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| Vol. 32 No. 4 -- Monday July 25, 2005 |
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GTECH Integrates New Commercial Services Capability into the Company's Enterprise Series™ System WEST GREENWICH, Rhode Island, USA (July 19, 2005) -- GTECH Holdings Corporation (NYSE: GTK - News) today announced that it has successfully integrated BillBird's commercial services payment capability into the existing GTECH Enterprise Series™ system. The new solution, Enterprise Series Commercial Payments (ES-CP), offers GTECH's customers seamless lottery and commercial services operations.
In September 2004, GTECH's majority-owned subsidiary PolCard S.A. acquired Billbird S.A., the leading provider of electronic bill payment and prepaid mobile recharge services in Poland. The acquisition provided GTECH with a stand-alone commercial services platform that encompassed broad system and back-office functionality, as well as comprehensive reporting and business intelligence functions. The integration of BillBird's system into Enterprise Series effectively enables lotteries -- and other future distribution partners -- to leverage existing point-of-sale terminal configurations for new revenue streams. Lotteries can connect to bill payment clients, prepaid service providers, and a host of other payment services. "The Enterprise Series Commercial Payments (ES-CP) solution further strengthens GTECH's position in the commercial services industry," said GTECH President and CEO W. Bruce Turner. "ES-CP is secure, reliable, and scalable, and allows for the rapid expansion of new products or services providers as required by our customers. The modular platform can stand alone or easily be integrated into any of our customers' existing solutions. Most importantly, the platform provides a cost effective way to increase same store sales without the cost of additional retail technology and network infrastructure."
ES-CP supports the growth of a jurisdiction's transaction processing needs by creating the optimal "plug in" architecture that easily integrates with banks, utilities, and telecommunications companies. Operations are simplified for an ES-CP lottery distribution partner because the solution fully integrates with a lottery's back-office reconciliation, settlement support, and risk and cash management requirements. This 'lottery overlay' technique takes full advantage of existing operations and processes that are already successfully at work within a jurisdiction. GTECH is a leading gaming technology and services company. With more than $1.25 billion in annual revenues and 5,300 people in over 50 countries, GTECH provides integrated technology, creative content, and business services to effectively manage and grow today's evolving gaming markets. In targeted emerging economies, GTECH also leverages its operational presence and infrastructure to supply commercial transaction processing services. For more information about the Company, please visit GTECH's website at http://www.gtech.com. SOURCE: GTECH Holdings Corporation. Georgia Lottery Posts Another Record Year! ATLANTA, Georgia, USA (July 15, 2005) -- Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC) officials announced today that sales for fiscal year 2005 were the highest in the lottery’s 12-year history. Lottery sales for fiscal year 2005 totaled $2,922,332,167 – $211 million ahead of the previous sales record of $2.71 billion in fiscal year 2004. As a result, the Georgia Lottery’s fiscal year 2005 profits transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account will amount to over $802,083,000. This is the largest educational transfer in GLC history, surpassing last year’s record transfer by more than $19 million.
"Our success is a direct reflection of the dedication and teamwork displayed by Georgia Lottery employees and retailers along with the support of our players," said GLC President and CEO Margaret DeFrancisco. "We believe in our mission and we are committed to maximizing dollars for the educational programs we fund." Online and instant games performed well during fiscal year 2005 with a strong boost from instant games. Instant game sales were driven by the extremely popular game $100 Million Cash Spectacular and its corresponding promotion, Million-Dollar Hoopla. "Over the past year, we have debuted fun, new games and relaunched some player favorites including Fantasy 5 and Mega Millions. We also introduced several innovative and exciting promotional campaigns," said Mrs. DeFrancisco. "We will continue to work hard to raise dollars for education. With every dollar raised by the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the ultimate winners are the students of Georgia." Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corporation has returned over $7.6 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs. These include Georgia’s HOPE scholarship program; a statewide, voluntary pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds; and a wide range of technological and capital upgrades for the state’s schools, technical institutes, colleges, universities and public libraries. For more information, please visit the Media Center on the GLC Web site at: www.galottery.com. SOURCE: Georgia Lottery Corporation. INTRALOT System Goes Live in Nigeria ATHENS, Greece (July 15, 2005) -- INTRALOT provided the technology for the successful launching of the Lagos State Lottery by the official operator, Orion Technologies Nigeria Ltd. On July 9th, the Lagos State Governor, His Excellence Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Humphrey Khoza, CEO, Orion Technologies Nigeria Ltd, attended the launching ceremony held in the EKO HOTEL. The system started operation on July 13th successfully with Humphrey Khoza, Managing Director/CEO of Orion Technologies Nigeria Ltd, expressing his: "…sincere appreciation to everyone of you, for your effort and contribution in making the Launch of the Lagos State Lottery the success it was."
