| The New Media
& Sports Betting Company Article submitted by Cheryl Sullivan, Sr. Marketing
Specialist, Marketing Communications GTECH Corp.
GREENWICH, Rhode Island (April 19, 2009) -- The most
pervasive trend within the gaming industry is the ever-increasing player demand
to have entertaining games available when and where they want them. Gaming
customers want fresh new games and concepts that service multiple channels
– traditional, online, video lottery, poker, bingo, casino, and sports
betting - preferably all in a one-stop-gaming shop.
The supplier demand is also
increasing, and no single company has been able to offer an end-to-end solution
covering the variety of games and services demanded by today’s players and
gaming customers. Now, with the acquisition of gaming
companies like Boss Media, Finsoft, St Minver, and Dynamite Idea,
GTECH has combined the resources that are
at the forefront of game innovation to form a new entity – one that brings
these best-of-breed companies together under one umbrella –called, the New
Media & Sports Betting Company. The collective
value of the New Media & Sports Betting Company is the fact that it is
combines the extensive expertise of GTECH within the regulated lottery market
with the commercial and creative experience and resources of the following
companies:
- Boss Media: Secure,
Internet-based wagering and player-focused game development.
- Finsoft: Creative game
development with an advanced sports-betting technology platform.
- St Minver: Full-service, back-end
gaming channel operations.
- Dynamite Idea: Market-leading,
innovative game development.
GTECH’s New Media &
Sports Betting Company currently has more than 160 customers and 600 employees
around the world. The New Media & Sports Betting Company is focused on
online and retail products and services in the areas of poker, bingo, casino,
sports betting, server-based Interactive Video Terminals (IVTs), game and risk
management, white label end-to-end services, games design studio, and
libraries. Boss Media
As one of the first companies to operate its own Internet
casino and gaming portal, Boss Media forged the way for secure, Internet-based
wagering and player-focused game development. Founded in Sweden in 1996, Boss
Media has become one of the world’s leading independent software providers
of complete online gaming solutions within poker, bingo, casino, and payment-
and back-end systems. Finsoft
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Finsoft is the leading
provider of real-time trading solutions designed for both the commercial sports
betting industry and WLA markets. The company’s “know how” and
experience is the result of more than two decades of continuous development.
St Minver St Minver
is a world leader in providing end-to-end white label online gaming services
and offers fully managed gaming services for blue-chip media brands and
integrated gaming solutions for European sports books.
Dynamite Idea Dynamite
Idea is the leading developer and supplier of unique, innovative fixed-odds
betting games for the Internet, iDTV, mobile, and betting terminals in Europe.
The company consists of a highly experienced and creative team, delivering game
formats that are both entertaining and compelling to play and, therefore,
highly profitable for gambling industry customers. Responsibly Driving Global Gaming
When entering the exciting world of new media, the
keywords for everyone, including WLA operators are: social responsibility. It
is of paramount importance that any WLA operator be able to offer social gaming
to new communities of players in a socially responsible environment.
GTECH has long been an advocate of socially responsible
gaming, and the New Media & Sports Betting Company is allied with this
commitment. Within GTECH and the New Media & Sports Betting Company, all
products and services are designed and developed with this important
responsibility in mind. SOURCE: Cheryl Sullivan, GTECH
Sr. Marketing Specialist, Marketing Communications. INTRALOT Enters the Croatian Market Providing
Interactive Gaming ATHENS, Greece
(April 21, 2009) -- Following an international competitive procurement,
INTRALOT S.A. was selected by
Hrvatska Lutrija d.o.o, the Croatian State
Lottery, as the successful vendor for the supply, maintenance and support of an
Interactive Gaming System and the provision of new-generation 3D internet
games. The contract will have an initial duration of one year and may be
extended for consecutive one-year periods. INTRALOT
analysed all the technical, operational and business requirements of Hrvatska
Lutrija d.o.o and offered a technologically superior solution that will enable
the Lottery to deliver its existing games over the Internet and introduce
new-generation games with advanced 3D animations.
