar top prize.
Since selling the last ticket early this past Sunday
morning, Idaho Lottery offices have been flooded with calls and e-mails from
players asking when the announcement will occur, and when and where they can
find out the winning numbers.
“We want to extend
a thank you to everyone who is playing the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle and wish
them all good luck. This game has generated a lot of excitement around the
state and everyone is eager to find out who is going to be the
winner,” announced Jeff
Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. “We are working with the
state’s media partners to ensure the public is informed as quickly as
possible with the results of the game.” In
addition to the million dollar top prize, there are also four $25,000 prizes,
three-hundred $500 prizes, and five-hundred $100 prizes. All the numbers
will be selected using the Lottery’s Random Number Generator – the
same process used for selecting numbers on Idaho’s daily Lotto Game, Pick
3. The winning numbers will be announced during a
press event at 10 A.M. on December 31, 2007 in downtown Boise. All 805 winning
numbers will be posted on the Lottery’s website, www.idaholottery.com and
the official website for Idaho Raffle at www.idahoraffle.com.
“The million dollar prize as well as the $25,000
prizes must be claimed at Lottery offices in Boise,” added Anderson.
“Players will be able to collect their $500 and $100 prizes at
individual Lottery retail locations as soon as the numbers are
announced.” As the excitement for the announcement nears, the Idaho
Lottery is encouraging players to sign their raffle tickets immediately to
maintain proper ownership and keep their tickets in a safe place until the
drawing. All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date.
Top prize winners should contact the Idaho Lottery for claiming
requirements. SOURCE: Idaho Lottery. CONTACT: David
Workman. (208) 334-2600
Florida Lottery
Thanks Its Players With TV Ad Featuring FSU Chorus
Students TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA
(December 24, 2007) -- The Florida Lottery
announced today the release of a recently produced television advertisement
featuring 14 Florida State University (FSU) School of Music students – all
Bright Futures scholarship recipients. The commercial, which will air between
Dec. 24 and Jan. 7, is a sign of gratitude to Florida Lottery players for
helping provide Bright Futures scholarships to students across the state.
The scholarship recipients
featured in the ad are from different areas of the state, as well as from
different backgrounds, yet they all share two common bonds – a passion for
music and an appreciation for the financial help they have received from
Lottery-funded Bright Futures scholarships. “We are very happy these extremely talented students
lent their voices to help the Florida Lottery produce a holiday message that is
so appropriate for the season,” said Florida Lottery Chief Marketing
Officer Patricia Koop. “These students are expressing their sincere
appreciation to Lottery players on behalf of all Bright Futures scholarship
recipients, including themselves, across the state, who have been given the
opportunity to follow their dreams of achieving a post-secondary
education.” The Bright Futures Scholarship
Program, which is fully funded by the Florida Lottery, was created in 1997 by
the Florida Legislature to assist students in pursuing post-secondary
educational and career goals. Since the program’s inception, the Lottery
has contributed nearly $2 billion to send more than 350,000 Florida students to
college, now representing more than one million Bright Futures scholarships
awarded. Qualifying Florida students may earn one of
three Bright Futures scholarship awards: the Florida Gold Seal Vocational
Scholars Award, which pays 75 percent of tuition and fees at public
institutions; the Academic Scholars Award, which pays 100 percent of tuition
and fees at public institutions and requires 75 hours of community service; or,
the Florida Medallion Scholars Award, which pays 100 percent of tuition and
fees at community colleges, and 75 percent of tuition and fees at other public
institutions. The scholarships may be used in conjunction with the Florida
Prepaid College Plan, as well as other scholarships.
Though Florida Lottery
contributions make up approximately five percent of the state’s total
education budget, Lottery dollars continue to reach every facet of
Florida’s public education system. Proceeds from every dollar spent on
Lottery tickets are transferred monthly to the Educational Enhancement Trust
Fund (EETF), for annual appropriation by the Florida Legislature and
administration by the Florida Department of Education. For more information on
the Florida Lottery’s contributions to education or to view the Bright
Futures scholars commercial, please visit the education section of the Florida
Lottery Web site at flalottery.com. Since 1988, the
Florida Lottery has contributed more than $17 billion to the EETF, benefiting
Florida’s students and schools, as well as funding more than one million
Bright Futures scholarships. By a two-to-one margin, Florida voters in 1986
approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to operate a lottery
for the purpose of generating significant additional moneys for education.
