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
 |
| Vol. 34 No. 7-- Monday February 20, 2006 |
    |
|
   |
|
Per Capita Spend on Veikkaus Games Hit €248 Euro Last Year VEIKKAUS, Finland (February 13, 2006) -- Finns played Veikkaus games with an average of EUR 248.3 per capita in 2005 (rounds 1-52). The most popular games were Lotto, Keno, and Fixed Odds Betting. Lotto was played with EUR 78.4 per capita, and the second most popular game Keno was played with EUR 47.1. The third most popular game was Fized Odds Betting (EUR 25.8 per capita).
Veikkaus' players receive as many as 160,000 small and big winnings each day. In 2005 we paid out a total of 106 high-tier prizes, i.e. prizes of over EUR 168,188. Lotto and Keno generated the most high-tier prizes. In all, we paid out over EUR 680 of winnings to our players. Despite the large number of prizes, you don't always hit the jackpot. However, the players of Veikkaus games, like the rest of Finns, can enjoy many benefits financed with Veikkaus funds, e.g., cheaper tickets to the theatre and various opportunities to do recreational sports. The non-winning games generate each year a sizeable sum to be distributed to the benefit of Finnish arts, science, sports, and youth work. In 2005 the Ministry of Education distributed over EUR 380 million of Veikkaus funds every day. SOURCE: Veikkaus' eNews distributed by Veikkaus Communications. INTRALOT Presents The New Entertaintment Solutions “GameWareX” ATHENS, Greece (February 14, 2006) -- INTRALOT presented today the new family of entertainment solutions: “GameWareX” at an event in Athens, which was mainly attended by media and financial institutions representatives. INTRALOT presented a wide array of innovative solutions for the infrastructure’s modernization of lotteries, as well as the best utilization of the new business era’s technology applications (Internet, broadband access, telecommunications) in order to respond in the changing environment and seize the opportunities which will emerge from the forthcoming convergence of gaming with entertainment.
The opening speech was given by INTRALOT’s CEO, Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos. Talking about the future and the challenges the lottery industry faces, he stated “Technological advancements in computing, networking and telecommunications and the upcoming convergence of gaming and entertainment, lead to the development of new, games and interactive distribution models. Convergence will eventually create a new industry – Entergaming Lotteries’ need to invest in new technologies and content, in order to attract new players.” Finally, Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos mentioned that "INTRALOT focus on ‘Entergaming’ combined with our sophisticated technology, know-how and infrastructure, gives us a competitive advantage and renders us pioneers in the new emerging global market." INTRALOT presented the new suite of digital entertainment games “GAMETIME”, content rich games that provide fast-paced action and 3-D animation, aiming thus to attract new players to the lottery shops and give existing ones alternative “fresh” games with endless themes. This suite includes games that can be characterized as social games, since they are suitable also for public venues such as bars and coffee shops where people can interact socially and play in a group. INTRALOT, having acknowledged early enough the trend to content rich games, has developed GAMETIME suite to embrace a wider range of players’ needs. INTRALOT presented “GameWare X” together with its “B-On” platform, the first innovative gaming platform enabling entertainment games, sports betting and lottery games on digital distribution channels. The B-On gaming platform features multiplayer mobile and PC gaming capabilities coupled with betting, tournaments and instant tickets, while customer profile management features allow implementation of targeted marketing strategies, Customer Relationship Management policies and development of Business to Consumer value added services.
After the presentation, the attendees had the opportunity to experience and enjoy INTRALOT’ s new line of solutions, GAMEWARE X live. About INTRALOT (www.intralot.com) SOURCE: INTRALOT (www.intralot.com). Schafer Systems to Supply Play Centers for Oklahoma Lottery ADAIR, Iowa (February 13, 2006) -- Schafer Systems Inc. announced that they have been awarded a Play Center contract by Scientific Games International (SGI). The Play Centers will be used for the Oklahoma Lottery.