Under the terms of the
proposal, INTRALOT will install its B-OnTM multi-channel gaming platform that
will support the Lottery’s numerical (Lotto, Keno, Joker, TV Bingo, Super
Bingo) and Fixed-Odds sports betting games. Additionally, INTRALOT will provide
a selection from its 3D interactive games (INTRALOT’s GameTime Suite
includes Casino, Racing, Bowling and Shooting games) that will enable Hrvatska
Lutrija to expand its gaming portfolio and increase its revenues.
INTRALOT CEO, Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos,
commented: “We are really pleased, as our forthcoming collaboration
with Hrvatska Lutrija marks our entry into the Croatian market. We are looking
forward to working closely with Hrvatska Lutrija, in order to provide Croatian
players with new gaming experiences.” The
Managing Director of the Hrvatska Lutrija
d.o.o, Ms. Vesna Bakran, stated: “Our future contract with
INTRALOT, the leading gaming technology provider worldwide, gives the Croatian
State Lottery access to the future of gaming. With INTRALOT we are confident
that Hrvatska Lutrija will remain the leading gaming operator in Croatia and be
the pioneer of the next generation of games.” 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. Its 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 50
countries, with 5.000 people and revenues of more than €1.1 billion for
2008, INTRALOT has established its presence on all 5 continents.
For more information please CONTACT: Ms. Persa Kartsoli,
Head of Corporate Affairs, Phone: +30-210 6156000, Fax: +30-210 6106800, email:
kartsoli@intralot.com.
Smartplay’s Mercury Model Lands on its 4th
Continent: Europe
EDGEWATER PARK, New Jersey
(April, 2009) – Smartplay
International, Inc. delivered a spectacular new Mercury 7 lotto machine to
Latvijas Loto in March, placing this
outstanding performer on its fourth continent. In addition to Latvia in Eastern
Europe, Smartplay’s Mercury is drawing lottery numbers in Central America,
South America and Africa. Latvijas Loto is using their new air-mix Mercury,
shown below, for the draw of their Džzokers game.
Edgars Ledinš of Latvijas Loto met with
Smartplay during the WLA trade show in October. Smartplay was displaying the
latest Mercury model at the show, where it attracted the attention and
admiration of Ledinš. He found it to be a perfect match for their draw
needs and immediately signed Smartplay to create their custom machine.
“Initially the Džzokers draw was conducted
using a single drum Smartplay machine. Now, the new 7-drum Mercury machine
saves TV time, making the draw faster and more attractive,” said
Edgars Ledinš of Latvijas Loto.
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Džzokers is a 6 digit
game which was launched in 1997. Today it is the second biggest lottery product
in Latvijas Loto, with a 19% share of its product portfolio. The lottery
currently uses six of the seven available drums. They plan to begin using the
7th drum when a new Džzokers game is introduced. (Info provided by the
client) About Smartplay International,
Inc. 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.
Ohio Lottery Commission Names Northlich Lead
Advertising Agency
CINCINNATI, Ohio ( April
17, 2009) -- Northlich announced today that it has been selected as the lead
agency of record for the Ohio Lottery
Commission’s (OLC) advertising and creative assignments. Northlich, a
brand engagement agency with 60 years of experience operating in Ohio has
offices in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland. The
two-year contract commencing July 1, 2009, includes promoting and driving sales
of the OLC’s instant and on-line games, as well as brand development and
integrated marketing to increase awareness of the OLC’s core mission,
which is to help educate the children of Ohio through its games.
“We are excited about our new partnership and were
particularly impressed with the strategic power of Northlich's creative product
and process,” said Terri Tancredi, Deputy Director of Marketing Services
for the Ohio Lottery. Since 1974, the OLC has raised
more than $16 billion to support K-12 education across Ohio. Now, Northlich
will use its lottery and retail expertise to further increase the OLC’s
positive impact on Ohioans by creating insightful brand strategies and
breakthrough marketing campaigns.