INTRALOT’s CEO, Mr Constantinos Antonopoulos, noted: "This project marks the entry of INTRALOT in Africa and sets the base for further expansion in the continent." The whole network covers 600 terminals of mobile technology, with LOTOS central system as a base platform, both provided, implemented and supported by INTRALOT. The high-end technology combined with well-trained workforce guarantees effective and immediate service to customers. The new system supports the integration of new games and alternative distribution networks, including fixed and mobile telephony, Internet and digital TV. INTRALOT, a public company listed on the ASE, is a leading supplier of integrated gaming and transaction processing systems, innovative game content and value added services to state-licensed gaming organizations worldwide. With 31 subsidiaries, 7 business offices and 1,500 people in 29 countries and revenues of € 328,4 million, INTRALOT’s footprint straddles five continents. The company currently ranks 3rd on revenues and 2nd on profits among lottery suppliers worldwide. SOURCE: INTRALOT (www.intralot.com). Islensk Getspa, Scientific Games Launch Successful Conversion WASHINGTON, USA (July 18, 2005) -- Islensk Getspa announced today that the largest system conversion in Iceland’s history was successfully launched on July 5th, 2005. In six months Scientific Games (Nasdaq: SGMS) designed and implemented a new modern and technologically advanced online gaming system that will run over the seven-year life of the contract. "We are extremely pleased to provide a state-of-the-art online lottery system that meets the needs of Islensk Getspa as it seeks to expand and modernize for the benefit of the Icelandic people," said Scientific Games Systems President, Bill Huntley. "Scientific Games appreciates the Islensk Getspa selection and we look forward to continuing our relationship with a dedicated and highly regarded partner." The system in Iceland comprises over 300 new EXTREMA® terminals and an integrated central system with advanced software specifically for Iceland. A future project phase will add over 130 new STAN® terminals that will allow customer self-service play of online games as well as real-time credit card processing from the terminals. "Scientific Games is a proven partner in the lottery industry, and has delivered a modern gaming system that provides new, cutting-edge touch screen terminals, enhanced ease of use and speed, along with the capacity to play new and exciting games in the dynamic Scandinavian market," stated Bergsveinn Sampsted, the Managing Director of Islensk Getspa. "We are especially happy that Scientific Games was responsive to our particular needs including completing the conversion in a compressed period of time and also to connect to our internet sales system where we can now sell all of our lotto and sport games." In addition, Bergsveinn stated, "The new system will also enable us to implement new products into the market faster than before, which is crucial in the fast moving Scandinavian market that has already faced a heavy competition from internet based companies." 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. 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. About Islensk Getspa Islensk getspa (the Icelandic National Lottery) was founded in 1986. It has a license from the Icelandic government to operate lotto and sport type games in Iceland. The beneficiaries are The Icelandic Sport and Olympic federation of Iceland, the Youth federation of Iceland and the Handicapped federation of Iceland. SOURCE: Icelandic National Lottery. Changes to Senior Team at Atlantic Lottery Corporation MONCTON, New Brunswick (July 15, 2005) -- Pierre La France has recently joined the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) as Vice President, Social Gaming. In this role, he is responsible for ALC’s video lottery program, as well as other gaming opportunities in the social gaming setting. Prior to joining ALC, Pierre was a senior account executive with gaming industry supplier Spielo/GTECH where he led several client service teams and was a member of the Video Gaming Management Team.
While at Spielo/GTECH, Pierre introduced Spielo/GTECH gaming devices and games in several lottery jurisdictions including Saskatchewan, Alberta, Montana and ALC. More recently, he led Speilo/GTECH’s entry into the Louisiana, Iceland and British Columbia markets. Prior to Spielo/GTECH, Pierre spent 15 years in the food and beverage industry. With Pierre assuming the position of Vice President, Social Gaming, Bert McWade takes on the new role of Vice President, Gaming Development. He will be bringing ALC’s expertise to the charitable gaming sector through new initiatives such as linked bingo in Nova Scotia. Bert has been with ALC since 1985. In 1987, he became Director of Marketing and Sales. Eight years later, he became Vice President of Sales after overseeing the distribution of video lottery programs throughout Atlantic Canada. Prior to joining ALC, Bert was employed in the chemical industries in Montreal and Winnipeg. Founded in 1976, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation develops and markets responsible gaming entertainment products for the financial benefit of Atlantic Canadians. SOURCE: Atlantic Lottery Corporation media release.
