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2009 NASPL Lottery
Leadership Institute Seminar, May 11 - 14, 2009, Ohio
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A major part of
NASPL’s Education and Training efforts
focus on the development of leaders who can move the lottery industry forward
and at the same time, accomplish stated goals and objectives for their
respective lottery organizations. The Goal of the
Lottery Leadership Seminar is to create a program that will assist lottery
personnel in expanding their knowledge of the Lottery Industry while at the
same time offering participants actual leadership techniques and skills that
can be used both on the job, as well as in their personal lives.
The NASPL Lottery Leadership Seminar invites inspired and
committed experts from the ranks of lotteries and the vendor community to raise
the bar on sales and revenue growth through innovative projects and creative
leadership. For more information regarding this event,
contact the NAPSL office at: 440-466-5630. Click Here to
Download Registration Form
Sierra Leone
State Lottery and Smartplay Make a Match
EDGEWATER PARK, New Jersey (February 12, 2009) -
Sierra Leone State Lottery surprised
Smartplay this fall by selecting our new
Mercury multiple chamber machine to launch SLSL’s newest game, Pick 3, in
the spring of 2009.
In November, Managing
Director and Chief Lottery Executive Mr. Abubakarr Dizzo-Kamara met with
Smartplay Marketing Assistant Mariana Burachok at the La Fleur’s symposium
in New York City. He then made a personal visit and appealed to Smartplay with
very specific ideas for SLSL’s new machine. Mr. Kamara was impressed with
our response to his vision. When the new Pick 3 game
launches in Sierra Leone, the new Mercury machine will be at the center of
attention. A royal blue SLSL logo graces the lustrous white façade of
the three-chamber machine. And each chamber displays and mixes ten balls, then
selects one winner by remote operation. Smartplay’s commitment to customer
service and history of producing superior, high value products drew Mr. Kamara
to select us for this critical game.
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This new single-digit air
mix Mercury allows lotteries an optional number of chambers to customize their
game and the look of the drawing. The chambers are assembled as one unit,
giving it a compact size while still allowing variable speeds and automation.
Smartplay’s Mercury model has been very successful, currently used by
Guatemala and Ecuador, and by contractual agreement will be represented on four
continents by spring of 2009. Smartplay’s
clients are worldwide and purchase our products for their steadfast
reliability, high value and our superior customer service. Staff at Smartplay
can assist international clients in Spanish, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Hindi
and German as well as English. About Smartplay
International Established in 1993,
Smartplay is dedicated to the creative design, development and manufacture of
lottery drawing equipment. Over the years our product line has evolved in
response to our clients’ needs by incorporating the latest technology. We
have maintained our position as the international leader in the area of lottery
drawing machines and custom game show equipment. Our products are consistently
chosen above other manufacturers due to our reputation for quality and
reliability and we are proud to be the choice of the world’s most
prestigious lotteries. SOURCE: Smartplay
International, Inc., Edgewater Park NJ, USA. CONTACT: Mariana Burachok,
Marketing +1 609 880 1860, Email: mariana@smartplay.com
Nebraska Lottery Launches NASCAR Scratch
Game
LINCOLN, Nebraska (February
10, 2009) -- The Nebraska Lottery has
launched a new $2 Scratch game based on based on the #1 spectator sport in the
United States: NASCAR®. The NASCAR Scratch game
offers players the chance to win one of two trips to a NASCAR sanctioned race,
and $297,600 in cash prizes from $2 to $1,000.
The NASCAR trip prize,
valued at $7,425, is a four-day, three-night trip for two to the winner’s
choice of any NASCAR sanctioned race in the 2009-2010 season. Each top prize
trip includes coach airfare on a major airline for two from any U.S.
continental airport, first-class hotel room or best accommodations, all ground
transfers from the hotel and race track, reserved seating for two race days, a
VIP package, and $500 in spending money. The $2
NASCAR Scratch game will be available at all Nebraska Lottery retailers
starting on February 10. The odds of winning the trip prize are 1 in 120,000,
while the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.78.
For more information on Nebraska Lottery games and
promotions, visit the Nebraska Lottery web site, nelottery.com.
