Want to know more
than the headlines
 Daily News |
|
Weekly Editions |
| Lottery Guide |
| Vendor News |
| OnLine Games |
| Internet Gaming |
| Wireless Gaming |
| Video Lottery |
| Bingo News |
| Products |
| Statistics |
| Classifieds |
| Feature Articles |
|
Events Calender |
|
Links |
|
Back Issues |
|
Lottery Scams |
|
Advertising |
| Search |
 Patents |
 Adwatch |
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
|
Singapore WLA Convention &
Trade Show 2006
Advertisement
|
 Breakout Presentations Click Here |
Lottery
Insider's FREE Weekly News Magazine
is brought
to you with the compliments of
 |
 |
    |
|
    |
|
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, USA (November 1, 2005) -- The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue today announced that SAS 6.01 will be the initial communications protocol for slots gaming in the commonwealth. Revenue Secretary Gregory C. Fajt said SAS 6.01 is the most widely used communications protocol in the gaming industry and will ensure that the broadest possible range of manufacturers can participate in the rollout of slots gaming in Pennsylvania. The communications protocol, or rules used for the transmission and authentication of data, will be used to link slot machines at Pennsylvania gaming facilities to a central control computer system that will be overseen by the Department of Revenue. The computer system will monitor activity at each of up to 61,000 slot machines. It will eventually be the largest such system in the world.
Pennsylvania’s central control computer system will be operated by GTECH Corporation, West Greenwich, RI, a global leader in gaming technology. Revenue selected GTECH in March following an open and competitive procurement process. A committee of Revenue Department employees that analyzed vendor proposals for seven months recommended the company. The committee determined that GTECH’s proposal offered the best combination of experience in the gaming industry, technical expertise and cost. “We are committed to using the best available technology to ensure the integrity and the success of slots gaming in Pennsylvania, and the best available company to implement that technology,” Fajt said. “Adopting the SAS 6.01 communications protocol will help attract a broad range of slot machine manufacturers to supply Pennsylvania’s new gaming industry. “GTECH is an industry leader in the design and implementation of gaming technology. The company’s state-of-the-art gaming central control computer system will give the Revenue Department and the Gaming Control Board sophisticated tools to monitor cash flow and other activity at each Pennsylvania slot machine, in real time.” Fajt said the Department’s contract with GTECH has completed the commonwealth’s review process and was formally executed this week. The contract will not go into effect until GTECH has undergone a comprehensive background check by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and been licensed by the board as a manufacturer. Although the central control computer system will initially use the SAS 6.01 communications protocol, GTECH’s contract allows the Revenue Department to require the company to implement a different standard industry protocol, if one is adopted by slots manufacturers. Pennsylvania Gaming Central Computer System Contract Highlights:
The above summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not and is not intended to bind the Commonwealth, the Department of Revenue and its agencies to any contractual terms. The only document that contains the terms and conditions of the agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue and GTECH Corporation is the Contract for Slot Machine Gaming Central Control Computer System and Related Services. SOURCE: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
(http://www.state.pa.us) media release.
Lottery Hires New Director of Finance and Administration
WEST VIRGINIA, USA (November 1, 2005) -- West Virginia
native James Toney assumed his duties as the West Virginia Lottery’s Deputy Director
of Finance and Administration October 17, filling the vacancy created when
Virgil Helton was appointed West Virginia State Tax Commissioner by Gov. Joe
Manchin in January. OGT Brings PopCap’s Top-Rated Internet Games to the Lottery Industry SAN ANTONIO, Texas, USA (October 2, 2005) -- Oberthur Gaming Technologies (“OGT”) announces the signature of a three-year contract with PopCap Games for the exclusive use of three of the most popular casual games worldwide: Bejeweled, Bookworm and Zuma. The license agreement encompasses all lottery products, including instant scratch games and pull tabs, as well as Internet and online games. Founded in 2000, PopCap is a leading creator of casual games and the pioneer of “Free/Try/Buy” business model. PopCap Games have been downloaded over 150 million times since 2000 and to date over 2 billion hours have been consumed worldwide playing their free web online versions. PopCap Games can also be found on hundreds of sites around the world, at retail (Wal-mart, Target, Costco, etc.), on mobile phones, in arcades, on airplanes, on interactive TV and even on PDAs. The company sold over 2.5 million PC games in 2004 and accounted for nearly US $30 million in casual game revenue in 2004. PopCap’s flagship game Bejeweled is the first casual game inducted into Computer Gaming World Hall of Fame since Tetris, and won the Puzzle Game of the Year award for 2001. The same year, Bejeweled was named Commercial Game of the Year for Palm platforms by Handheld Computing, and has been rated in the RealArcade.com’s Top 10 for 112 weeks. More recently, Bookworm has been a runaway hit, garnering a 5 star rating from Computer Gaming World along with hundreds of thousands of fans. Bookworm was also on RealArcade.com’s Top 10 for 36 weeks, while Zuma was on RealArcade.com’s Top 10 for 64 weeks. “Bejeweled, Bookworm and Zuma are not only fun and extremely popular; they appeal to all ages, are gender neutral, and require a short learning curve. We’ve developed some great play actions to go with these games that are just as easy.” said Carla Schaefer OGT’s V.P. of New Business Development. “Lotteries around the world now have the chance to offer their players some of the most challenging and exciting games on instant scratch-off tickets. And I’m sure Bejeweled, Bookworm and Zuma will become the favorite of the Lotteries everywhere!"