“We are honored to
have the opportunity to share the Ohio Lottery Commission’s passion for
improving the lives of all Ohioans through education and look forward to
translating that passion into advertising that inspires and motivates
players,” said Kathy Selker, President and CEO of Northlich.
Since 2006, Northlich has been the agency of record for
the Kentucky Lottery Corporation, creating work that has helped revitalize its
brand and reach record sales. Northlich is recognized
nationally for its anti-tobacco campaign, stand, and the totes campaign
featuring R&B songstress Rihanna, honored in Advertising Age’s 2008
Marketing 50 Brands. The firm has successfully created fully integrated
campaigns for brands such as White Castle, Long John Silver’s, Procter
& Gamble, and Birds Eye Food. About
Northlich Northlich is a brand engagement agency
specializing in changing not simply perception, but behavior. On the tube, in
the paper, on-line or on the street, Northlich engages people with brands
however, whenever and wherever they choose to engage for leading marketers like
P&G, Yum! Brands, American Greetings and others. Learn how at
www.northlich.com. CONTACTS: Northlich, Preeti
Thakar, 513-287-1864 office, 513-410-1136 cell, Email:
pthakar@northlich.com
Weekend Drawings Break the Bank, Pick 3 Players
Win Big…Again…And Again
BALTIMORE, Maryland (April
20, 2009) -- Pick 3 players were rewarded with two big payouts this past
weekend. On Saturday evening, 4-1-8 was drawn, numerically matching the
April 18th drawing date. And, the Sunday midday drawing produced 3-3-3,
making it the 13th time this fiscal year that a Pick 3 drawing produced triple
numbers. Between those two drawings, more than $1.7 million was paid out
to over 9,400 winners. The drawings took in just over $706,000 in
sales. “What an exciting weekend for Pick 3
players,” said Director Buddy Roogow. “Not only did they break
the bank once, but twice! And, what are the odds of 4-1-8 hitting on
April 18th…pretty incredible!” The Maryland Lottery’s Pick 3 drawings are held twice
daily -- midday and evening, seven-days-a-week and are televised every day
except Saturdays on WBAL-TV and Maryland Public Television.
SOURCE: Maryland Lottery.
CONTACT: Carole Everett,
410-230-8800. Order for 2,200
KEBA KeWin Micro Lottery Terminals For The Russian Autonomous Republic Of
Bashkortostan  Austrian
Lotteries Move Into Russia And Look To Trusted Partners
Austrian Lotteries Launch A Lottery Operation In
Russia KEBA Supplies The Lottery
Terminals The Austrian Lotteries are
expanding their activities to the Russian autonomous republic of Bashkortostan.
To this end, the automation specialist KEBA has received an order for 2,200
KeWin micro lottery terminals, which are to be delivered in the course of the
year.
LINZ, Austria (April
6, 2009) -- The Austrian Lotteries are
currently expanding their activities in Russia and in the process are relying
on trusted partners for their development of a new market. Accordingly, the
Austrian automation specialist, KEBA, a
long-term Austrian Lotteries partner, has been commissioned to produce 2,200
KeWin micro lottery ticket terminals during 2009, for delivery to the Russian
operating company, Ural Loto. Bettina Glatz-Kremsner from the Austrian
Lotteries Managing Board describes the launch in the autonomous republic of
Bashkortostan as being, “Without doubt the largest international
venture of the Austrian Lotteries since many years.” Intensive work is
currently taking place on the creation of a network of 2,000 sales points and a
technical infrastructure. Exclusive supplier to
the Austrian Lotteries KEBA and the Austrian
Lotteries are linked by a long-term partnership. Since as early as 1999,
KEBA has been able to repeatedly win Austrian Lotteries contracts, which had
been put out to international tenders, and thus has since then been virtually
an exclusive supplier to the company.