SOURCE: Nebraska Lottery. British Columbia Lottery Corporation Turning
Olympic Dreams Into Reality
VANCOUVER, British Columbia
(February 12, 2009) - Thousands of British Columbians will enjoy a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter
Games, thanks to British Columbia Lottery
Corporation (BCLC) and SportsFunder lottery games. As an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games, BCLC will send thousands of British Columbians to the
Games through prizes on SportsFunder lottery games. Proceeds generated from the
sale of SportsFunder help support amateur athletes in B.C. To date, over $4.1
million has been raised for amateur sports throughout the province and more
than 140 lottery players have won tickets to premium events like the men's gold
medal ice hockey game and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, with thousands
more still available to be won. "When we give a
winner tickets to the 2010 Winter Games and make their dreams come true, we're
also helping athletes around the province do what they love to do, play
sports," said BCLC President & CEO, Michael Graydon. "What many
people don't realize is that when they purchase a SportsFunder lottery ticket,
they're helping support amateur athletes. Proceeds generated from all
SportsFunder products are used to help fund amateur sport programs right here
in B.C." For a chance to win tickets to the 2010
Winter Games, SportsFunder lottery games are available at any local lottery
retailer. There are currently four SportsFunder lottery games offering over
1,000 tickets as prizes to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games: Countdown
to 2010, Ultimate Ice 2010, Gold Medal Curling, and Ultimate Olympic
Hockey.
"BCLC has lottery
retailers in almost every town in the province, which means in every town
there's a chance to win tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
playing SportsFunder lottery games," continued Graydon. "While BCLC
continues to offer British Columbians the chance to win tickets and experience
the 2010 Winter Games first hand, it is also providing them with an opportunity
to share the spirit and excitement of the 2010 Winter Games before they
actually take place." The BCLC 2010 Winter Games
Dome brings a unique opportunity to experience the 2010 Winter Games from the
athletes' perspective. It's an exciting way for visitors to feel the thrill of
the Games in their own community and enter for a chance to win tickets to the
2010 Winter Games. About British Columbia Lottery
Corporation (www.bclc.com)
BCLC is a provincial Crown Corporation that offers
socially responsible gaming entertainment while generating income that benefits
all British Columbians. Last year, more than 6,850 community and charitable
organizations received community gaming grants. BCLC is an Official Supporter
of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
For more information, please contact: BCLC, Chris
Fairclough, Corporate Communications Officer, 2010, (604) 247-3122 or Cell:
(604) 341-1935, Email: cfairclough@bclc.com
Quick Draw, Quick Fun - New Draw Game from Hoosier
Lottery
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana
(February 16, 2009) – On Sunday, March 1 a new
Hoosier Lottery draw game, Quick Draw,
will be available for purchase at Hoosier Lottery retailers. Draw game products
currently include: Powerball, Hoosier Lotto, Mix & Match, Daily 3 and 4 and
now Quick Draw. Quick Draw will be an easy-to-play
game that lets players play for a top prize of $300,000* every single day.
"Every day is a Quick Draw day," said Executive
Director Kathryn A. Densborn.
"Quick Draw is fast, quick and fun for just one dollar. We wanted to bring
something new and exciting to our current players and those that will enjoy the
opportunity to win $300,000 every day!" Quick
Facts about the New Game:  Cost: $1
Players "Quick Pick" or select 10 numbers between 1 and
80 Hoosier Lottery draws 20 numbers
Players win by matching 5 or more numbers Drawings every night (approximately 10:39 p.m.)
Overall odds: 1:15.5 The Hoosier Lottery
reminds all players to please play responsibly. Call Hoosier Lottery Customer
Service with questions: 1-800-955-6886. SOURCE:
Hoosier Lottery.
Virginia
Lottery and Bass Pro Shops Team Up For A Reel Great
Game RICHMOND, Virginia (February
17, 2009) -- It’s no secret that Virginians love the great outdoors and
the countless lakes, mountain trails, rivers and abundant wildlife within the
Commonwealth. That’s why the Virginia
Lottery is teaming up with Bass Pro Shops for a game as big as the outdoors
– in which players can win up to $75,000 – or one of four outdoor
adventure packages.