About Oberthur Gaming
Technologies (www.oberthurgt.com) About PopCap
Games SOURCE: Lyse Trudel, Communications Officer, Oberthur Gaming Technologies, (+1-514) 254-3600, ext. 101, Email: lyse.trudel@mtl.oberthurgt.com. For information: Vicki Smith, Sales Support Specialist or Liz Johnson, New Business Coordinator, Oberthur Gaming Technologies, (+1-210) 509-9999 ext. 236, (+1-210) 509-9999 ext. 119. For PopCap Games: Garth Chouteau, Communications Officer, (415) 602-8147, Email: garth@popcap.com. NEW YORK, USA (October 21, 2005) -- Scientific Games (Nasdaq: SGMS - News) announced today that its German subsidiary Scientific Games Honsel GmbH was awarded a contract with Lotterie-Treuhandgesellschaft mbH Hessen, the state lottery of Hessen, based in Wiesbaden, to supply instant lottery tickets and other lottery services. The contract begins February 1, 2006, and will run for five years, with options to extend for additional two-year increments. Scientific Games Honsel will handle the manufacturing and distribution of instant tickets throughout Hessen, including shipping, warehousing, telemarketing, retailer recruitment and will advise on game design and marketing issues. Revenues to Scientific Games Honsel will be based on a percentage of sales. Hessen has a population of 6 million, about the same as the U.S. State of Indiana, and approximately 8 percent of the population of Germany. "We see strong potential growth throughout Hessen for instant ticket sales," said Scientific Games Chairman and CEO Lorne Weil. "We are also executing on our strategy to expand the range of services we provide, and bring our best practices to German lotteries." According to Weil, instant tickets account for only 1% of lottery sales in Hessen, a euro 650 million lottery market. This is a sharp contrast to the American market, where instants provide more than half of total sales. European per capita instant sales are also significantly higher in the UK, Italy and France, where Scientific Games is also the primary instant ticket supplier.
"Scientific Games is an industry leader with impressive European lottery experience," said Dr. Heinz-Georg Sundermann, Managing Director of Lotterie-Treuhandgesellschaft mbH Hessen. "We see great potential sales growth here, and the ability to return more funds to the public we serve." "We have had a close relationship with Lotterie-Treuhandgesellschaft mbH Hessen for many years which is strengthened again by this agreement. We look forward to growing instant ticket sales at a faster rate with these new services," said Dr. Jan Honsel, Managing Director of Scientific Games Honsel. 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 media
release. Lottery Launches Keno for play and Purchase Through its Web Site RICHMOND, British Columbia, Canada (October 31, 2005) -- British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) announces the availability of Keno for play and purchase through its PlayNow web site located at bclc.com. Keno is the B.C.-only lottery that picks 20 numbers each new draw and gives players the chance to win up to $100,000 every five minutes. "The site is becoming more and more popular among lottery players," said Rhonda Garvey, BCLC's Director of eBusiness. "Adding Keno to the existing line-up of popular lottery products on PlayNow offers new customers increased choice and convenience."