- 1999 - Installation of 4,420
KeWin multimedia high-end terminals
- 2003 - Installation of 4,780
compact KeWin mini terminals
- 2007/08 - Installation of 4,400
new KeWin multimedia terminals
In Austria, all lottery ticket
acceptance points are fitted with KEBA terminals.
In addition to the Austrian Lotteries, Spain is also a
country that relies on Austrian quality. In terms of sales, Spain is one of the
world’s largest lottery markets and with some 10,000 lottery terminals,
“Made by KEBA”, there is nearly full national coverage.
KeWin micro – the tiny lottery terminal with huge
capabilities Without doubt, the KeWin micro from KEBA
is the smallest lottery terminal available on the market to offer a complete
range of functions. This extends from the scanning of lottery tickets and
network communications, to the printout of receipts and user interaction via a
diversity of displays. KeWin micro was specially
developed for use in limited space, e.g. for acceptance points with low or
medium betting slip volumes and at supermarket cash points. Accordingly, the
terminal has a single housing with a footprint measuring just 158 x 266 x 209
mm (width x depth x height), in which the user interface, system controls,
printer, communications system, barcode and betting slip scanner are all
integrated. Together with the high-speed KeWin
multimedia, the KeWin micro forms a terminal family, equipped with identical
functions, which allows combination of both terminals in the field.
KEBA AG Automation by innovation.
KEBA AG is an internationally successful electronics
company, which in line with its maxim, “Automation by
innovation,” develops and manufactures innovative, top quality
solutions for industrial, banking and services automation and with its new
products continually acts as trendsetter. The
current workforce of 785 generates sales of around EUR 122.9 million, 76 per
cent of which are obtained from exports. Roughly 20 per cent of sales are
ploughed back into R&D. This high R&D quota
provides the basis for numerous innovative products. For example, in the
banking and services automation field, KEBA offers self-service solutions for
financial institutions, process automation for suppliers of logistical services
and terminals for lottery companies. In the industrial automation business area
the company focuses on the automation of machines and robots, as well as the
production of mobile control devices.
Press contact: Ms. Uta
Apfelknab, Marketing Communication, Banking and Service Automation, Tel.:+43
732/7090-25443, E-mail: apf@keba.com
SOURCE: KEBA AG.
WMS Wins Four
Awards for Player-Focused Products in Casino Journal's Top 20 Most Innovative
Gaming Technology Products Awards for 2008
WAUKEGAN, Illinois (April 16, 2009) -- Confirming its
position as the leader in creating products that raise the level of
entertainment for slot players, WMS Gaming
Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc. (WMS), placed four
player-focused, network-enabled products in Casino Journal's Top 20 Most
Innovative Gaming Technology Products Awards for 2008. The recognition for
these four products also highlights WMS' focus and leadership in evolving the
casino slot floor to a networked environment for the direct benefit of the
player experience.
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The WMS products named to
Casino Journal's Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products Awards for
2008 are: Reel Em In! Compete to Win! Building on the
server-driven Community Gaming® category innovated by WMS, the new Reel Em
In! Compete to Win! game features a competitive element never before offered in
a slot machine, where players select from four characters to compete in an
exciting fishing contest for a grand prize, all in high-definition. And for
those lucky fishermen able to land a big one, their achievement will be
displayed on an overhead leader board in casinos nationwide. Reel 'em In!
Compete to Win! takes advantage of one of the key drivers for players and
gaming - recognition - with a winning combination of competitive events and
overhead leader boards designed to both excite and publicly recognize players'
bonus accomplishments. Reel 'Em In! Compete to Win! also brings community bonus
excitement to a whole new level by utilizing two high-definition 52 inch
monitors to immerse players in a massive, real-time 3D undersea world!