“With 44 percent of
Virginians participating in some sort of wildlife-related activity, coupled
with the loyalty and brand awareness of Bass Pro Shops customers, this is a
natural fit for the Virginia Lottery,” said Virginia Lottery Executive
Director Paula I. Otto.
The $5 game will feature two second chance drawings, in
which players can enter non-winning tickets to win four outdoor adventures,
each valued at $23,000. Other prizes in the drawings include more then 1,200
Bass Pro Shops merchandise prize packs and 1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift cards,
each worth $100. “We are excited to launch a
Bass Pro Shops themed game with the Virginia Lottery,” said Stan
Lippelman, Vice President of Marketing for Bass Pro Shops. “With the
recent opening of our Richmond store, Virginia is a state where we continue to
expand our presence and contribute to the state’s economic
growth.” The Bass Pro Shops Scratcher game
is scheduled to be available at Virginia Lottery retailers, beginning February
17. To add to the excitement, the Lottery is
partnering with the Virginia Tech Fishing Team to promote the ticket at
Virginia’s two Bass Pro Shops locations. Virginians can visit the stores,
purchase lottery products and have the opportunity to win prizes. The Fishing
Team, ranked #1 in the country, will be conducting interactive and
participatory demonstrations with the public on Wii fishing.
About The Virginia
Lottery: Nearly 95 cents of each dollar spent on
the Virginia Lottery by players goes back to the Commonwealth in the form of
contributions to education, prizes and retailer commissions. Since 1999, all
Virginia Lottery profits have been designated solely to K-12 public school
education in the Commonwealth. In that time, the Lottery has turned over nearly
$4 billion for Virginia’s public schools. The latest annual profits of
$455 million currently represent about 6 percent of state funding for public
education in Virginia. In 20 years, the Lottery has sold more than $20 billion
in tickets, awarded more than $1 billion in retailer commissions and paid more
than $10.9 billion in prizes to players. About Bass
Pro Shops: Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri,
Bass Pro Shops, also an international catalog and internet retailer, currently
has 54 retail locations in 26 states and Canada visited by over 100 million
people per year. In addition, Bass Pro Shops provides products and services for
thousands of independent dealers worldwide through its subsidiary company,
American Rod & Gun. Bass Pro Shops gift cards can be purchased at more than
132,000 retail outlets across America. CONTACT: John
Hagerty of the Virginia Lottery, +1-804-692-7778. SOURCE: Virginia Lottery.
New
Scratch’n’Win Brand Campaign Captures Life’s ‘Little
Moments’ OSBORNE PARK,
Western Australia (February 17, 2009) -- Lotterywest has unveiled a new era for
Scratch’n’Win with the launch of its new brand campaign, ‘My
little moment’ which began airing on television on Sunday 15 February
2009. After recently launching new branding based
around ‘shared moments’ for Lotterywest,
Lotto, Powerball and OZ Lotto, the new
Scratch’n’Win branding is the final addition to the suite.
Based on a sophisticated style of animation, the new
branding represents a significant shift from a tactical and product based
approach to a strong focus on brand and experience.
It will include five
advertisements representing the different motivations to buy
Scratch’n’Win, being thrill, time-out and gifting.
The initial launch will feature two illustrations based
around themes of ‘DIY – my little moment of excitement’
and ‘Yoga – my little moment of peace’. The next phase of
the brand launch will feature ‘Weekend’ and ‘Traffic
Jam’ themes. The creative concept was the
work of Marketforce, with the illustrative work produced by animation company
Teaspoon.
“We expect this
campaign to have a very positive effect on sales and increase interest in
Scratch’n’Win, reaching both current players and non-players in a
unique and engaging way,” explains
Scratch’n’Win Portfolio Manager Lauren Menck.
“Whether a short play scratchie for a little
moment of excitement or a long play Crossword for a moment of peace and
relaxation, everyone enjoys a little moment to themselves.” Last year,
close to $66 million worth of prizes were won by West Australians on
Scratch’n’Win tickets, helping to contribute over $25 million to
Lotterywest funding for worthwhile projects in the WA community.
