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Lottomatica S.p.A. Completes Acquisition of GTECH Holdings
Corporation
ROME, ITALY and WEST GREENWICH,
Rhode Island (August 29, 2006) -- Lottomatica S.p.A. (MIL: LTO) and GTECH
Holdings Corporation today announced that all the conditions in the merger
agreement were satisfied and Lottomatica has completed its previously-announced
acquisition of GTECH. The amount paid is
equal to $35.00 per share, in cash, for a total equity consideration of
approximately $4.46 billion. The common stock of GTECH will cease trading on
the New York Stock Exchange as a result of the completion of the acquisition.
The combination of Lottomatica, the exclusive license holder and operator of
Italy’s Lotto, one of the world’s largest lotteries, and GTECH, a
leading gaming and technology services company, creates one of the world’s
leading gaming solutions providers, with significant global market presence and
the broadest portfolio of lottery technology, services, and content solutions.
The combined company has operations in over 50 countries worldwide and
approximately 6,300 employees.
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W. Bruce Turner, President and Chief
Executive Officer of GTECH, said:
“We are pleased to complete
this exciting transaction. By combining the two entities, we have created a
vertically-integrated gaming operations and technology solutions company with
comprehensive product offerings, superior client service, unsurpassed
operations experience and capabilities and considerable financial strength.
Since announcing the transaction in January we have spent a great deal of time
in talking with our clients and shareholders, and we are gratified by the
support we have received.”
Lorenzo Pellicioli, Chairman of
Lottomatica, stated: “The acquisition of GTECH represents a fundamental
step forward for our company which, with its new structure, will be able to
compete on a worldwide basis and obtain important results. Now, we must meet
challenges ever more ambitious, but we have all the necessary capabilities to
create value for the company and its shareholders.”
Marco Drago, Chairman of De
Agostini, controlling shareholder of Lottomatica, underlined that: “We
are extremely proud of the success of this operation which I consider to be
strategic for the future of the company. With the acquisition of GTECH, which
enables Lottomatica to become a global player, the De Agostini group has
strengthened its position, continuing in its strategy of growth and investments
with a view to furthering international development.”
Former GTECH stockholders with stock
certificates will receive notice in the mail regarding the process to surrender
their shares for the merger consideration. Former GTECH stockholders whose
shares were held through banks or brokers will receive information about their
holdings from those institutions.
Lottomatica’s financial advisor
with respect to this transaction is Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe)
Limited, and its legal counsel are Dewey Ballantine LLP, Saiber Schlesinger
Satz & Goldstein, LLC and Bonelli Erede Pappalardo. GTECH’s financial
advisor is Citigroup Global Markets, and its legal counsel are Cravath, Swaine
& Moore LLP and Edwards Angell Palmer and Dodge LLP.
About Lottomatica S.p.A.
Lottomatica S.p.A. operates one of
the largest lotteries in the world,
the Italian “Lotto,” and
is the market leader in the Italian gaming industry. Lottomatica has a network
of approximately 77,000 points of sales through its main business
segments—lotteries, sports games and betting, gaming machines and
commercial services. The company, headquartered in Rome, has revenues of
approximately euro 583 million in 2005, over 1,000 employees and is publicly
traded on the Milan stock market (LTO). It is controlled by De Agostini S.p.A.
which owns 56% of the company’s share capital. For more information about
the company, please visit Lottomatica’s website at
http://www.gruppolottomatica.it.
About GTECH Holdings
Corporation
GTECH is a leading gaming technology
and services company. With more than $1.3 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.
CONTACT: Lottomatica (Italy), Mario
Pellegatta, Matteo Cidda, Ad Hoc Communications, 39-027-606-741. Lottomatica
(U.S.) Mark Semer or Jeremy Fielding, Kekst and Company, 1-212-521-4800. GTECH,
Robert K. Vincent, Public Affairs, 1 401-392-7452
SOURCE: GTECH Holdings
Corporation
INTRALOT Announces Its First Semester 2006
Results
ATHENS, Greece (August 31, 2006) --
INTRALOT SA today announces its financial
results for the six-month period ending June 30th, 2006, prepared in accordance
with IFRS. INTRALOT achieved to sustain a high growth rate both in its revenues
and profits, as follows:
Consolidated Revenues for the period
reached €382.0m, posting a 80.8% increase compared to 1H05. EBITDA
(Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) increased by
55.4% to €122.7m, compared to the same period last year. Earnings Before
Taxes (EBT) recorded an increase of 43.4% y-o-y by reaching €114.1m
compared to €79.5m in 1H05. Earnings After Taxes and after minorities
(EAT-am) increased by 51.1% y-o-y to €55.2m from €36.6m in 1H05.
Total International Revenues for the
Intralot Group amounted to €279.0m, or 73.0% of total Group sales,
compared with €159.2m, or 75.4% of total Group sales in 1H05.
