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EL Panorama No.23





MDI Entertainment Inc.
Oberthur Gaming Technologies
KEBA AG

Vol. 38 No. 8
Monday February 19, 2007
  • GTECH Corporation’s Software Engineering Organization Earns Prestigious CMMI Level 4 Rating . Full Story
  • INTRALOT Successfully Implements Videolotto in Serbia. Full Story
  • Connecticut Lottery Corporation Announces Intent to Award New Lottery Systems Contract to Scientific Games. Full Story
  • Camelot Builds Global Partnerships To Develop First Ever World Lottery Draw. Full Story
  • Lotteries Go Retro with MDI Licensed Games, The Flintstones™ and The Jetsons™ Tickets Debut. Full Story
  • La Française des Jeux Release 2006 Results. Full Story
  • Tipp24 Earnings for 2006 Higher Than Expected. Full Story
  • New Mexico Lottery Posts Record ‘Scratcher’ Sales. Full Story
  • Pollard Banknote Adds “1 Vs 100” To Portfolio Of Licensed Properties. Full Story
  • Set for Life Snow Day Makes Winners out of Shovelers. Full Story

Smartplay International Inc.

Schafer Systems Inc.
Wincor Nixdorf


GLI

GTECH Corporation’s Software Engineering Organization Earns Prestigious CMMI Level 4 Rating

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, USA (February 12, 2007) -- GTECH Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lottomatica S.p.A., announced that its Software Engineering organization has reached a key milestone in its capabilities by being assessed at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 4.

In the U.S., less than five percent of software organizations are rated CMMI Level 4 or higher, putting GTECH among the best in the country. CMMI is a rigorous way to assess and describe an organization’s software development process, compare it against industry standards, and help the organization refine and improve that process. In recent years, CMMI has gained greater attention as a means to ensure software quality.

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The attainment of CMMI Level 4 is a major achievement for GTECH’s global software organization,” said W. Bruce Turner, GTECH President & CEO and Lottomatica S.p.A. CEO. “As well as being a first for GTECH, it should be noted that less than 320 companies worldwide can claim this achievement.  In an industry where organizational process capability, increasingly measured in terms of CMMI, is becoming a common prerequisite when bidding for contracts, this achievement provides GTECH with a significant competitive advantage.

CMMI Level 4 compliant processes are currently being utilized across GTECH’s global Software Engineering organization, spanning six continents.  Significant sustainable benefits have been realized, such as increased productivity and software quality, leading to reduced time to market and enhanced customer satisfaction.

The SEI ratings are comprised of five maturity levels and are an indication of an organization’s commitment to providing an organized and managed approach to software development. GTECH’s CMMI Level 4 maturity was confirmed through an independent assessment led by the Systems and Software Consortium, Inc. (SSCI), a nonprofit organization of industry, government, and academia focused on helping its members advance the business performance of their systems and software engineering practices.

Established in 1986 at Carnegie Mellon University, the SEI Capability Maturity Model assists many government agencies and private sector organizations in selecting reliable and high quality suppliers of software products and services.

About GTECH
GTECH is a leading gaming technology and services company, providing innovative technology, creative content, and superior service delivery.  Lottomatica is one of the world’s largest commercial lottery operators and a market leader in the Italian gaming industry. GTECH and Lottomatica together create a fully integrated lottery operator and gaming technology solutions provider - a combined company with worldwide scale, considerable financial strength, and industry-leading customer solutions. Lottomatica is majority owned by the De Agostini Group, a century-old publishing, media, and financial services company. Lottomatica is publicly traded on the Italian Stock Exchange (LTO), and in FY 2005, had more than 1.6 billion euros in revenues and 6,000 employees in over 50 countries when combined with GTECH.

CONTACT: Robert K. Vincent, Public Affairs, GTECH Corporation, Phone: 401-392-7452.

SOURCE: GTECH Corporation.


INTRALOT Successfully Implements Videolotto in Serbia

ATHENS, Greece (February 13, 2007) -- YOGOBET, INTRALOT’s subsidiary in Serbia, successfully completed the pilot operation of a Videolotto project in the country. It is estimated that the Videolotto market in Serbia generates approximately € 100 M annually.

During the 2nd semester of 2006, YUGOBET launched the pilot operation of Videolotto games by connecting online more than 30 Points of Sales (POS) via GPRS in all the major urban areas of Serbia. 100 Videolotto terminals have been installed and are directly attached to INTRALOT’s LOTOS central system which ensures their secure, flawless and reliable day-to-day operations.

YUGOBET, by the completion of the pilot phase of this project, is already working on the project’s next step which concerns the official launch of a 3 year Videolotto operation in Serbia. Future emphasis will be put on the expansion of the sales’ network as well as the reinforcement of the existing one, through which the sports betting and Videolotto games are offered to the public.