For every $1 spent on Scratch'n'Win tickets, 32 cents is
returned to the WA community to help support a variety of not-for-profit
organisations and community groups. SOURCE: Lotteries
Commission of Western Australia trading as Lotterywest. CONTACT: Jodi Eastman -
9340 5227 / 0438 996 884.
GLI Italy
Completes Expansion Increases Lab, Staff, Storage To Meet Customer
Demand BOLOGNA, Italy (18 February
2009) – Responding to increased customer demand,
Gaming Laboratories International has
completed an expansion of its GLI Italy lab. The expansion includes an increase
in lab size, added engineers and support staff and enlarged device storage
area. The expansion was prompted by increased work
load from manufacturers and suppliers submitting new and modified games for the
Italian Comma 6A market, and will allow the lab to serve more customers and to
continue to deliver world-class customer service.
GLI Italy Technical Manager
Rocco Ramos said, “We have seen a significant increase in the number of
testing submissions we are receiving because of a recent clarification of the
Comma 6A game and protocol requirements and the changes to the certification
process by AAMS.” GLI Italia has also seen an
increase in submissions for international jurisdictions. The company has
focused on training engineers to work in both the domestic Italian market as
well as being able to test for international standards such as GLI – 11,
12, 13, and 22. “The increase in activity,
with more manufacturers submitting more games for more jurisdictions, provides
us with great confidence in the on-going success of GLI Italy.” said
Phil Barow, Managing Director of GLI Italy. About
Gaming Laboratories International For more than 20
years, Gaming Laboratories International has been the world leader in
independent testing for the gaming industry. With 13 testing laboratories
spread across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and the United
States, GLI is the only laboratory of its kind to hold both U.S. and
International accreditations for compliance with ISO 17020 and ISO 17025
standards for technical competence in testing and inspection services. For more
information, visit www.gaminglabs.com. CONTACT:
Christie Eickelman, Sr. Director of Worldwide Marketing, Gaming Laboratories
International, +1(702) 914 2220 or Email: c.eickelman.gaminglabs.com
Press Release distributed by: Paul Speirs, Steinbeck
Communications, P (702) 413-4278, F (702) 233-3492, Email:
paulspeirs@cox.net
La Poule aux
oeufs d’or™, a New Slot Machine Developed by Ingenio, Arrives in
Québec Casinos MONTREAL,
Quebec, Canada (February 18, 2009) -- This month, Québec’s casinos
are unveiling La Poule aux oeufs d’or™ (Hatch the Cash™), a new
video slot machine created by Ingenio, Loto-Québec’s research and
development division.
Inspired by the success of
the wildly popular TV lottery show La Poule aux oeufs d’or™,
Québec’s Casinos (known in French as the Société des
casinos du Québec) commissioned Ingenio to design a video slot machine
game using the same theme. Offering a colourful and distinctly playful gaming
experience, the machine duplicates the famous “The Egg or the
Envelope” game through three bonus modes. In
partnership with Bally Technologies, one of
the world’s largest game and system suppliers, Ingenio’s team of
design, interactivity, mathematical modelling, programming and 3D visuals
experts worked intensively to bring this project to fruition. “This is
the Québec launch of the first in a series of slot machines to be
developed within the framework of a strategic alliance forged by Ingenio and
Bally Technologies in June 2006, to the benefit of the Société
des casinos,” said Ingenio’s Director General, Nathalie Rajotte.
Other games are currently in or soon to be entering the certification phase,
which is overseen by the province’s alcohol and gaming board, the
Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux du Québec.
The first La Poule aux oeufs d’or™ slot machines
saw the light of day in 2008 as Hatch the Cash™, an English version of the
game. Today, they can be played in over 100 casinos worldwide, in more than 30
jurisdictions reaching from China to South America, from Europe to the
U.S.A. 30 La Poule aux oeufs d’or™ slot
machines are set up in the province’s casinos over the month. Various
promotional activities begin at the Casino du Lac-Leamy, the Casino de
Montréal and the Casino de Charlevoix on February 9, 19 and 27,
respectively. About Ingenio
Created in 1998,
Loto-Québec’s R&D arm, Ingenio, focuses primarily on the
development of new lottery and gaming products and delivery channels for the
international market. Over the past few years, the company has made its mark
thanks to the originality and graphic quality of its interactive multimedia
lottery games and its use of cutting-edge technologies to enhance its range of
lottery and gaming products, which are marketed by Loto-Québec’s
business units. These business units-lotteries, casinos, bingo operations and
video lottery terminals-benefit from the economic spin-offs of Ingenio’s
developments. For more information, visit
www.ingenio-quebec.com.