SOURCE: Florida Lottery.
CONTACT: Jacqueline
Barreiros, (850) 487-7727.
Local Artist's
Work Featured on Mardi Gras Scratch-Off
LOUISIANA, USA (December 26, 2007) -- New Orleans artist
Darrin Butler holds an oversized version of Let the Good Times Roll, a $2 Mardi
Gras-themed scratch-off featuring his work of the same name.
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One glimpse at the vibrant
colors and movement depicted in New Orleans artist Darrin Butler's work, Let
the Good Times Roll, and you are reminded of the essence of the Big Easy.
That's why the Louisiana Lottery will
ring in the carnival season by featuring Butler's stain painting on a $2 Mardi
Gras scratch-off game with the same name. Depicting a
New Orleans second-line celebration, Butler's work was selected as the winner
of the "Louisiana Joys, Arts, Zest and Zeal (LA JAZZ)" Visual Arts
Competition sponsored by the Office of the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor (OLG)
and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism (DCRT) in
cooperation with the Louisiana Lottery and the Greater Baton Rouge Area Arts
Council. As the contest winner, Butler earned an artist fee for his work to be
used in conjunction with a Lottery scratch-off game. A
self-taught artist with no formal training, Butler says he was humbled when he
found out he won the state's art contest. "I used to paint automobiles and
make coffee tables to sell at furniture stores or at different events like Jazz
Fest and art shows. Eventually, I started combining the painting skills I
learned onto canvas," he explained. Butler has
always been an artist, but never made his living as an artist until the age of
35. At that time, he quit his job, began painting and participating in
art shows across the country full time. Since then, his craft has expanded. He
no longer paints on canvas or uses paintbrushes. He now makes different color
wood stains to stain wood, with each work taking about three to four months to
create. Let The Good Times Roll along with other more recent works are all
stain paintings on one solid piece of wood. "If you look very closely at the
work on the scratch-off ticket, you will see where the paint flows along the
wood grain pattern," he said. "Let The Good Times
Roll is a piece that symbolizes perserverance," explained Butler. "My
wife and I were displaced after Katrina. Fortunately, we didn't lose my art
tools and wood. But we did end up without a place to live."
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Coincidentally, this
experience inspired him to create his winning work. He added, "I could not let
my situation dictate my life and livelihood. My art makes me a very happy
person and I connect to the memories of my childhood in New Orleans. For me,
being an artist is the true definition of freedom." "We are honored for the opportunity to use Mr. Butler's
Let the Good Times Roll artwork on a Mardi Gras themed scratch-off game. His
work is filled with rich vibrant colors that should resonate with Lottery
players and art lovers alike," noted Lottery President
Rose Hudson. Butler has played scratch-off games with the Louisiana
Lottery and won small amounts in the past. "Just imagine winning money or
learning of someone winning on a Lottery ticket you designed -- that's a great
feeling. I feel like I have already won. I get to creatively express my love
for a city that I still call home. . . New Orleans," shared Butler.
Sales of the Lottery scratch-off game Let the Good Times
Roll began Dec. 17. The game features a top prize of $12,000 and overall odds
of 1: 4.25 to win any prize. In addition to this $2 Mardi Gras-themed game, the
Lottery launched Carnival Win, a $1 game with a $1,000 top prize and overall
odds of 1: 4.46 to win any prize. To add even more fun to the excitement of the
season, the Lottery will give away a chance to ride on a superfloat in the 2008
Krewe of Thor in Metairie. SOURCE: Louisiana
Lottery. Slingo, Inc. Partners with Scientific Games/MDI
for Instant Lottery Tickets ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA (December 20, 2007) -- Slingo, Inc.,
a leading developer and publisher of casual games and interactive
entertainment, has teamed up with Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ:
SGMS) to extend the successful Slingo brand, both domestically and
internationally, through instant lottery tickets, CD ROM lottery games, and
lottery terminal games.
The Slingo phenomenon that
is the exciting combination of Bingo and Slots has a proven track record in the
instant lottery ticket game space. Since its inception in 2001, over 600
million Slingo lottery tickets have been sold domestically in over 20 states
and three countries, including Australia, Canada and Norway.