EAST GREENWICH, Rhode Island, USA (July 6, 2005) -- Szrek2Solutions LLC today announced the signing of a license and services agreement with the Danish Lottery, Dansk Tipstjeneste, calling for the implementation of Trusted Play™, an instant bet generation and audit system offering the most advanced random number security available to the gaming industry. Trusted Play™ will be used to generate the bet outcomes for instant lottery games offered by Dansk Tipstjeneste to lottery players in Denmark over its existing internet platform supplied by Betware of Iceland. Dansk Tipstjeneste will use audit functionality in Trusted Play to verify the integrity of the instant game outcomes produced by the Trusted Play system and satisfy remote audit requirements of Danish Gaming Board.
Dansk Tipstjeneste, a recognized innovator in the lottery industry, indicated that it had selected Szrek2Solutions and Trusted Play primarily for reasons of reliability and system integrity. Jørgen Falsvig, IT Director/CIO of Dansk Tipstjeneste commented, "I have complete confidence in Trusted Play™ and in Szrek2Solutions, having previously worked with the founders and principals of Szrek2Solutions, Irena and Walter Szrek." After Betware integrated Trusted Play into their platform, Stefan Hrafnkelsson, CEO of Betware stated "Trusted Play was easy and quick to integrate with and it supports better auditabilility than I have ever seen before." Szrek2Solutions believes the implementation of Trusted Play by Dansk Tipstjeneste will set a new lottery industry standard for RNG (random number generation) – to detect and prove fraud. Trusted Play™ offers a unique feature of audit of random numbers based on RUN+A (Random Unpredictable Numbers with Audit) methodology, patented by Szrek2Solutions, utilizing asymmetric encryption technology (public/private key) to digitally sign game data and produce a unique random number set. The digital signature used in the process can be "decoded" at any subsequent point in time to recreate and verify both the number set and the associated game data. Trusted Play™ has potential application in a wide range of instant win games, including class II, class III, bingo, keno, lotto, numbers and card games, on a wide range of betting platforms, including traditional lottery terminals, video lottery terminals, and internet and mobile phone wagering.
Szrek2Solutions (www.szrek.com) is a private, international consultancy and product design firm specializing in secure software systems solutions for the gaming industry. Headquartered in East Greenwich, RI, USA, Szrek2Solutions offers products including Trusted Play™, a secure instant bet generation and audit system, and Trusted Draw™, a secure electronic draw system with audit, and TV and Web graphics animation. Dansk Tipstjeneste (www.tips.dk) is a Danish Government owned and controlled authorized lottery offering instant games, sports betting, Lotto, bets on horseracing and slot machines in Denmark. Betware (www.betware.com) is a private company based in Iceland, focusing on interactive platform for new media, supplying a wide range of interactive games on top of its platform such as, number games, pool games, oddset games, scratch games, casino games and racing games. SOURCE: Szrek2Solutions (web:
www.szrek.com).
New Haven, CT. (July 18, 2005) -- Scientific Games Worldwide Sports Limited and Autotote Enterprises Inc., divisions of Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ:SGMS), and Tote Investments Racing Service announced today the completion of a five-year deal for Scientific Games Worldwide Sports Limited and Autotote to supply simulcast services at Tote Investments Racing Service simulcast centers on the island of Barbados. The estimated contract value is $5 million over the five-year term of the agreement. Tote Investments has operated simulcast facilities on Barbados for the past 30 years. Services are expected to commence in early August. Rick Pullman, President of Autotote, stated, "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to support Tote Investments Racing Service and provide them with both North American and European racing action. Tote Investments, led by its president Saffie Joseph, has a long tradition of European racing industry involvement. We hope to extend the successes we have enjoyed in our other recent Caribbean launches in St. Croix and the Bahamas to our new racing partners in Barbados." "We know that the increased availability of North American racing will broaden the player base and will provide increased attraction to an already strong pari-mutuel market in Barbados. We intend to create high-tech simulcast centers by deploying the latest in video and wagering technology. This deal further emphasizes our efforts to leverage Autotote’s simulcast expertise as an operator and increase returns from existing markets." Saffie Joseph, President of Tote Investments Racing Service added, "We are excited about joining forces with Scientific Games, clearly the leader in pari-mutuel service support worldwide. We look forward to broader content, greater levels of wagering and increased customer satisfaction as a result of this new relationship."