About Bally Technologies, Inc.
With a history dating back to 1932, Las Vegas-based Bally
Technologies designs, manufacturers, operates, and distributes advanced gaming
devices, systems, and technology solutions worldwide. Bally’s product line
includes reel-spinning slot machines, video slots, wide-area progressives, and
Class II, lottery, and central determination games and platforms. As the
world’s No.1 gaming systems company, Bally also offers an array of casino
management, slot accounting, bonusing, cashless, and table-management
solutions. For more information, visit www.BallyTech.com.
For further information: Jean-Pierre Roy, Media Relations,
Loto-Québec, (514) 499 5151; Laura Olson-Reyes, Media Contact, Bally
Technologies, (702) 584-7742. 
Time Is Running
Out To Enter: Twenty $50,000 Virginia College Savings Plan Scholarship Prizes
Will Be Awarded On March 4
RICHMOND, Virginia
(February 14, 2009) -- It’s the game that began with the
Virginia Lottery in 1988. Now, more than
20 years later, Match 3 Scratcher tickets will help 20 lucky winners each
receive $50,000 college scholarships established with the Virginia College
Savings Plan. But in order to win, players must enter
their non-winning Match 3 tickets by March 3, 2009. On
March 4, 20 of those non-winning tickets will be drawn at random. Players can
enter the Lottery’s Birthday Scholarship Sweepstakes via the Internet,
text message or regular mail. The instructions can be found at
www.valottery.com/birthday. The scholarships will be
established as accounts in the Virginia Education Savings Trust (VEST), a
tax-advantaged 529 savings program open to any U.S. citizen or legal residents
and usable at public or private technical schools, community colleges and
universities worldwide to pay for tuition, fees, room and board, equipment and
other qualified higher education expenses as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code.
“This game is
exciting, not just for players, but for the Lottery as well,” said
Virginia Lottery Executive Director Paula I.
Otto. “This first-of-its-kind lottery prize will help students
continue their education. Education funding is what the Virginia Lottery is all
about.” “We are pleased to be helping
more students enroll in and graduate from colleges and universities,”
added Mary G. Morris, Executive Director of the Virginia College Savings Plan.
“This joint venture with the Virginia Lottery also helps get the word out
about VEST and its savings options, as well as the VCSP’s other three
programs, to help families plan ahead and begin saving now for higher
education.” Match 3 tickets are available at
Virginia Lottery retailers across the Commonwealth. The game features prizes
ranging from $5 up to $20,000. Funds in VEST accounts
grow tax free and remain tax free when used for qualified higher education
expenses. Virginia account owners with Virginia taxable income also receive a
state income tax deduction for their 529 contributions. The 2008 deduction
available to filers this year was $2,000 per account per year. The deduction
doubled on January 1, 2009 and is now $4,000 per account per year for the 2009
and future tax years, with an unlimited carry-forward.
VEST accounts may be opened
year-round; there are no age, state residency or income phaseout restrictions.
More information about VEST and the Virginia College Savings Plan is available
at www.Virginia529.com Nearly 95 cents of each dollar
spent on the Virginia Lottery by players goes back to the Commonwealth in the
form of contributions to education, prizes and retailer commissions. Since
1999, all Virginia Lottery profits have been designated solely to K-12 public
school education in the Commonwealth. In that time, the Lottery has turned over
nearly $4 billion for Virginia’s public schools. The latest annual profits
of $455 million currently represent about 6 percent of state funding for public
education in Virginia. In 20 years, the Lottery has sold more than $20 billion
in tickets, awarded more than $1 billion in retailer commissions and paid more
than $10.9 billion in prizes to players. SOURCE:
Virginia Lottery news release. 
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