Slingo’s strong online presence supports lottery
ticket sales as well as the overall awareness of the Slingo brand. With over 10
years of success in the casual games market, Slingo has a broad internet reach
of loyal dedicated web visitors spending an average of three and a half hours
per month on the popular game site, www.slingo.com. “Slingo has a very long and successful history in the
lottery market. We are excited about the opportunity to work with
Scientific Games who has a proven track record of successfully developing and
marketing licensed instant tickets. SGI has the expertise to expand on
the success of the Slingo instant tickets because of their incredibly broad
reach and international experience. Scientific Games earns its distinction as
the branded instant ticket leader due to their ability to consistently provide
total business solutions that support the games.” said Eric Lamendola,
General Manager at Slingo Inc. Several states have
already ordered the Slingo Instant Lottery ticket more than five times since it
is consistently one of the top licensed $3 lottery tickets.
“There have been many instant ticket variations of
Slingo that have been very successful,” said Steve Saferin, president
of Scientific Games Properties. “The game’s popularity has been
proven time and again and is now even considered to be a staple instant ticket
in many states’ game line up.” About
Slingo, Inc.
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Slingo, Inc. is a U.S.
based company that has developed and licensed the intellectual property for
Slingo® brand of games for over 10 years. As a pioneer and thought-leader
in the casual games industry, Slingo Inc. has successfully licensed to partners
world-wide for use with: free online game sites, downloadable games, lottery
tickets, casino slot machines and table games, a television game show,
interactive television, mobile phone games, and most digital interactive
mediums. The original Slingo game boasts that over three billion games have
been played to date. Slingo is also the FIRST in many areas including First
cyber lottery ticket and First casual game to be made into television game
show. Slingo, Inc.'s long list of partners have included America Online, AC
Coin and Slot, IGT, United States Playing Card Company, Funkitron, Scientific
Games Corporation, PixelPlay, Hasbro, Tiger Electronics, I-play and
Oberon-Media. People can play Slingo and more than 30 original games as well as
join the social networking community by going to - www.slingo.com.
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: http://www.scientificgames.com
CONTACT: Max Montgomery: 770-664-3807.
22nd Anniversary; $11.5 Billion In
Sales CHARLESTON, West Virginia
(December 28, 2007) - The West Virginia
Lottery plans to celebrate its 22nd anniversary on Jan. 9 with cumulative
sales of more than $11.5 billion since the first ticket was sold in 1986,
according to Lottery Director John Musgrave.
He said more than $4
billion in profits has been transferred to state programs receiving
appropriations from the Legislature; $3 billion of that figure was generated by
Racetrack and Limited Video Lottery games. Musgrave
said traditional game sales total $3.2 billion of cumulative sales, with
players receiving $1.85 billion, a figure representing 58 percent. “The
law governing traditional games stipulates that players receive at least 45
percent of total revenue. Understanding we cannot control odds of winning, the
odds lean toward the benefit of the player during game design to be certain we
are in compliance,” he said. Approximately
$750 million represents sales for the current fiscal year through December,
with more than $256 million in profits transferred to the State, Musgrave said.
He said that figure would move to $300 million by the end of January, when
transfers are completed.Musgrave announced at the close of the 2007 fiscal year
on July 1 that sales had again broken the $1.5 billion sales mark. The figure
included $193 million from traditional games, $972 million from Racetrack Video
Lottery, and $397 million from Limited Video Lottery games.
Kicking off the birthday celebration is SIZZLER, the Hot
Lotto promotion that can triple winnings for participating players. Musgrave
said the SIZZLER option for the game would begin Jan. 3. “It’s
really Hot Lotto’s version of the popular PowerPlay option in Powerball,
with one exception – it’s easier,” Musgrave said.
“There is not a multiplier drawn; excepting the jackpot, every other
prize that a SIZZLER player wins will automatically triple.”
The SIZZLER option will cost an additional $1 per play,
which will be made at the time a Hot Lotto ticket is purchased. Introduced in
2002, Hot Lotto is a MultiState Lottery game that is played like Powerball but
with better odds of winning. SOURCE: West Virginia
Lottery 
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