International operations contributed a total of €79.3m or 69.5% to group
EBT vs. €43.0m or 54.0% in 1H05.
Commenting on 1H06 results
INTRALOT’s CEO, Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos, noted: “We
are very pleased with our first half 2006 results, which are above our initial
expectations for the period. Moreover, in the last 3 months we have signed
three new contracts in Malaysia, Germany and Idaho, while we have been
announced preferred bidders regarding the South African Lottery tender and in
Western Australia. In this way, we have maintained a success rate of over 50%
in the tenders we compete, with our major peers in the past 2 ½ years.
As a result, we are continuously increasing our portfolio of projects at a
strong rate and concurrently have established an important presence in the
Asia/Pacific region. Moreover, the 2006 World Cup hosted in Germany proved to
be by far the largest sports betting event in history, increasing sports
betting awareness globally. It is important to note that the momentum of
betting awareness is considered by our Company a very positive sign for the
continued growth of our betting related operations in the future.
INTRALOT’s positioning, brand name and total solution offering in the
global market has led the company to obtain a dominant position in the
international gaming market, a factor that will continue to drive our future
expansion.”
About INTRALOT (www.intralot.com)
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. Its broad portfolio of products & services,
its know-how of Lottery, Betting & Video Lottery operations, its experience
in sports games and its leading-edge technology give INTRALOT a competitive
advantage, which contributes directly to customers’ efficiency,
profitability and growth. INTRALOT’s footprint straddles five continents
with 37 subsidiaries, 8 business offices, 3,000 people and revenues of €
523 million for 2005 and €700(Ε) for 2006.
SOURCE: INTRALOT.
For more
information please CONTACT: Ms Evi Ioannidou, Communications Director, Phone:
+30-210-6156000 – Fax: +30-210 6106800, email:
ioannidou@intralot.com.
KEBA Wins Major International Order: Good Luck in Spain Comes from
KEBA from Now on!
The Linz Automation Specialist Is Supplying 2,200
Lottery Terminals For The Spanish Lottery
LINZ, Austria (August 28, 2006) --
KEBA AG is continuing on its successful
course. The automation specialist received an order for 2,200 lottery terminals
from the Spanish STL (Sistemas Técnicos de Lotérias del Estados,
S.A.) who operates the approximately 10,000 lottery terminals throughout Spain
on behalf of the Spanish lottery company O.N.L.A.E (Organismo Nacional de Loterias y
Apuestas des Estado).
KEBA beat off high-class
international competitors and global players.
Around 10,000 lottery terminals of
the Spanish lottery company O.N.L.A.E (Organismo Nacional de Loterias y
Apuestas des Estado) are operated by the Spanish company STL (Sistemas
Técnicos de Lotérias del Estados, S.A.).
STL is responsible for both the
technical operation and maintenance of the terminals; the software
development/service as well as the upkeep of the network infrastructure of the
state lottery company are also included among the range of tasks of the
company.
KEBA participated in an
international tender from STL for new lottery terminals. The goal of the tender
was to find a vendor who would increase the efficiency of STL’s lottery
terminals in the sales network as well as raising the level of acceptance of
the betting office personnel.
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| KEBA Chairman Gerhard
Luftensteiner (right) with STL Chairman: Alberto Lafuente Félez (left)
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After an extensive field test, STL
and ONLAE decided upon lottery terminals from KEBA.
“Crucial for the decision of
STL and ONLAE were not only the outstanding product features such as high
availability, reliability and the service-friendly concept of our terminals,
but above all the professional approach and the high degree of commitment of
our employees during the piloting phase", according to Gerhard
Luftensteiner, CEO KEBA AG.
The building block principle
employed in both the hardware and the software features ensures that the
terminal is future-proof and enables precise configuration of the equipment
based on the specific requirements. This is economy at its best! Because only
the components and features that are actually required are implemented. Any
potential upgrade of enhancements required in the future is always still
possible. Even optimum usability is taken care of: user-friendly interaction is
guaranteed by the bright and particularly long-life TFT display with
Touch-screen; the scanner is ergonomic in operation and, in addition, supports
the processing of A4 betting slips.
The first phase covers the delivery
of 2,200 KeWin multimedia terminals to Spain.
Spain is one of the world’s
largest sweepstake markets. Games of chance, especially sweepstakes, enjoy
great popularity in Spain. This is highlighted by the traditional "el Gordo" Christmas draw, a spectacular event
that captivates all of Spain because of the high winnings. In 2005, each
Spaniard played an average of about 73 € in el Gordo.
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| KeWin multimedia lottery
terminal |
Lottery terminals from KEBA
– a success story
In 1999, KEBA equipped 4,200 lottery
agencies in Austria for the first time with KeWin multimedia terminals, the
high-speed lottery terminals for agencies with medium to large betting slip
volumes. Three years later, KEBA scored once more with high quality, features
and best price/performance ratio, again prevailing against international
competition.