Schafer Systems will initially provide 1,500 of their new Multi-User Game Station. According to Schafer Systems officials, the Multi-User Game Station will provide retailers with a Play Center that is very versatile. “The new Multi-User Game Station provides the lottery with 16 spaces for literature/brochures, a large space for POS display, two changeable graphic areas and two writing surfaces, including one that meets federal ADA standards,” said John Krogman, Sales Director for Schafer Systems. Schafer Systems is a world leader in point of purchase and promotional products for the lottery industry. They currently provide products to 41 state lotteries, 47 foreign countries and 10 territories. SOURCE: Schafer Systems Inc. (http://www.ssi-ia.com). The New York Lottery Announces New Instant Scratch-Off Ticket Suppliers SCHENECTADY, New York (February 10, 2006) – New York Lottery Director Nancy A. Palumbo today announced that Scientific Games Corporation has been selected as the Lottery’s Primary supplier of Instant scratch-off tickets following the review of submissions to a Request for Proposals issued in November.
“We are pleased to award Scientific Games Corporation, a New York based company, as our primary Instant ticket supplier as we approach the 30th Anniversary of the Instant scratch-off ticket in New York State,” said Director Palumbo. “Over the past 30 years the popularity of the scratch-off ticket has grown tremendously, increasing at a rate of over 13% annually during the past five years and reaching an all time record of $77 million in just one week of Instant game sales this year. Today scratch-offs represent more than half of total New York Lottery sales, making the New York Lottery the third largest Instant ticket seller in the World.” “Scientific Games Corporation is looking forward to taking a greater role in the New York Lottery’s revenue growth as their primary supplier of Instant games,” said Lorne Weil, Chairman and CEO of Scientific Games Corporation. “Already the largest Instant game manufacturer in the world, producing more than 24 billion tickets annually, Scientific Games’ Instant game production will increase significantly as we add the New York Lottery, the largest Lottery in the United States and sixth largest in the World, to our extensive list of clients.” The popularity of the Instant scratch-off game in New York has been growing rapidly since the first Instant ticket, New York Scenes, was introduced by the New York Lottery on September 8, 1976. Since their introduction 30 years ago, sales on Instant tickets have gone from $186.9 million in 1976 to over $3 billion in 2005. In 1976, the New York Lottery contributed $90.7 million to education. Today, the Lottery provides over $2 billion annually to primary and secondary education in New York State, with a good portion of that amount coming from sales of Instant games.
The New York Lottery offers approximately 40 different Instant games at any given time. The New York Lottery will continue to expand on its impressive Instant game selection with Scientific Games Corporation as its Primary supplier. In addition to naming a Primary supplier, the New York Lottery also announced Pollard Banknote Limited Partnership as its Secondary supplier and Creative Games International Inc. and Oberthur Gaming Technologies, Corp. as Tertiary suppliers. The contracts, pending finalization and approval of the Office of the State Comptroller, will be for a period of 3 years beginning May 22, 2006 with two 1 year options to extend. Since inception, the New York Lottery has generated more than $28 billion in revenue to help support education statewide, including a record $2.06 billion in fiscal year 2004-2005 on revenues of $6.27 billion. For more information, please contact the Lottery Press & Community Relations office at 518-388-3415 or email pcr@lottery.state.ny.us. SOURCE: New York Lottery (www.nylottery.org). WLA Adopts Responsible Gaming Principles BASEL, Switzerland (February 10, 2006) -- The World Lottery Association (WLA) has formalized its long-standing commitment to best practices in corporate social responsibility by adopting responsible gaming principles that will apply to 140 government-controlled member lotteries from around the world. The principles were adopted overwhelmingly by the WLA’s General Assembly in Mérida, Mexico on February 4, 2006. They are intended to complement responsible gaming principles and practices that currently exist in member jurisdictions.
