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| Vol. 31 No. 2 -- Monday April 11, 2005 |
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Join the Force and Collect All 12 Star Wars Scratchers from the California State Lottery
The Scratchers tickets will be released statewide in April in advance of the worldwide release of the movie on May 19, 2005. "Californians can enjoy the excitement of a great looking Scratchers ticket combined with a chance at winning up to $10,000,"said Gutierrez. Diehard Star Wars fans, now in their 30's who were first introduced to the phenomenon in the 70's, wait in anticipation for the final piece of the story featuring the emergence of Darth Vader. Each episode of the Star Wars saga is represented by two tickets with screen shots and characters from it; including the AT-AT walkers and Star Destroyers from The Empire Strikes Back and what promises to be the most epic battle ever between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi from Revenge of the Sith. Players and fans can see all of the tickets and find out more about the limited release of exclusive collectible Star Wars coins on the Lottery website at http://www.calottery.com. The Star Wars Scratchers tickets cost $2. "The popularity of the Star Wars saga is sure to make this ticket a big hit with our players, I'm sure many people will want to collect all 12!" said Gutierrez. SOURCE: California State Lotterymedia release. Kentucky Lottery Wants Players to "Flip" Over the New Game "Double Up Cash"! LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (April 4, 2005) -- The Kentucky Lottery Corporation (KLC) is set to launch a new online game called Double Up Cash. Sales for the game begin April 3rd, with the first drawing on April 4th. Double Up Cash combines a variety of game styles into an event where players could win a rolling jackpot or double their second-tier cash prizes. To start, players visit their local KLC retailer and complete a Double Up Cash playslip. Players select five of 36 numbers and choose either "heads" or "tails" (players may choose the Quick Pick feature where the computer picks numbers and heads or tails for them).
A drawing will be held each evening Monday through Saturday. Five winning numbers and either heads or tails are drawn. Matching just two of the five numbers wins a prize. Here’s where the "double up" feature comes in – players who match two, three or four of the winning numbers automatically DOUBLE their prizes if they also correctly select heads or tails! (Players can check the KLC’s website at www.kylottery.com for a complete list of game rules and regulations along with a ‘how to play’ demo.) Another great feature of the game will be its rolling jackpot. "The top prize for Double Up Cash starts at $40,000," said KLC Sr. Vice President of Marketing Steve Casebeer. "For every drawing where the jackpot isn’t hit, an additional $10,000 is added to the top prize until there’s a winner." "Our players have shown they appreciate fun and exciting new games, and the KLC is once again responding," said KLC President and CEO Arch Gleason. "Double Up Cash offers a play experience unlike anything else offered in the country, and I think people will respond. Between the chance to double some of their prizes and the rolling jackpot feature, this game will serve as a great complement to our other online games currently offered." In FY ’04, online games accounted for $336.4 million (or 46%) of the KLC’s revenue. Double Up Cash joins Pick 3, Pick 4, Kentucky Cash Ball, Tic Tac Cash, Lotto South and Powerball as online games available in the Commonwealth. SOURCE: Kentucky Lottery media release. NEW YORK, USA (April 4, 2005) -- Scientific Games corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS) announced that it was chosen as the vendor to provide a new monitor game to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission (MSLC). The award is worth an estimated $3.5 million over the initial term of three years and includes two one-year extension options. The new monitor game, The Daily Race Game™/Run for the Money, extends the use of state lottery keno networks, which in many cases, usually run only one game. In the US, keno is authorized in thirteen jurisdictions, generates retail sales of approximately $2.4 billion according to LaFleur’s Magazine. Most often, keno players in age-controlled locations like restaurants and social establishments choose a series of numbers and then wait for a "draw" every four or five minutes to see if they won. Run For The Money is a broadcast quality, animated horse race game designed to complement keno in the social environment. It provides entertaining winner delivery animation with simple betting and prize structures. Run For The Money features twelve horses in each race with every horse having a chance to win as they sprint out of the turn for the wire. Scientific Games has teamed with TeleCom Game Factory, the original developers of the game, to deliver this exciting product to the MSLC.