In 2002/2003, 4,780 KeWin mini
terminals were delivered to the Austrian
Lottery Company.
Another major order for KEBA from
the Österreichischen Lotterien Gesellschaft (Austrian Lottery Company) -
KEBA remains the exclusive supplier
Just recently KEBA won the
international call for quotations by the Austrian Lottery Company for more than
4,400 new lottery terminals, thus defending its position as exclusive supplier.
Austria’s lottery agencies will now be equipped with the latest generation
of terminals.
An Upper Austria showcase company
continues on its successful course
KEBA AG, internationally successful
with solutions for industrial, banking and service automation generated a
turnover of 90 million Euro with its current 654 employees - 75% of this in
foreign countries. Since 2004, KEBA has been represented in Beijing/China with
its own subsidiary, two further locations were added in Ningbo and Guangzhou
last year.
SOURCE: KEBA AG
Lottery Kicks Off “Fill’er Up”
Promotion
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, USA (August
29, 2006) – The New Mexico Lottery has
teamed up with Brewer Oil Company and Town & Country Food Stores to offer a
three-week customer promotion. The “Fill’er Up”
promotion coincides with the August 29 debut of the new $1
“Fill’er Up” Scratcher game with a top prize of
$2,500.
The promotion, to help make the
“pain at the pump” a little less painful and a lot more fun,
kicks off August 29 and extends through September 20. Nine drawings will
be held statewide on September 22, with four prizes awarded at each
drawing. Prizes will include: gift cards for up to $100 in
gasoline, car washes, as well as food and Lottery premium gift packs.
With Brewer Oil’s 36 statewide locations and Town & Country’s 28
southeastern locations, customers can submit their drawing entries at 64 retail
locations to win a variety of prizes.
Each of the 64 chain store locations
will have a drawing box. Customers that purchase two $1
“Fill’er Up” tickets AND eight gallons or more of gasoline
during the promotion can enter the drawing. The two non-winning
“Fill’er Up” tickets (with name/address/phone) must be
stapled to a receipt for a minimum of an 8-gallon gasoline purchase. Gas
must be purchased from a Town & Country Food Store or Brewer Oil Company
and the receipt dated within the promotion dates.
The management of Town & Country
Food Stores and Brewer Oil will gather drawing entries and conduct the nine
drawings on September 22. Drawings will take place at six Brewer Oil
locations and three Town & Country Food Store locations.
To add to the excitement, New Mexico
Lottery staff will be at six locations serving as gas station attendants from
years ago (before self-serve).
They will wash customer’s
windows and conduct lottery prize wheel activities for more fun and prizes.
CONTACT: Lottery Communications
Office, 505-342-7616 or 800-642-6689, ext. 7616, Email:
media@nmlottery.com
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Selects Scientific Games
International to Provide Instant Game Services for Pennsylvania
Lottery
Revenue Department and Scientific Games Will Begin Negotiating
Five-Year Contract
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, USA
(August 29, 2006) -- Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Gregory C. Fajt today
announced that he has selected Scientific
Games International to supply instant game services to the
Pennsylvania Lottery.
Scientific Games, based in
Alpharetta, Ga., was chosen following an open and competitive procurement
process. Fajt said a committee comprised of employees from the Lottery and
other state agencies began evaluating vendor proposals last July. The committee
determined that Scientific Games’ proposal offered the best combination of
experience in the Lottery industry, innovation, minority participation,
technical expertise and cost.
“Scientific Games is an
industry leader in instant game products and services,” Fajt said.
“The state-of-the-art services the company will provide under this
contract will help the Pennsylvania Lottery continue its recent
growth.”
Fajt said the department will
immediately begin negotiations with Scientific Games on a five-year contract,
with up to five, one-year extensions. The terms of the contract will not be
determined until it is finalized, but Fajt said the cost will be significantly
less than under the commonwealth’s existing contract with Scientific Games
for instant game services. Fajt said Scientific Games will be paid a percentage
of the Lottery’s instant game sales. The contract will go into effect on
April 10, 2007.
Scientific Games is in the final
year of 10-year instant-game contract. The company was paid approximately
$35 million under the existing contract for Fiscal Year 2005-06.
Services provided by Scientific
Games under the new contract will include:
- Printing tickets and distributing
them to retailers.
- Destroying returned tickets.
- Telemarketing to retailers.
- Assisting with game design.
- Inventory control and inventory
status projections.
SOURCE: Pennsylvania Department of
Revenue.
CONTACT: Steve Kniley, Phone: (717) 787-6960.