POWERBALL Power Seat Another second generation game for
the Community Gaming product category, POWERBALL Power Seat capitalizes on the
popular POWERBALL brand. In the Power Seat bonus of this unique game, one
player is selected as the Power Seat player and is rewarded with an extra award
that creates enhanced excitement. POWERBALL Power Seat features four fantastic
new community bonuses: Mystery Spin, Tire Pump, Matrix, and the amazing Super
Shot bonus. These bonuses come up twice as often as in all previous games in
the Community Gaming product category. A bonus round is randomly triggered when
the Power Seat machine draws all other eligible players into the bonus round
and its Power Seat multiplier is awarded. The Super
Shot Bonus is the industry's first bonus round driven by a real-time physics
engine, creating an exciting bonus round like nothing else on the slot floor.
The POWERBALL character climbs into a giant cannon and is shot across a
landscape where he interacts with the environment based on the angle and
velocity with which he is shot out of the cannon. He bounces off rocks,
utilizes Jet Packs, and can even get tossed from the antlers of a moose! Thanks
to the combination of CPU-NXT(R)2 powered next-generation 3D graphics and the
industry's first real-time physics engine, the Super Shot Bonus plays out
differently each time. The further the POWERBALL character travels, the more
credits each eligible player on the bank is awarded!
Ultra Hit Progressive On
the surface, Ultra Hit Progressive is a mystery triggered multi-level
progressive architecture but that's where the comparison to other products
ends, as Ultra Hit Progressive is designed to deliver a compelling, unique,
previously unavailable experience to players. Ultra Hit Progressive takes a
local area progressive to a new level as it advertises to the player how close
the progressive is to being hit with innovative graphics and design. The
"advertisement" adds to the player's experience as anticipation for the jackpot
builds. This excitement coupled with constantly updated progressive themes
running in conjunction with the latest and greatest base game themes will have
players coming back for more. Bluebird2 Introduced in
late 2008 to broad casino operator and player acclaim, WMS' network-enabled
Bluebird2 gaming cabinet is already achieving significant market share as its
features that make it one of the industry's most innovative cabinets. Bluebird2
has a slim, smooth progressive style that places everything on the gaming
console at the fingertips of players and provides the luxury of increased
legroom. Bluebird2 also features player enhancing characteristics such as dual
22" widescreen high-definition displays, a compelling BOSE(R) audio experience
and illuminated printer and bill acceptor bezels, all resulting in the most
convenient and exceptionally comfortable gaming experience possible.
WMS is engaged in serving the gaming industry worldwide by
designing, manufacturing and marketing video and reel-spinning gaming machines,
video lottery terminals, and in gaming operations, which consists of the
placement of leased participation gaming machines in legal gaming venues. More
information on WMS can be found at www.wms.com. BOSE®
is a registered trademark of Bose Corporation. POWERBALL® is a registered trademark of Multi-State
Lottery Corporation. SOURCE: WMS Industries Inc.
CONTACT: Rob Bone, 773-961-1667, Vice President of Marketing, Email:
rbone@wms.com
Danske Spil Now
Supported By Betware Platform 8.0 WARSAW, Poland (April 2, 2009) -- The launch of
Betware’s Platform 8 product in late March 2009 at the
Danish National Lottery was the second
successful introduction of Betware’s flagship product. The new
platform offers a range of enhancements, including improved security, support
for new databases, attractive marketing features and a Service Provider
Interface.
It also allows daily
transaction balancing with 3rd party systems on a 24/7 basis and is capable of
switching off parts of the solution for maintenance without any impact on other
parts. The Betware Platform is flexible, secure and scalable and enables the
Lottery to handle transaction management (wagers, players, accounts) in a very
auditable manner. Along with the Platform 8 upgrade,
Danske Spil has introduced a new design for the popular Lotto game.
“Players can now enjoy a very attractive and user friendly interface
that was implemented using Flex 3.0 technology” - explains Carsten
Sundberg, Betware’s Danish Branch Manager and continues - “this is
a fast developing market and it is essential for Betware to continuously
provide our clients with a platform product that caters to all player needs and
allows the clients to offer competitive products that can be presented using
high end graphical presentation technologies like Flex 3.0.”