"This is an important step forward in leveraging the existing online lottery networks worldwide to generate increased online lottery revenues," said Lorne Weil, chairman and CEO of Scientific Games Corporation. "Over the last few years, we have been making a significant investment in new game and content development. This award is an important validation of the strategy to provide the widest possible range of new and exciting lottery-based entertainment products and services to our lottery customers." "The testing we have done in Massachusetts indicates that Run For The Money will be a welcome addition to the monitor game market and we are looking forward to working with the MSLC to ensure a successful launch," Mr. Weil concluded. Joseph Sullivan, Executive Director of the MSLC, added, "For more than thirty years, Scientific Games has been an important partner to the Massachusetts Lottery, helping to create an enormously successful instant ticket business. Now our relationship has evolved into a new and exciting area. We believe that Run For The Money could be a significant addition to our product offerings and we are enthusiastic about its prospects." In calendar 2004, the Massachusetts Lottery reported $4.5 billion in lottery revenues of which approximately $757 million was from keno sales. About Scientific Games Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated
supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries, and the leading
supplier of wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel operators. It is also
a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut and the Netherlands and
is a leading supplier of prepaid phone cards to telephone companies.
SOURCE: Scientific Games Corporation media
release. OGT Receives SMART-TECH Award for Mobile Gaming SAN ANTONIO, Texas, USA (April 5, 2005) -- Oberthur Gaming Technologies ("OGT") is proud to announce the company won an award for its Mobile Gaming "Bright Idea" presented at the SMART-TECH 2005 Conference in Las Vegas. OGT’s mobile gaming solution was presented by Art Kiuttu, Lottery Account Executive for OGT, who demonstrated how mobile gaming has been successfully implemented by OGT in Europe, and how OGT can provide North American Lotteries with a turnkey solution perfectly tailored to their sales objectives and business strategies. OGT’s solution, developed through its JV company OE Netgame, has been successfully implemented for the first time in 2003 with SWISSLOS’ Mini-SMS. Following the outstanding success of the first series of mobile games in Switzerland, the Lottery has decided to integrate this interactive game as part of its regular portfolio. Since then, other European Lotteries followed closed behind in launching mobile games in their market.
OGT’s turnkey solution for mobile games is a user-friendly system for the Lottery organization and an entertaining and interactive game for players. It includes game concept, technology and system implementation, voice recognition, operational support 24/7 as well as instant tickets. OE Netgame’s technology has numerous advantages: fast and easy to implement, easy to use, works on most cellular phones and flexible (text messaging can be used to send both letters and numbers). The launch of mobile lotteries offers new and exciting business opportunities for traditional lotteries in terms of direct end-user interaction. Wireless communication offers to OGT and its clients a revolutionary new sales channel for existing games, as well as new interactive game applications. Such as OGT’s Cyber Games™, lottery games on mobile phones are the product No. 1 to attract a new generation of players (21 to 35) and to launch cross-promotions featuring popular brands or TV shows. About Oberthur Gaming Technologies (www.oberthurgt.com) With more than 35 years of lottery-specific expertise and
over a century's experience in the security printing industry, Oberthur Gaming
Technologies is the world’s leader in the printing of innovative instant
lottery tickets. Comprehensive services include strategic game planning and
innovative conceptual design with OGT’s Dream Team™, mobile gaming,
Cyber Games™ as well as state-of-the-art Global Operations and Lottery
Distribution System (GOLDS). SOURCE: Lyse Trudel, Communications Officer, Oberthur Gaming Technologies, (+1-514) 254-3600, ext. 101, Email: lyse.trudel@mtl.oberthurgt.com. New Appointments to the National Lottery Commission Announced LONDON, United Kingdom (April 1, 2005) -- Robert Foster and Dr Anne Wright have been appointed as Commissioners of the National Lottery Commission, Estelle Morris, Minister for the Arts, announced today. In addition to his role as Commissioner, Robert Foster will also Chair the Project Board for the forthcoming Lottery licence competition.