Three Iowa Companies Team Up With Iowa Lottery For Motorcycle
Promotion
Iowa Lottery Players Have Chance At Cyclone Victory Vegas
Jackpot
DES MOINES, Iowa, USA (August 25,
2006) - The Iowa Lottery can guarantee a
Cyclone Victory this football season!
The Lottery has teamed up with three
Iowa companies again this year to design a one-of-a-kind, custom-painted
motorcycle. Last year, a similar motorcycle was given away as part of a
promotion that revolved around the Iowa Hawkeyes. This year, the motorcycle
will appeal to those who support the Iowa State Cyclones! The promotion
featuring it runs through late September.
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The Victory Vegas Jackpot motorcycle
was provided for the “Cyclone Victory” promotion by
Victory® motorcycles, a division of Polaris Industries in Spirit Lake; and
Van Wall Motorsports in Ankeny. A made-to-order paint job for the bike was
donated by Custom Paint Specialists of Des Moines. The paint design includes
the Iowa State Cyclone logo; an image of Cy, Iowa State's mascot; vintage Iowa
State University Cyclone logos; and the Iowa State University seal.
“We're thrilled to
offer another promotion this football season featuring one of Iowa's great
universities,” said Iowa Lottery spokesperson Tina Potthoff.
“Imagine arriving at the next Cyclone home game on a custom-painted ISU
motorcycle!”
The Cyclone Victory Vegas Jackpot
motorcycle was debuted to the public for the first time Sunday at the Cyclone
Fan Fest in Ames. The Lottery will also display the bike Aug. 31 at the ISU vs.
Toledo game and Sept. 9 at the ISU vs. UNLV game in Cyclone Experience. The
bike will be presented to the winner of the lottery promotion on Oct. 7 at the
ISU vs. Nebraska game.
The Cyclone Victory promotion begins
Friday and runs through midnight on Sunday, Sept. 24. Lottery players who buy
$5 or more in any lotto game on one ticket and don't win a prize can use the
ticket to enter the promotion through the lottery's Web site at
www.ialottery.com.
Players can key in the serial number
from their tickets to enter the promotion and need to keep each ticket they use
to enter. Eligible games for the promotion are: Powerball®, Hot Lotto,
Iowa's $100,000 Cash Game, Pick 3 and Pick 4. Eligible nonwinning tickets must
be purchased between Aug. 25 and Sept. 23, for drawings ending no later than
Sept. 23, 2006.
The Lottery will hold a drawing on
Sept. 26 to determine the motorcycle winner. The player selected will need to
take his/her ticket to lottery headquarters in Des Moines to claim the
bike!
The Lottery will be running a
University of Iowa-related promotion during the 2006-2007 college basketball
season.
Since the Iowa Lottery's inception
in 1985, more than $2 billion has been awarded in prizes and more than $1
billion has been raised for state programs.
SOURCE: Iowa Lottery.
OGT “Heats Up” the Lottery Industry with HOT
TAMALES®!
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, USA (August 24,
2006) -- Oberthur Gaming Technologies
(“OGT”) has acquired the rights to the “hottest”
property in the lottery industry with its latest licensed brand HOT
TAMALES®. Lottery organizations will take advantage of the brand’s
strength among the emerging market and the core player group – with games
that feature cinnamon scented tickets and dual color imaging. OGT has also
developed a fun and unique promotional package allowing Lotteries to “Get
Fired Up!™” through their consumer and retail markets.
Just Born Inc., the maker of the
popular candy, introduced HOT TAMALES® in 1950. It has since become
America’s top-selling cinnamon flavored candy. HOT TAMALES® is sold in
more than 20 countries globally and can be found in every retail environment,
including grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores and movie theaters.
And to support the HOT TAMALES® brand, Just Born sponsors promotions
nationwide on college campuses and other social settings where emerging market
consumers spend time. With such retail exposure, enduring appeal, and a new
“spiced up” look to their brand, HOT TAMALES® is sure to
spark the eyes and taste buds of many lottery players.
“OGT’s objective is to
bring the emerging market to the forefront, and we believe the HOT TAMALES®
brand will do that perfectly,” said Carla Schaefer, OGT’s Vice
President of New Business Development. “We are gearing up some
fantastic HOT TAMALES® promotions that will incorporate the HOT
TAMALES®’ college tour around a Lottery’s home state, and some
‘hot’ prizes, such as product, merchandise and ‘hot
destination’ trips!”
“We are very excited
about expanding the HOT TAMALES® brand into the lottery industry,
especially knowing the kind of marketing expertise OGT can bring to the
table,” stated John Kerr, Licensing Director for Just Born, Inc.
“OGT already has some great ideas that would seamlessly tie-in with our
highly successful college tour done just this year. We are positive the HOT
TAMALES® brand will create just as big a buzz for OGT and
Lotteries.”