About Betware (www.betware.com) Betware is a software and services company that specializes
in providing technical solutions to gaming companies operating in fully
regulated jurisdictions. Betware has a wide product line, covering
multiplayer games, traditional lottery games, sports games, instants, horse
racing, live betting, bingo and casino games. These are offered for different
channels including the Internet, IPTV, mobile and on-line retailer systems.
Betware’s flexible application program interface (API) allows independent
third party gaming developers and operators to create their own games on top of
Betware’s core solutions. CONTACT:
Agnieszka Rylska, Betware Marketing Manager, ul. Słomińskiego 15 lok.
508, 00-195 Warsaw, Poland, Tel: +48 22 6375761, Email:
agnieszka@betware.com
Managed Gaming
Solutions Acquires Two Micropayment Software Companies
LONDON, UK (April 20, 2009) --
Managed Gaming Solutions Plc (MGS), a leading
provider of mobile and interactive gaming solutions, is pleased to announce
that it has acquired 51 % of TEC Trust Equity Capital Oy and 100 % of
Streamflood Oy, two Finland-based companies operating in the micropayment
technology industry.
TEC Trust Equity Capital Oy
and Streamflood Oy are technology and financial services companies providing
fast, convenient and flexible micropayment and credit solutions through mobile
phones and online interfaces. The in-house built payment technology platform
used by TEC Trust Equity Capital Oy and Streamflood Oy offers a broad variety
of services including mobile and online payment processing, Mobile Money
Transfer (MMT), automatic credit worthiness checking, and managing real-time
payments to the banks’ ATMs. With these new technology features MGS
accelerates the time-to-market of current services in the target territories,
and fast-tracks the international expansion to previously unplanned
territories. Originally founded, and operating profitable business in Finland,
the companies’ goal and mission for fiscal year 2009 is to enter several
European markets. “We are very happy
about our last acquisitions, which bring nice additional cash flow to our
existing business, and also provide exciting new growth opportunities for our
company,” explains Tero Turunen, Executive Chairman of Managed Gaming
Solutions. “Firstly, we enhance our current product and service
offering which enables us to actively drive the growth of the micropayments
sector. Secondly, adding the technology assets into our existing IP portfolio
gives us a big advantage in the market. The markets for mobile initiated
micropayment products and especially for the unsecured consumer credit in the
target countries are experiencing rapid growth and are still virtually
under-served with a fully fledged and automated payment platform like ours .
Furthermore, TEC Trust Equity Capital Oy and Streamflood Oy are already well
established companies operating profitable and steadily growing
business,” Turunen states. For more
information about the company and its services and products offered please
visit www.mgscorporation.com.
For any further information, please contact our Investor
Relations Team directly: esVedra consulting GmbH,
Metis Tarta-Steck, t: +49. 89. 28 80 81 33, f: +49. 89. 28 80 81 49, Email:
info@esvedragroup.com, web:
www.esvedragroup.com
Big Payouts for Pick 4
Players
Three Drawings
Produce Almost $3 Million in Prizes BALTIMORE, Maryland (April 23, 2009) – The past two days
have been very exciting for Pick 4 players. Today’s Midday Pick 4
drawing produced 1-0-2-0, with a 500 percent payout. The drawing took in
$289,723 in total sales and paid out over $1.5 million in prizes. Add in
this week’s Tuesday and Wednesday evening drawings, and Pick 4 players
have received almost $3 million in prizes from those three drawings
alone. “Pick 4 players are on a roll
this week,” said Lottery Director Buddy Roogow. “This comes on
the heels of a huge weekend for Pick 3 players. It just proves people
really do win.” The Maryland Lottery’s Pick 3 and Pick
4 drawings are held twice daily -- midday and evening, seven days-a-week and
are televised every day except Saturdays on WBAL-TV and Maryland Public
Television. SOURCE: Maryland Lottery.
CONTACT:
Carole Everett, 410-230-8800.
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