"Responsible gaming is a pivotal element in each individual WLA member’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility, and part of a proactive approach to address the social impact of lotteries and other forms of gaming," said Arch Gleason, incoming WLA President and current President and CEO of the Kentucky Lottery, USA. The principles acknowledge that gaming operators play an important role in helping to prevent problem gambling, as do governments, regulators, treatment providers, researchers, community groups, and individuals who take part in games of chance. By adopting the principles, WLA members have "committed their vigilance in making responsible gaming an integral part of their daily operations… This pledge of support includes the encouragement of research initiatives and striving to achieve an appropriate balance between revenue, entertainment and customer expectations." The seven principles address areas of player protection, collaboration with other stakeholders, research, promotion, informed player choice, monitoring and reporting. The text of the Principles can be viewed at: http://www.world-lotteries.org/documents/WLAgamingprinciples_0206.pdf WLA members will discuss implementation and accreditation plans for the principles at a meeting in Halifax, Canada, in May 2006.
About the World Lottery
Association For more information, contact the lottery
organization in your jurisdiction or WLA Corporate Social Responsibility
Sub-Committee leads: SOURCE: World Lottery
Association. "Love Is..."™ joins MDI License Portfolio
ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA (February 13, 2006) -- Lottery players will fall in love with a new "Love Is..."™ instant ticket, now that MDI Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS), has acquired the popular and nostalgic cartoon illustration license from The Licensing Company (“TLC”). "Lottery players love giving and receiving instant tickets for special events like birthdays and holidays," said Steve Saferin, MDI president. "’Love Is...' is the perfect way to show someone how you feel, especially on Valentine's Day or any day! Lotteries should be planning now to include 'Love Is...' in next year's early instant ticket line up." In addition to cash, lotteries can include high-end jewelry as prizes with a new "Love Is..." game and can tailor the game to fit their customers by choosing from an extensive library of images to include on the tickets. "Love Is...", which started in the 1960s as cute love notes from Kim Casali to her future husband Roberto, involved little drawings and a statement that captured her thoughts for the man she loved. One day, the notes caught the eye of a newspaper editor who suggested they could be syndicated. In 1970, the illustrations were first revealed to the rest of the word when they were published in the Los Angeles Times as a single black and white panel format. Today, the illustration panels are published daily in 34 countries and translated into 15 different languages.
After Kim Casli's death in 1997, her oldest son Stefano Casali continued the comic strip and currently works with artist Bill Asprey to continue bringing "Love Is..." into the homes of loyal "Love Is..." readers. Throughout the decades, "Love Is..." has continued to gain appeal and notoriety with its simple style and innocent messages. "Love Is..." will celebrate its 36th anniversary in February. About Scientific
Games About The Licensing Company SOURCE: MDI Entertainment media
release. Article By: Ilkka Juva, Communications Director, Veikkaus Oy. VEIKKAUS, Finland (February 13, 2006) -- Gaming and sports have traditionally had a very close relationship. As Veikkaus was founded in 1940 to operate games in a responsible and secure way, the proceeds were allocated to benefit sports.
Sports remain one of our most important beneficiaries. Our players, as the rest of Finns, can use the sporting sites built with Veikkaus funds. Even professional sports are financed with Veikkaus proceeds. Veikkaus and sports are also partners in cooperation: our Sports Games - Betting and Pools - need interesting betting objects. Games are a natural part of good sports entertainment. Interesting sports events and reliable results are important to both Veikkaus and sports in general. In fact, we share many customers. Thus, Veikkaus and sports also share the same objectives, as regards customer service. Sports and gaming entertainment are closely associated with the media. The media coverage of sports serves the readers, listeners, and viewers of sports entertainment, i.e. the people to whom Veikkaus offers gaming as a part of good sports entertainment. The Olympics are the most important sports and media event in the world. They are hugely important to the promotion of the general interest in and appreciation for sports. Thus, the Olympics also have a strong and long-lasting significance for Veikkaus. SOURCE: Veikkaus' eNews distributed by Veikkaus Communications. LANSING, Michigan, USA (February 13, 2006) – The former voice of the Detroit Red Wings will become the voice of the Michigan Lottery when local broadcasting legend Bruce Martyn hits the airwaves in a commercial for a new instant game ticket.