Autotote Enterprises operates the Connecticut OTB system with 11 locations throughout the state including Sports Haven in New Haven and the Bradley Teletheater. Autotote and Scientific Games Worldwide Sports Limited also provide venue management services to the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, the Isle of Capri Casino at Our Lucaya in Freeport, Grand Bahamas, the Divi Carina Bay Resort in St. Croix and the Randall James Racetrack and Simulcast Center in St. Croix. 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. Scientific Games’ customers are in the United States and more than 60 other countries. For more information about Scientific Games, please visit our web site at www.scientificgames.com SOURCE: Scientific Games Corporation. Company Contact: Lisa D. Lettieri, Phone: 212-754-2233.
What’s Not to ‘Love’ About The Texas Lottery's Newest Scratch Game AUSTIN, Texas, USA (July 19, 2005) -- America's favorite redhead has made it to Texas. The I LOVE LUCY® scratch game, from the Texas Lottery® will certainly strike a chord with players wanting to 'wax nostalgic' for the infectious smile, the comical faces and the wild predicaments that made Lucille Ball a comedic icon. "It could also strike a special place in their wallets, if their tickets reveal the top cash prize of $20,000," said Texas Lottery Commission Products Manager Robert Tirloni.
Starting July 20, players can purchase the $2 I LOVE LUCY® scratch game, featuring five different scenes with Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel in some of the funniest moments in television history. The I LOVE LUCY® scratch game features cash prizes from $2 to $20,000. The overall odds of winning any prize, including break-even prizes, are 1 in 4.25. "We're so excited presenting the I LOVE LUCY® scratch game to our Texas players," said Tirloni. "Lucy was truly an exceptional entertainer and this ticket really brings back those fond memories of her. It makes the I LOVE LUCY® scratch game seem that much more fun to play when you see the scenes on the tickets and remember the old television shows we have all come to love." For more information about the Texas Lottery, please visit the official Texas Lottery Commission Web site at http://www.txlottery.org. The Texas Lottery Commission supports Texas education NOTE: I LOVE LUCY and related marks are trademarks of CBS Broadcasting Inc. ©2005 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. SOURCE: Texas Lottery media release.
SCHENECTADY, New York, USA (July 19, 2005) -- New York Lottery Director Nancy A. Palumbo today announced the unveiling of the first ever electronic phone kiosks, which will immediately display Mega Millions jackpot amounts to New York City metro area pedestrians. This electronic type of advertising is the first of its kind in the country! "We’ve been using this technology on billboards across the state to get current jackpot amounts out to the public as quickly as possible, but this is the first time ever this new technology has been brought to the streets," said Palumbo. "We’re very excited to be the first Lottery in the nation to utilize this innovative technology right here in New York where we will reach more than 2.7million pedestrians that use the streets in the metropolitan area every day." The New York Lottery is tapping into the new state of the art medium of electronic phone kiosks. The new kiosks will allow the Lottery to communicate real time Mega Millions jackpot information at the street level. This is the largest roll out ever done utilizing phone kiosks in New York City. The phone kiosks will employ Wireless Satellite Technology messaging to deliver the Mega Millions jackpot amounts. Messages will be wirelessly programmed using a satellite and pager network, a signal will be sent out, verified upon receipt and then automatically updated in minutes on all 100 phone kiosks utilizing a secure satellite.