Select lottery products have been available through PlayNow since October 2004 when the site launched with Sports Action products. In July 2005, BCLC launched more of its most popular lottery products online - Lotto 6/49, BC/49, Lotto Super 7 and Extra. Since its inception more than 20,000 lottery players have registered for an online account. BCLC is responsible to conduct, manage and operate lottery gaming in the province, including offering lottery products through the Internet. The Corporation's commitment to responsible play is highlighted throughout the PlayNow web site with stringent safeguards, standards and codes of conduct for Internet play. Furthermore, games are limited to adults who are B.C. residents. The site features online capabilities to encourage responsible play practices including a maximum weekly limit and a visible session log and purchase history. A voluntary online self-exclusion program that allows people to ban themselves from purchasing games through the site is also available. Revenues from PlayNow will combine with revenues from BCLC's traditional lottery, bingo and casino gaming to benefit British Columbians through government programs for health, education, social, community, charitable and municipal purposes. BCLC is a provincial Crown Corporation reporting to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General through a Board of Directors. Its mission is to provide high-quality gaming entertainment in a socially responsible manner, generating income for the public good. SOURCE: British Columbia Lottery
Corporation media release. LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA (October 28, 2005) – When Maine’s first casino opens next week, it will be the second new casino in the U.S. to open this year equipped exclusively with JCM’s UBA (Universal Bill Acceptor) and Sentry. Hollywood Slots at Bangor, a Penn National Gaming property, is slated to celebrate its grand opening November 4, and each of the casino’s 475 slots will be fitted solely with JCM’s UBA and Sentry. The UBA made its world premiere earlier this year at Wynn Las Vegas, which was also exclusively equipped with the UBA. JCM Vice President for Gaming Solutions Tom Nieman said, “Bass Park in downtown Bangor has hosted many historic events, including the first airplane flight in Maine, and it is fitting that the state’s first casino should also be there. We are very happy to be a part of this new history in Maine and to have a strong relationship with Penn National.” The groundbreaking UBA is the next generation bill validator that can accept multiple currencies simultaneously in one version of software. The UBA sports the latest sensing technology, utilizing magnetic and optical sensors; a self-centering mechanism; three-time automatic retry feature; on-board memory; and front-access USB download port. The UBA is completed by its forward/backward-compatible, high-impact Plastic Cash Box. Casino Journal recently named the UBA as one of the Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products for 2004. JCM’s Sentry is an innovative small bill acceptor entry designed with easy-to-read LED indicators. The brilliant green, orange, red and blue LEDs can be seen easily seen on the casino floor, making customer service faster and problem detection fast and easy. Six different icons indicate the type of service necessary, and a last-bill denomination indicator helps settle disputes. The Sentry’s design is adaptable to nearly every slot machine configuration or software protocol.
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. ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA (October 27, 2005) -- MDI Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS), announced today that through an exclusive agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, they have been awarded the license to produce state-wide lottery games based on two of television’s most-loved animated families, The FlintstonesTM and The JetsonsTM.
Through MDI, individual state lotteries will have access to games incorporating likenesses of all related characters associated with The Flintstones and The Jetsons brands. As part of this agreement, MDI also has the rights to specific footage and sound effects from both cartoon series to be used in advertising campaigns. MDI also has rights to create and distribute merchandise related to lottery promotions. MDI is currently working with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to create unique television spots that will support the launch of these new lottery games. "With their rich heritage, The Flintstones and The Jetsons have a unique ability to speak to an adult audience -- after all, entire generations have grown up with them," said Steve Saferin, President of MDI. "Whether it's the timeless prehistoric humor in Bedrock or the intergalactic automated humor of Orbit City, these animated classics will bring a new level of fun and creativity to the games we develop." Produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, The Flintstones became the first animated situation comedy on television and the first animated series to go beyond the seven-minute cartoon format, to feature human characters to be shown on prime time. A smash hit, the original series has continued to thrive successfully throughout the years. Also produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, The Jetsons debuted as a follow-up to The Flintstones, taking the family setting from the established Stone Age to the uncharted Space Age. About Scientific
Games About Warner Bros. Consumer
Products THE FLINTSTONES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Hanna-Barbera. THE JETSONS and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Hanna-Barbera. SOURCE: MDI Entertainment media
release. Pull Tabs Continue to Create Sales for Charities and Non-Profits in Charitable Bingo AUSTIN, Texas, USA (October 28, 2005) -- In the autumn of 2002, new pull-tab games, called event pull-tab games, went on sale at bingo halls across the state and became a major success for non-profits that conduct charitable bingo games.What are event pull-tab games? These are games that include the same feature of regular pull-tab games, but incorporate a second level of play that provides an additional opportunity to win. Event pull-tab ticket winners are determined by some subsequent action such as the drawing of a bingo ball(s), or the spinning of a wheel—actions that add interest and excitement to the games. These pull-tabs were approved by administrative rule for sale in Texas at the end of the third quarter of 2002 “We received meaningful comments and suggestions from the bingo industry on the administrative rule, which they enthusiastically supported,” said Billy Atkins, director of the Charitable Bingo Operations Division of the Texas Lottery Commission. “Once authorized, we noticed a huge jump in sales of more than $5 million from the fourth quarter of 2002 to the first quarter of 2003, which is something we have not seen in the past. Pull-tab sales had been declining every year from 1991 to 2001.” Every year since then, there have been bigger and bigger gross sales of pull-tabs, according to Atkins. “From 2002 to 2004, sales of pull-tabs have more than doubled,” he said. Pull-tab sales for the first two quarters of 2005 exceeded pull-tab sales for the same quarters of 2004 by more than $26 million. It means players really like the prizes these event pull tabs offer, and the non-profits also benefit by having happy players.” The following chart demonstrates how pull-tab sales and prizes have grown since 2002. The figure for 2001 is included for comparison purposes. Pull-tab Sales by Calendar Year & Pull-tab Prizes by Calendar Year
Figures as of 10/26/05. Unaudited. There are 1,295 non-profit organizations in Texas that conduct charitable bingo in support of their organizations. For more information about charitable bingo, please visit the official Charitable Bingo Web site at http://www.txbingo.org. SOURCE: Texas Lottery Commission Press
Release. Atronic Enters Rhode Island, Supporting GTECH’s Expansion at the Lincoln Park Property SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, USA (November 2, 2005) -- Atronic announces its entry into the Rhode Island gaming market with its first VLT installation at one of Rhode Island’s premier gaming venues, Lincoln Park. Atronic has already provided Lincoln Park with 125 e-motion™ games, with an additional 50 machines to be installed by the end of the year. The new machines are part of the recent expansion of Lincoln Park, which opened October 31, 2005.