Martyn, who was the Red Wings’ radio and television announcer in the mid-1960s through the mid-1990s, will be the featured announcer in a radio ad for the Red Wings instant ticket. The $2 ticket goes on sale today, February 13, and carries top prizes of $20,000 and second chance opportunities to win Red Wings merchandise and NHL Dream Trips. Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters said he expects the ticket will be a popular product. “Michigan sports fans have really taken to Lottery games that feature hometown teams, like the Pistons, and personalities like the NASCAR drivers who compete at Michigan International Speedway,” Peters said. “Both Red Wings fans and Lottery players will enjoy this new ticket.” Avid Red Wings fans will remember Martyn as the team’s announcer for both television and radio broadcasts. In 1991, Martyn received the National Hockey League’s highest honor for a broadcaster, The Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. He is also acknowledged in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
In addition to the $20,000 prizes available in the game, the Red Wings tickets include three second chance drawings. Each drawing will include one grand prize of a National Hockey League dream trip, in which the winner can choose an all-expense paid home game getaway package, a road trip getaway package, or a Sony 42-inch wide LCD television. Each drawing will also include 185 prize packs of Red Wings/NHL merchandise that include a Red Wings home jersey, an embroidered jacked, embroidered his and her polo shirts, a watch and a leather back pack. To enter a Red Wings Second Chance Bonus Drawing, players must submit three non-winning Red Wings instant tickets either by mail or online through Player City, the Lottery’s free Internet VIP Club. To join Player City or find more details about the drawings, go to www.michigan.gov/lottery. All proceeds from the Lottery are contributed to the state School Aid Fund which supports kindergarten through 12th grade public education in Michigan. In fiscal year 2005, the contribution was $667.6 million. For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery. SOURCE: Michigan Lottery. Schafer Systems Announces Contract Award to Supply Dispensers to NC Lottery ADAIR, Iowa, USA (February 15, 2006) -- Schafer Systems Inc. announced today that they have been awarded the Instant Ticket Dispenser contract by GTECH Corporation. The dispensers will be used for the North Carolina Education Lottery. Schafer Systems will initially provide 60,000 Single Dispensers and 15,000 Single Locking Mounts to assist the lottery in meeting its goal of launching tickets on March 30, 2006.
According to Schafer Systems officials, the Single Dispensers allow GTECH to provide retailers with a dispenser that is very versatile. “The Single Dispensers are injection molded for extreme durability and will accommodate a variety of ticket sizes,” said Teresa Immel, Sales Director for Schafer Systems. The dispensers can be placed alone on the counter or stacked to increase capacity and game versatility. About Schafer Systems (http://www.ssi-ia.com) Schafer Systems is a world leader in point of purchase and promotional products for the lottery industry. They currently provide products to 42 state lotteries, 47 foreign countries and 10 territories. SOURCE: Schafer Systems Inc. (http://www.ssi-ia.com). SYDNEY, Australia ( February 14, 2006. ) A bigger weekly prize pool for Tattslotto is the result of a review of Saturday Tattslotto recently conducted by Tattersall's and its Australian Lotto Bloc partners. The base week Division One prize pool will increase from $3 million to $4 million. Tattslotto Superdraws will continue to feature throughout the year, and it is planned that these draws will be at least $20 million or above in the coming months.
To fund the new prize levels, the entry price of Saturday Tattslotto tickets will increase by five cents per game (excluding retailer commission) for all draws occurring on and after 18 March 2006. Tattersall's Manager, Lottery Products and Communications, David Carlson, said the review had been conducted in conjunction with other members of the Australian Lotto Bloc and had examined key game components such as prize levels, divisional payouts and entry costs. "We are operating in an increasingly competitive entertainment market and it is important for us to review our lottery games from time to time to ensure the game and prizes remain attractive to our players," Mr Carlson said. "Feedback had shown that players were seeking larger prizes. The only way to achieve this in the short term was through a price increase which, in turn, increases the amount allocated to the prize pool," Mr Carlson added. The last Tattslotto price rise was in 2002, where the entry price of Saturday Tattslotto tickets rose by five cents per game. Contact: Gerry Devine 9592 9020
|
|