The kiosk is an innovative idea that utilizes high traffic areas to deliver an instant message at street level. The illuminated LED numbers on the phone kiosks are visible day and night to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The first set of kiosks will go live today advertising the $145 million Mega Millions jackpot. The remaining kiosks will be activated throughout the week. All 100 kiosks will be up and running within five days and are expected to remain on New York City streets for the next two years. Since joining Mega Millions in May of 2002, New York has had 9 Mega Millions jackpot winners of a total of $626 million. New York has also had 574 second prize winners totaling nearly $101.5 million in prizes. Since its inception in 1967, the New York Lottery has generated more than $27 billion in revenue to help support education statewide, including a record $2 billion in fiscal year 2004-2005 on sales of $6.27 billion. Sales of New York’s Mega Millions tickets have generated more than $514 million for aid to education since the New York joined the multi-state game in May of 2002. For more information on Mega Millions, visit www.megamillions.com. SOURCE: New York Lottery media release. EssNet and Boss Media to Develop Own Offerings in VLT Market SWEDEN (July 18, 2005) -- The partnership regarding the development and sale of VLT systems to lottery operators via the jointly owned company EssNet Interactive AB is being terminated. The convergence currently taking place in different parts of the gaming market makes it increasingly difficult for the parties not to have full control themselves over such an important part of the product offering. EssNet Interactive was established in the summer of 2003 as a joint venture between EssNet, Boss Media and Australia’s Tattersall’s. The results have been extremely good, in part in the form of significant orders from the Norwegian state-owned gaming operator Norsk Tipping, as well as two additional projects, one in the Czech Republic (Synot Lotto) and one in Åland, Finland (PAF). The most important components in Boss Media’s withdrawal from EssNet Interactive consist of the following:
For further information, please contact: Hans Vigmostad, President and CEO, EssNet AB, telephone: +46 (0)8 702 57 00 or +46 (0)70 812 84 50, e-mail: hans.vigmostad@essnet.se or Peter Bertilsson, President and CEO, Boss Media AB (publ), telephone: +46 (0)470 70 30 01 or +46 (0)70 993 25 54, e-mail: peter.bertilsson@bossmedia.se. EssNet AB is one of the leading suppliers to gaming companies, which operate state-licensed lotteries throughout the world. Based in Stockholm, the company develops on-line lottery systems, including solutions for channels such as the Internet, mobile phones and interactive TV. More information about EssNet is available at www.essnet.se. Boss Media AB (publ) is one of the world’s leading suppliers of systems for digitally distributed gaming entertainment. Boss Media develops gaming system solutions for such distribution channels as personal computers, interactive video terminals, mobile phones and digital TV. Licensees are offered a customized gaming system, an integrated payment system as well as related services. The Boss Media share is listed on the O-list (Attract 40) of Stockholmsbörsen (Stockholm Stock Exchange). More information about Boss Media is available at www.bossmedia.se. SOURCE: EssNet AB media release.
Atlantic Lottery Returns $426 Million to Atlantic Provinces MONCTON, NB, July 20 /CNW/ - The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) today released its 2004-05 annual report, highlighting a return of $426 million in profit to the four Atlantic provinces, record-setting jackpot prizes, innovation in how products are delivered, and progressive responsible gaming initiatives. "ALC is committed to making a positive difference in this region," says Michelle Carinci, President and CEO.
"It's our job to provide gaming that balances integrity and responsibility, player entertainment, and economic sustainability. It's not just about making money - but how we conduct our business that's important." Players received more than $319 million in prizes last year, ranging from smaller prizes to ALC's record $25-million LOTTO 6/49 prize to Dave and Byron Hopper and $30-million LOTTO SUPER 7 prize to Trevor and Patty Hunter. ALC's 5,700 retail partners received $153 million in commissions and incentives. This past year, ALC became the first lottery in Canada to offer adult residents the opportunity to purchase draw and sports games through a secure web-based environment, called PlaySphere. PlaySphere offers Atlantic Canadian adults a number of controls and safeguards, such as age and residency verification, weekly spending limits, and the ability to self-exclude. The service is a regulated alternative to the thousands of unregulated wagering sites that are accessible today from every home computer with an Internet connection. A new opportunity for ALC came with last summer's announcement that the Corporation would develop and operate the new Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre, slated to open this August. The facility will boost P.E.I.'s harness racing and horse breeding industry, while providing greater opportunities for responsible gaming controls such as an enhanced age-of- majority policy, education and awareness tools, access to onsite counselors for anyone concerned about their gaming activity, and the ability to self- exclude from the gaming floor. Other accomplishments in 2004-05 include recognition from Maclean's magazine as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2004, for its commitment to maintaining the best possible work environment for its more than 500 staff. ALC also received from Guinness World Records(TM) the title of Largest Scratch Card in the World for its Big Scratch Event ticket. ALC's annual report for 2004-05 is available at:
www.alc.ca/English/AboutALC/AnnualReport
Atlantic Lottery Corporation Annual Report 2004-2005 Quick Facts and Highlights:
For further information: Robert Bourgeois, Public Affairs and Responsible Gaming, Tel: (506) 867-5825, Toll-free: 1-800-561-3942, e-mail: robert.bourgeois@alc.ca
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