Robert Foster's term of appointment will run from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2010. Dr Anne Wright's term of appointment will run from 1 May 2005 to 30 April 2009. Estelle Morris said: "Robert Foster and Anne Wright are excellent appointments to these important posts. They bring a range of experience and skills that will be invaluable as the Commission begins the process for deciding who wins the competition for the next Lottery licence." Timothy Hornsby, Chairman of the National Lottery Commission, said: "I warmly welcome these appointments. Both Robert Foster and Dr Anne Wright bring very relevant skills and a wealth of experience to the Commission which will strengthen our capacity to deal with the challenges of our regulatory work, and in particular with managing the competition process for the next Lottery licence". Biographical notes: Robert Foster: was until September 2004, Chief Executive of the Competition Commission. He has also held a number of senior posts in Whitehall including responsibility for the Department of Trade and Industry's innovation expenditure and Director of Aerospace and Defence Industries. He has handled major projects including the planning and setting up of the Office of Science and Technology, and chairing the Project Board of the PFI Project to rebuild the National Physical Laboratory. Previously he was an engineering manager in the telecommunications and electronics industries. He holds a number of Non-Executive Director appointments including the board of King's College Hospital NHS Trust, the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority, and is a member of the Advisory Council of Oxford Capital Partners.
Dr Anne Wright CBE: is Director of AWA Ltd, an educational consultancy, which advises Government and academia. Her current assignments include a role as e-learning consultant to the Department for Education and Skills. She holds a number of non-executive roles including Member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and Board Member, English Partnerships. Former posts include Chief Executive of the University for Industry and Vice-chancellor of the University of Sunderland. NOTE: The National Lottery Commission runs the competition to operate the National Lottery. Camelot's licence expires in January 2009. The present expectation is that bids for the third licence period will be submitted in 2007, with a decision being announced later in the year. Work on planning for the next competition has already begun, with the Commission undertaking research and consulting widely before drawing up the framework for bidding during 2006. The Chair of the National Lottery Commission is currently selected by the Commissioners from among themselves and rotated on an annual basis. The rate of remuneration for the Chair of Commissioners is £35,300. The rate of remuneration for Commissioners is £6,819 plus an additional £13,181 for the Project Chair. The appointment's process was carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. Dr Anne Wright and Robert Foster have undertaken no significant political activity in the last five years. SOURCE: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (http://www.culture.gov.uk). EssNet to Deliver Internet Solution to Queensland's Golden Casket Lottery Corp. STOCKHOLM, Sweden (April 1, 2005) -- EssNet today announced that the company has finalised a new contract with Golden Casket Lottery Corporation Limited in Queensland, Australia. Under the terms of the agreement, EssNet will supply an EssNet e-Channel solution for selling lottery products via the Internet. Golden Casket’s new "Lotto Direct™" solution will be launched towards the end of 2005, allowing Queenslanders to buy entries into popular lottery games such as Gold Lotto, Powerball and Oz Lotto on the Internet. Golden Casket’s Chief Executive, Bill Thorburn says "Having our games available on the Internet is a strategic commercial move for our future. Lottery products are currently available for sale over the Internet from interstate and overseas operators, some of which are unregulated. It is, therefore, imperative that our customers are given a local alternative so we can protect our market from product offerings from other jurisdictions outside Queensland. This Internet solution will provide a further channel of convenience to our customers, but our existing network of over 1,100 retail agencies will remain our dominant distribution channel." "Whilst lotteries are rarely associated with causing problem gambling, Golden Casket has long recognised that we have a responsibility to ensure our products remain a socially responsible form of entertainment for our players. We will ensure our Internet sales solution is in line with our responsible play program and the Queensland Responsible Gambling Code of Practice", says Mr Thorburn.