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™, Cyber Games™ (interactive) as well as
state-of-the-art Global Operations and Lottery Distribution System (GOLDS). OGT
currently supplies a full range of high quality products and services to 100
clients in some 50 countries. The company has production units or sales offices
in Montreal, Canada; San Antonio, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania in the U.S.; Paris, France; and Sydney, Australia.
About Just Born,
Inc.
Just Born, Inc. is a privately-owned
company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, with a second
manufacturing facility in Philadelphia , PA. In addition to HOT TAMALES®,
Just Born manufactures and markets MIKE and IKE®, Marshmallow PEEPS®,
ZOURS®, TEENEE BEANEE® gourmet jellybeans, and PEANUT CHEWS®
candies. It employs over 600 associates and markets its candy brands in over 50
countries worldwide. Visit www.justborn.com for more information.
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, Liz Johnson, New Business Coordinator, Oberthur Gaming
Technologies – USA, (+1-210) 509-9999, ext 236, (+1-210) 509-9999, ext.
119.
Revenue Secretary Appoints Interim Executive Director of Pennsylvania
Lottery
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, USA
(August 24, 2006) -- Secretary of Revenue Gregory C. Fajt today announced the
appointment of Ed Trees as interim executive director of the
Pennsylvania Lottery.
Trees, a resident of Cumberland
County, will replace Edward Mahlman,
who has resigned effective Friday, August 25.
Trees, 51, has worked for the
Pennsylvania Lottery for more than 30 years and currently serves as the
Lottery’s deputy executive director for marketing. He previously served as
interim executive director prior to Mahlman’s appointment in early
2003.
Fajt noted that Mahlman, who has
accepted a position as chief marketing officer with Philadelphia Newspapers
LLC, presided over a period of unprecedented innovation and growth at the
Pennsylvania Lottery. During the past four years, Lottery sales have increased
from $1.9 billion to $3.07 billion. Lottery proceeds are used exclusively to
help older Pennsylvanians.
“Ed Trees played an
important role in the Lottery’s recent success,” Fajt said.
“His integrity, knowledge and life-long service to the Pennsylvania
Lottery make him the perfect choice to serve as interim executive director. I
am confident that the Lottery will continue to thrive under his direction and
leadership in the coming months.”
SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery.
Lucky 7’s Double Play™ Named Year’s Best Lottery
Product
WINNIPEG, Canada (August 25, 2006)
-- Pollard Banknote Limited Partnership (“Pollard Banknote”) is pleased to
announce that its long-standing affiliation with the
Iowa Lottery has resulted in a welcome
accolade for Lucky 7’s Double Play™(*), a combined scratch-off/pull
tab instant ticket featuring a patented Fusion® play style. A recipient of
a 2006 Lottery Product of the Year Award, this honor was presented to the
Lottery at the recent International Expo in Las Vegas, an event hosted by the
Public Gaming Research Institute (“PGRI”). A respected Kirkland,
Washington-based organization dedicated to researching the multifaceted gaming
industry, the PGRI selection committee was comprised of executives from several
U.S. lotteries, as well as lotteries from Uruguay, Spain, and El Salvador. This
year’s award marks the second time in as many years that the pioneering
Iowa Lottery has celebrated such an accomplishment.
“We’re delighted one of
our signature products has been singled out by PGRI,” said Gordon
Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer. “This kind of acknowledgment
showcases the talented and dedicated employees at all levels within Pollard
Banknote and the Iowa Lottery. The enthusiastic collaboration demonstrated
throughout this venture yielded positive outcomes for both organizations. We
couldn’t be more pleased at the remarkable response the Lottery has
generated, and we look forward to contributing to even greater successes in the
coming months.”
The Iowa Lottery’s Lucky
7’s Double Play™ offering is an instantly captivating example of
Pollard Banknote’s popular two-in-one Double Play® game format, which
presents a traditional scratch-off game on one side of the ticket and a pull
tab game on the other. The ticket, the 21st $5 game sold in the
Lottery’s history, proved immensely popular immediately following its
April launch, so much so that sales during the initial eight-week period
doubled those of other $5 tickets sold over the past decade. Indeed, the game
attracted so much attention that the Lottery felt confident enough to request a
re-order after just four short weeks in the marketplace.
Colorful blasts of yellow, red, and
green dominate this ticket’s front face, a scratch-off game boasting the
popular “Number Match” play format, a “Fast
$50” instant win opportunity, and a top prize of $50,000. The reverse
side, an entirely separate pull tab offering, has a “Match 3”
component where customers can win up to $1,000 simply by revealing three like
symbols in the play window. And with combined overall odds better than 1 in 4,
it’s no wonder Lucky 7’s Double Play™ has compelled so many
Iowans to entertain this double-featured Fusion® experience.