“Atronic is proud to have provided 30 percent of the units for GTECH’s expansion at Lincoln Park. Our Cash Fever™ machines are among the top performing products at the property and we are confident that our strong library of e-motion™ games will continue to perform exceptionally well,” said Ken Bossingham, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Atronic. A large portion of the order consists of Cash Fever™, Atronic’s new dynamic Linked Gaming System featuring four levels of progressive jackpots and exciting game themes in Atronic’s innovative e-motion cabinet. Cash Fever™, which was recently launched in tribal and riverboat markets as well as in Detroit, has proven extremely popular with players and operators alike. About Atronic ATRONIC is a member of the Gaming Standards Association and supports open industry standards such as Best of Breed (BOB) and System to System (S2S). ATRONIC is part of the family-owned and operated GAUSELMANN Group which entered into an alliance with GTECH Holdings Corporation, a NYSE listed American company who acquired a 50 percent controlling equity interest in ATRONIC on December 6th 2004. The transaction, which is contingent upon regulatory and gaming license approvals, is expected to be completed on December 31, 2006. The family-owned and operated GAUSELMANN Group, which has sold 2 million gaming devices since inception, is the second largest manufacturer of gaming devices worldwide. To find out more information about ATRONIC please visit the website at http://www.atronic.com. About GTECH (http://www.gtech.com) SOURCE: Atronic Americas media release. ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA (November 2, 2005) -- American Idol®, the hit reality show that has rapidly become a television phenomenon over four seasons, is about to become a star with lottery players. MDI Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS) announced today its agreement with FremantleMedia, co-producer and licensor of American Idol for branded scratch off lottery tickets. “The extreme popularity of American Idol will result in huge ticket sales for our lottery clients and the potential for fun and exciting promotions is far reaching,” said Steve Saferin, MDI president. “We’re very excited to offer our customers this property!”
As part of the agreement, MDI has obtained exclusive rights to use the show’s name, image and logos for instant scratch lottery tickets in the US and Canada. In addition, MDI will provide an incredible line of custom and unique American Idol merchandise for use in promotions, 2nd-chance drawings and incentive programs. From the East Coast to the West, 22 states are currently represented by American Idol finalists, almost all of which operate lotteries. “The American Idol brand has such a broad reach that virtually everyone in the U.S. is familiar with it,” said David Luner, FremantleMedia Vice President Licensing, Americas. “With contestants hailing from everywhere across the nation there is a built-in fan base on a local level that creates even stronger brand awareness. We think this lottery program will be extremely well received.” Auditions are currently being held for American Idol: Season 5 with the premiere in January 2006. “American Idol has had become an American icon with four straight season of amazing ratings growth, so now really is the perfect opportunity for lotteries to offer players an American Idol game,” Saferin said. To date, three state lotteries have already committed to carrying the game with more indicating they want the game in their line up by March, when the intensity of the show skyrockets with the finalists being voted off. About Scientific
Games About American
Idol About
FremantleMedia About 19
Entertainment SOURCE: MDI Entertainment media
release.
|
Five-time Emmy Award-nominee AMERICAN IDOL
was created by Simon Fuller of 19TV and developed by FremantleMedia.
Executive producers are Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe for 19TV and Cecile
Frot-Coutaz and Ken Warwick for FremantleMedia North America. 19 also
manages such leading musical artists as Annie Lennox, Will Young, Kelly
Clarkson, and Fantasia. FremantleMedia North America is one of America's
foremost producers of reality-based entertainment programming for television,
and has produced the IDOL format in more than 30 countries worldwide.
Interplay Multimedia Pty. Ltd. disclaims all liability for information provided within Lottery Insider -- Data supplied by named sources. |