"We are very pleased that Golden Casket is working with EssNet to develop this Internet sales solution for their lottery games," says Hans Vigmostad, EssNet President & CEO, "and we appreciate the continued confidence that Golden Casket has shown in EssNet." About EssNet (www.essnet.se) EssNet is one of the leading suppliers in the lottery industry. Based in Stockholm, the company provides a full suite of lottery and gaming products - from new games, a variety of terminals and integrated solutions for Internet and mobile telephones, to the installation of turnkey systems. The customers are state-authorised gaming and lottery companies with licence to operate Lotto, Keno, Bingolotto, Toto, Odds and other sports betting and numbers games. EssNet has installations in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, South America and Australia. SOURCE: EssNet (www.essnet.se) media release. For further information, please contact Carin Langemark, Director Marketing & Information, Phone: +46 8 702 57 00, Mobile: +46 70 535 93 52, Email: carin.langemark@essnet.se Powerball Changes to Meet Player Demands POWERBALL, Iowa, USA (April 6, 2005) -- The 29 lotteries that operate America’s Game, Powerball, have voted to make changes to the nation’s first big jackpot game to meet players’ demands for larger and faster growing jackpots.
"Lottery games need to be changed from time-to-time, to respond to both player demands and population changes," said Randy Davis, President of the Louisiana Lottery Corporation and Chairman of the Powerball Game Group. "These changes will bring to the game the larger jackpots that our players expect. We are also going to increase the number of big prizes by creating many more $1 million winners." One of the most exciting changes will be in the amount of the starting jackpot, which will jump from the current $10 million to $15 million and will increase by no less than $5 million for each drawing. The annuity option will also be changed so that players will receive an annual payment that increases each year. Players can still elect to receive the jackpot as a lump-sum cash payment. Another added feature to the game will be to double the second prize for matching five white ball numbers, from $100,000 to $200,000 in cash. With the purchase of the Power Play option, players will have the opportunity to multiply their winnings by five to win $1 million! Power Play is an option where a player can elect to spend an additional one dollar to multiply their prizes by two, three, four or five times. The multiplier number is drawn before the lotto numbers each Wednesday and Saturday.
To increase the average jackpot size, two white ball numbers will be added, changing the jackpot odds to 1 in 146.1 million. The current game has jackpot odds of 1 in 120.5 million. The overall odds of winning a cash prize will remain virtually the same at 1 in 36.60 (up slightly from 1 in 36.06). "These enhancements, bigger and faster growing jackpots and a chance to win up to $1 million by selecting the Power Play option, are important steps to keep Powerball as America’s number one lotto game," said Davis. This is the fourth design for the best-known multi-state jackpot game since it was created in 1992. The last change was in October 2002. Changes to the current game are expected to be in place by late summer 2005. SOURCE: Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) (http://www.musl.com). Lottery Secretary Participates in Take Stock in Children’s Rally in Tally TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (April 5, 2005) -- Florida Lottery Secretary Rebecca D. Mattingly today joined state leaders, mentors, sponsors and more than 1,000 Take Stock in Children students on the front steps of the state’s Historic Capitol at the 2005 Take Stock in Children Rally in Tally.
"I am delighted to take part in such a meaningful event, which celebrates an important milestone in mentoring and education in Florida," Secretary Mattingly said. "The Florida Lottery is proud of its involvement with Take Stock in Children, an organization that is changing the lives of children who may not other wise have the necessary tools for a successful education." Take Stock in Children, Florida’s innovative college scholarship and mentoring program, holds this event annually to recognize its mentors and to demonstrate the impact of the program’s scholarship and mentoring initiatives. Students, mentors and sponsors from across the state travel to Tallahassee each year to meet with legislators and to show their support for the organization. This year’s rally also highlighted Take Stock in Children’s 10 years of successful mentoring, educational achievement and contributions of more than $69 million in scholarship gifts to Florida students. The Florida Lottery has been a sponsor of Take Stock in Children for the past eight years, maintaining its support for mentoring and educational achievement. The Governor’s Mentoring Initiative has recognized the Florida Lottery for the past five years for achieving outstanding participation and leadership for mentoring. In addition to providing funding to raise awareness of the statewide need for mentoring, the Lottery supports and encourages its employees to give their time to assist children in learning. SOURCE: Florida Lottery (www.flalottery.com). JCM Receives Full Gaming-Related Supplier License in Michigan LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA (April 7, 2005) – JCM American has received a full gaming-related supplier license from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. In addition, JCM’s parent company, Japan Cash Machine Co., Ltd., and Johto Investment and Development, Inc., were found suitable as entity qualifiers, and the entire board of directors for JCM American and Japan Cash Machine were found suitable as individual qualifiers. JCM has been operating legally as a manufacturer and distributor in Michigan for years, and recent state regulatory changes required JCM to obtain a full gaming-related supplier license. The Michigan license brings JCM’s total number of gaming licenses to more than 80. Currently, the company holds licenses in 20 U.S. and two Canadian jurisdictions, as well as licenses in Tribal gaming jurisdictions across North America. JCM Director of Compliance Erik Batzloff said, "More and more jurisdictions are recognizing the integral part bill validators play in electronic gaming, as nearly 100 percent of wagers placed in a slot machine are assessed by validator technology. Jurisdictions must be assured that the company providing such an important component is unimpeachable, and we are proud to have achieved that recognition from the Michigan Gaming Control Board."