The proven popularity of this
innovative gaming option has prompted the Lottery to once again partner with
Pollard Banknote on a follow-up ticket of this kind due out in the very near
future. The Iowa example serves up convincing evidence that the Double
Play® platform has found a secure and stable mooring within the instant
ticket industry.
“Sometimes you can combine
two popular products and come up with something even better,” said
Iowa Lottery CEO Dr. Ed Stanek. “That’s what we think was achieved
with Lucky 7’s Double Play™, and our players certainly seem to agree.
We’re proud to have partnered with Pollard on a game that was recognized
as an industry leader.”
The appeal of Pollard
Banknote’s Fusion® games stems from their ability to present clients
with exciting opportunities to introduce fresh ideas into their product mix by
offering “added value” tickets to players while simultaneously
spearheading the shift toward higher price points-an industry-wide trend
gaining more and more ground in recent years. In addition to U.S. sales
successes in Iowa and elsewhere, a growing list of lotteries in Canada and
overseas has discovered the benefits of providing players with these unique
laminated tickets, an ensemble that includes the above-referenced Double
Play® combination ticket, the oversized Scratch Tab™ ticket, the
Action Pack® integrated pouch, the Pollard Playbook™ multi-game
packet, and the variable-imaged Pull Tab Plus® ticket.
(*)Double Play® is a registered
trademark of Pollard Banknote.
About Pollard Banknote (www.pollardbanknote.com)
Pollard Banknote is one of the
world’s leading full-service lottery vendors and is a major supplier to
North America’s charitable gaming industry. The firm manufactures
instant tickets and provides related programming, design, and marketing
support. As well, Pollard Banknote manufactures ticket vending machines, pull
tab tickets and bingo paper, and supplies lottery management services
(including warehousing and distribution). Established in 1907, the firm is
owned by the Pollard family and the Pollard Banknote Income Fund and currently
serves more than 45 lotteries worldwide, including some of the largest and most
respected lotteries in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central and
South America.
About Pollard Banknote Income
Fund
Pollard Banknote Income Fund (TSX:
PBL.UN) is an unincorporated, open-end trust which owns 26.7% of Pollard
Holdings Limited Partnership, which in turn owns Pollard Banknote Limited
Partnership.
For further information: Gordon
Pollard, (gpollard@pbl.ca) or John
Pollard, (jpollard@pbl.ca), Co-Chief
Executive Officers, Phone: (204) 474-2323.
Fifth German Lottery Certified
BASEL, Switzerland (August 24, 2006)
-- Germany's Lotto-Toto GmbH Sachsen-Anhalt has achieved
WLA certification for their security and risk
management systems. A total of 24 operators now officially comply with the WLA
Security Control Standards©, the worldwide security management baseline
for lottery organizations.
The certifications are based on the
recommendations of BSI, one of two official certifying bodies appointed by the
WLA to manage the certification process.
About Lotto-Toto GmbH
Sachsen-Anhalt
Lotto-Toto GmbH Sachsen-Anhalt was
founded in 1991. The company is situated in Magdeburg, capital of the state of
Saxony-Anhalt, and serves a population of approximately 2.7 million.
The proceeds of its lottery
operations are used to fund sports, culture, social and environment projects.
The company is a member of the
German lotto/toto bloc, an alliance of lottery companies from the 16 German
states. The bloc members retain complete independence but pool their stakes and
operate common rules for participation in the games.
Further information is available (in
German) at http://www.lottospielen-ltsa.de
About the WLA Security
Control Standards©
The WLA Security Control
Standards© were created ten years ago to provide an internationally
accepted set of security standards for the lottery sector. Today they are the
only set of security standards designed specifically for lottery operators and
are recognized as the security and risk management baseline for the lottery
industry worldwide.
Certification is a way for operators
to verify their risk management strategies and processes. It helps them show
their stakeholders that effective security procedures are in place and
demonstrate to national and state regulators that they are committed to
measurable security and compliance with independently accredited standards. The
latest version of the standards focuses exclusively on lottery-specific
security issues.
Over 20 lottery operators are
already certified and several others are considering certification. A supplier
certification program is also being developed.
Certification to the WLA Security
Control Standards© is an independent hallmark of integrity. It proves to
regulators, boards of directors, auditors, insurers, staff, the media and, most
importantly, the playing public that a lottery operation is applying best
practice in terms of security and risk management.
Certification is an ideal
opportunity for a lottery to take stock of its security and risk management
procedures and to mobilize staff across the entire organization around these
key issues.
The certification process is a way
of assessing the quality of a lottery's security solutions and obtaining
independent guidance on procedural documentation. Certification also
demonstrates that a lottery's security and risk management system and approach
are compatible with those of potential partners in multi-jurisdictional
games.
Certification is valid for three
years, and annual follow-up reviews are conducted to ensure continued
compliance. The WLA has appointed two official certifying bodies, British
Standards Institution (BSI) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV), to review lottery
security and risk management systems and monitor compliance with the WLA
Security Control Standards©.
SOURCE: World Lottery
Association.
CONTACT: Yvonne Schnyder, Secretary General +41 61 284 1111,
Email: ys@world-lotteries.org
East meets
West
Singapore is truly a melting pot of cultures and
languages. It is where East meets West, where tradition blends with modernity
to form the perfect backdrop for a world-class conference. This is where
lottery leaders from all over the planet will meet in November for the WLA 2006
Convention and Trade Show.
Raffles City
The venue for the
WLA 2006 Convention and Trade Show is the Raffles City Convention Centre
(RCCC). With over 2,257 m2 of space, RCCC is part of an integrated complex that
houses two hotels - Raffles The Plaza and Swissotel The Stamford - and over 100
shops under the same roof. A mere 20 minutes away from Changi International
Airport, Raffles City is at the center of it all, accessibly linked by the mass
rapid subway to the rest of Singapore.The official hotel for WLA2006 is Raffles
The Plaza, located in the South Tower of the Raffl es City Complex. Raffles The
Plaza is supported by three other hotels in the Raff es International Hotels
& Resorts Group: the legendary Raffles Hotel just across the road,
Swissotel The Stamford in the same complex as Raffles The Plaza, and the
Swissotel Merchant Court by the banks of the historical Singapore River, a few
minutes drive away.
In the footprints of the
dragon
The layout for WLA2006 Convention and Trade Show is defi ned
by the footprints of a majestic dragon. The dragon has a symbolic and
decorative function while enhancing visitor flow. The WLA2006 Business Program
will be conducted in the Raffles Ballroom, which is situated at the head of our
metaphorical dragon. From the main foyer, the WLA2006 Trade Show fans out in
two directions. Heading North and West, booths trace the robust torso of the
metaphorical dragon through the Platinum, Gold and Silver Halls to culminate at
the head of the dragon which houses the WLA 2006 Convention.
The Southern
trail winds around the hospitality suites to culminate at the dragon's tail in
the Atrium Ballroom. The Platinum Hall in the Stamford Ballroom is nestled in
the heart of the dragon. It is the energy center of WLA 2006. The north-eastern
orientation of the Platinum Hall on the bagua (Chinese octagonal chart) is
associated with Education and Knowledge. The Gold Hall, at the spine of the
metaphorical dragon is located in the northern direction which is associated
with Career Success. The Silver Hall at the shoulder of the dragon, is at the
north-western orientation linked with Mentoring and Networking.
November 13: One Game -- East
Meets
West Tap into the wisdom of Oriental and Western business
practices as you look to new markets. Garner the best of both worlds to manage
a successful lottery.
November 14: Double Edge
Explore
the double edges, the Yin and the Yang of emerging trends. Ride the waves of
revolution and reap its benefits. Understand the gamer generation and create
new opportunities in the face of competition from other forms of
gaming.
November 15: Beyond a World of Numbers
Revisit
the many complex issues that belie what appears to be a simple, straightforward
world of numbers. Make competitors irrelevant and build a work force that's
ready to transform your players!
Mark your diaries!
An
exciting line-up of distinguished speakers and opinion leaders from Singapore,
Asia and the rest of the world will be sharing insights on the theme "Beyond
A World of Numbers."
Visit the official Convention website at
www.wla2006.com
Registration for WLA
2006 Convention is open now, REGISTER
TODAY
Remember you must register by September 30 to
secure the contracted hotel rates.
Lotto Syndicates With PoolingPLUS ™
Presentation Review: by
Glenn Barry of McCallum Consultants (gbarry@sydney.net)
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia (August 29,
2006) -- This peer to peer software is adding a new dimension to presentations
I just found out. Today I sat in my office in Sydney while Andy Amada
President/CEO of Relationship Marketing Systems, LLC in Phoenix Arizona made a
live 10 minute presentation of their Pooling Plus concept complete with the
ability to move - his mouse - around on - my screen -to highlight various
points he wanted to make in real time. Combined with a phone or Skype call it's
just like being there, provided you ain't afraid of no ghosts and/or, unlike
me, are already up to speed on this type of software.
The software is called Go TO My PC
(http://www.gotomypc.com, Andy sent me a
link and in about 45 seconds a viewer was installed and Andy was able to give
his presentation while he talked me through it via phone, pretty cute I thought
as Andy switched backwards and forwards through the presentation slides and
moused over the key points he wanted to make.
Relationship Marketing Systems have
been a minor player on the lottery scene for about 12 years or so and with
Pooling Plus this is their first venture into the big time. It seems the one
thing they do know after years of experience in selling and managing syndicates
for Lotto and Powerball and the like is the psychology of that market segment
that joins these independent syndicates or pooled entries.