About JCM JCM American Corporation is the industry leader in currency handling systems and provides products, software and services to the gaming, vending, banking, amusement, and petroleum industries. Since 1995, its products have validated an estimated $2.2 trillion in currency for the gaming industry alone. From its international headquarters in Osaka, Japan, and subsidiaries in Düsseldorf, Hong Kong, London, Sydney and its U.S. headquarters in Las Vegas, JCM’s progressive spirit continually sets worldwide industry standards with innovative products such as the World Bill Acceptor (WBA), Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA), Trident Table Safe System and Intelligent Cash Box (ICB). For more information, visit www.jcm-american.com. SOURCE: JCM American Corporation media release distributed
by Steinbeck Communications.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, USA (April 7, 2005) -- Oberthur Gaming Technologies ("OGT") is proud to announce the Oregon State Lottery will reorder Click&Play (Cyber) Slingo after a quick sell-out of their initial launch on January 19, 2005. The six week sell-out is credited to the interactive computer game play and the brand’s popularity, placing Click&Play Slingo as the highest performing $2 game (excluding Crossword) in the past 12 months, and boasting sales which have outperformed the #2 selling game by 65%! "We are very pleased with our sales of new Click&Play Slingo" stated Tim Eaton, Oregon Lottery Assistant Director of Retail Operations. "The popularity of the game caught our retailers by surprise and they (our retailers) had a difficult time keeping product in stock." Click&Play is the Oregon Lottery’s brand name for Cyber game. Cyber Slingo is the 3rd Click & Play game launched by the Oregon State Lottery preceded by Mini Golf and Solitaire Riches. Oregon’s Click&Play Slingo can be played by CD ROM or via web download. Players buy a Click&Play Slingo® Scratch –it ticket to reveal a computer access code to play the game. With two ways to win and a top prize of $10,000 dollars, Click&Play Slingo is sure to be a continued favorite of Lottery players.
About Oberthur Gaming Technologies (www.oberthurgt.com) With more than 35 years of lottery-specific expertise and
over a century's experience in the security printing industry, Oberthur Gaming
Technologies is the world’s leader in the printing of innovative instant
lottery tickets. About Slingo® SOURCE: Lyse Trudel, Communications Officer, Oberthur Gaming Technologies, (+1-514) 254-3600, ext. 101, Email: lyse.trudel@mtl.oberthurgt.com. For information: Liz Johnson, New Business Coordinator, Marisela Guillen, New Business Sales Support Coordinator, Oberthur Gaming Technologies – USA (+1-210) 509-9999, ext. 119 (+1-210) 509-9999, ext. 243.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 4,
2005) -- Californians can be the first in the nation to try their luck with the
release of the new collectible Star Wars Scratchers™ ticket! In
conjunction, with the arrival of the most anticipated theatrical release in
history, Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Sith, the
Interplay Multimedia Pty. Ltd. disclaims all liability for information provided within Lottery Insider -- Data supplied by named sources. |