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Andy says "for over 12 years of now
we have bringing together tens-of-thousands of lottery players into over 50,000
syndicates (lottery clubs or pools) we know what lottery players want and what
they are going to want next. We can confirm first-hand what all the recent
market research is now revealing, that pooling is a vast untapped market,
especially in the US. Players want their 100% owned tickets IN ADDITION to
their pooling plays, and PoolingPLUS™ wraps that all together into a
single ticket. Unlike virtually ALL the other pooling services around the world
that are internet based only, we have a brick and mortar business and know our
players on a personal basis"
"RMS also offers two other niche
lottery products: The Retailer Marketplace(tm), a unique marketing support
program for lottery retailers; and EasyPLAY™ Subscriptions, an advanced
option subscription play program. Both of these programs will have their US
launch in early 2007 via the Idaho lottery and their new vendor, INTRALOT.
INTRALOT is now
including all three of RMS’s products in their RFP bids".
This experience in public syndicates
is what has led them to apply for a Patent for combining standard games with a
"Syndicate" or "Pooling" concept. (I'll keep my feelings on
patenting some of these ideas to myself for the moment as this is a review of
the presentation and not a rant). It's pretty simple, a player who plays a
minimum of base game(s) has the option to add a "Pooling" element by joining 10
other players in a syndicate of 10 $1.00 entries (or whatever). Say they play 4
sets of numbers for $4.00, for another $1.00 they get 1/10 share of another 10
game bet.
From a player point of view I
suspect it could be an attractive option, just as we had "Lottery
Policy" (the policy racket or numbers) develop from the UK Lotteries back
in the 1700's this concept may indeed entice the "play" players, who do
enjoy checking their numbers ala Bingo, to kick in an extra dollar. It may
attract players who will settle for 1/10 of 10 million bucks in a jackpot
week.
The ticket image to the right here
shows what a $8 Bet would look like, 5 games 100% owned by the players plus a
1/10 share of 3 pools of 10 tickets, lots of numbers to play with and check as
you can see. I can see that being attractive to a segment of the market.
But! Is the idea patentable, will a
lottery have to pay license fees to use Andy's idea that I am afraid to say is
up to the US Patent Office (and regular readers will know my views on
that).
Nevertheless if the basics of the
idea interests you, email Andy and have a look for yourself, it may just have
some legs.
If you want to kill two birds with
one stone contact Andy and have a look at his presentation as well as the
GoToMyPC peer to peer presentation software, contact Andy at
andy@rmswebsite.com.
SOURCE: Glenn Barry of McCallum
Consultants, Email: gbarry@sydney.net.
Louisiana Lottery Names Two New Vice
Presidents
LOUISIANA, USA (August 30, 2006) --
Louisiana Lottery President
Rose Hudson announced that Dianne
Brandon has been named vice president of sales and Steve Rosales has been named
vice president of internal audit.
Brandon has served in various
positions at the Lottery since 1997, most recently as the Baton Rouge regional
manager where she oversaw the sales and customer service functions for Lottery
retailers in the greater Baton Rouge area.
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As vice president of sales, Brandon
leads a Lottery sales team that consists of six regional managers, a sales
support manager and over 50 employees in telephone sales, corporate accounts,
and in regional offices located in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette,
Alexandria, Shreveport and Monroe which service the corporation's more than
2,500 retailers throughout the state.
Rosales has also served in various
positions at the Lottery since 1995, most recently as the Lottery's director of
internal audit.
As vice president of internal audit,
Rosales is responsible for the risk management of the corporation, including
the financial, technological and operational integrity of the Lottery.
Rosales has an undergraduate degree
in Finance and a Masters in Business Administration from Louisiana State
University. He is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified
Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
Hudson also announced that Cal Tabor
has been promoted to Lafayette regional manager and Victor Gray has been
promoted to New Orleans regional manager for the Louisiana Lottery
Corporation.
Tabor began working for the Lottery
in July 1991 as a customer service representative in the Lafayette area.
As Lafayette regional manager, he
will oversee the sales and customer service functions for the Lottery, serving
more than 550 retailers in the greater Lafayette area.
Tabor is a retired Master Sergeant
of the United States Air Force where he served for 18 years. He is also a
member of the Veterans of Foreign War, American Legion, Air Force Sergeants
Association and Carencro Golf Association.
He holds an Associate of Arts degree
from Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri.
Gray began working for the Lottery
in July 1991 as a customer service representative in the New Orleans
area. Displaced by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005, Gray transferred
to Monroe where he assumed the position of interim regional manager and led a
sales team of five employees.
As New Orleans regional manager, he
will oversee the sales and customer service functions for the Lottery, serving
more than 700 retailers in the greater New Orleans area.
Gray holds a Bachelor of Business
Administration degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. He is also
a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the National Urban League.
SOURCE: Louisiana Lottery
Corporation.
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