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Concerning the expansion of activities of INTRALOT in Serbia, which dated back to 1997, the company’s CEO, Mr. Constantinos Antonopoulos, stated: “We believe that this new project in Serbia will contribute significantly to the improvement of the financial position of our subsidiaries in Serbia. In addition, this new project will promote the enrichment of the games offered to the citizens of the country”. 

INTRALOT has already implemented Videolotto projects in Romania, Moldavia and New Zealand.

About INTRALOT (www.intralot.com)
INTRALOT, a public company listed on the ASE, is the second biggest supplier of integrated gaming and transaction processing systems, innovative game content and value added services to state-licensed gaming organizations worldwide. It’s 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. With 39 subsidiaries, 8 business offices, more than 3,600 people and revenues of €700 M (Ε) for 2006, INTRALOT’s footprint straddles five continents.

SOURCE: INTRALOT. For more information please CONTACT: Ms Evi Ioannidou, Communications Director, Phone: +30-210 6156000, Fax: +30-210 6106800, email: ioannidou@intralot.com.


Connecticut Lottery Corporation Announces Intent to Award New Lottery Systems Contract to Scientific Games
Five Year Equipment and Services Pact Valued at $42 Million

NEW BRITAIN, Connecticut and NEW YORK (February 12, 2007) -- The Connecticut Lottery Corporation has announced its intent to award Scientific Games (Nasdaq: SGMS) its lottery systems contract to supply a new range of lottery equipment and management services to the CT Lottery.  The contract begins in May 2008, will have an initial term of five years, and will provide for five one-year extension options. The contract was awarded after a competitive request for proposal process, and is valued at approximately $42 million over its initial term.

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Scientific Games is a leader in the industry and we look forward to the continuation of our relationship with them. The new range of services and equipment they will provide the Lottery will offer significantly more options for producing superior games, increasing service to our customers and, ultimately, generating more record-breaking sales,” said John Paul, Chairman of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation.

Scientific Games will supply the Lottery with new gaming equipment, including a central system, approximately 3,000 terminals with touch-screen technology, 3,000 customer display units and 3,000 in-store customer ticket checkers for the Lottery’s retailer network. Additionally, Scientific Games will install and maintain a state-of-the-art satellite-based communications network.

Scientific Games holds the current contract, which went into effect in May 1998. Terms of the new contract will significantly enhance Scientific Games capacity to support the CT Lottery.

The CT Lottery has been a valued systems customer of Scientific Games since 1998, and previously as Autotote since 1993. One of our highest priorities is the retention of longtime customers. We also look forward to continuing to grow revenues that help fund important state programs,” said Lorne Weil, Chairman and CEO of Scientific Games.

The CT Lottery produced record sales of $970.3 million in fiscal 2006, of which nearly a third, more than $284.8 million, went into the State’s general fund to support services and programs including education, public health, human resources, public safety and more, which benefit the people of the State.

Scientific Games has managed the current contract very effectively and we anticipate even greater success as SG integrates new state-of-the-art equipment with upgraded software,” said James Vance, President and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation.”

About Connecticut Lottery Corporation
The Connecticut Lottery became the Connecticut Lottery Corporation on July 1, 1996, marking the first time a state lottery transitioned from a state agency to a quasi-public corporation. At 35 years old, the CT Lottery is the fourth oldest lottery in the United States. Since its inception in February 1972, the CT Lottery has generated total sales in excess of $16.4 billion, awarded nearly $9.5 billion in prizes to its players, and has transferred more than $6.0 billion to the General Fund. Appropriated by the Legislature, Connecticut’s General Fund is used to fund a wide range of state services for Connecticut residents, ranging from the maintenance of roads to health and hospitals, education and public safety. For more information about the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, please visit http://www.ctlottery.org.
Company Contact: Diane Patterson, Connecticut Lottery Corporation, 860-348-4126.

About Scientific Games
Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated supplier of instant tickets, systems and services to lotteries, a leading supplier of fixed odds betting terminals and systems, interactive sports betting terminals and systems, and wagering systems and services to pari-mutuel operators. It is also a licensed pari-mutuel gaming operator in Connecticut, Maine 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.
Company Contact: Investor Relations, Scientific Games Corporation, 212-754-2233.

SOURCE: Scientific Games.


Camelot Builds Global Partnerships To Develop First Ever World Lottery Draw

LONDON, United Kingdom (February 9, 2007) -- National Lottery operator Camelot is readying plans for a new World Lottery Draw involving some of the biggest and most established state and national lotteries from around the globe – in a move designed to create more millionaires than ever before and raise even more for UK Good Causes.

The World Lottery Draw is just one of a host of groundbreaking games and innovations which Camelot has unveiled as part of its bid for the third National Lottery licence, which was submitted to the National Lottery Commission this morning.

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The draw is expected to involve scores of lotteries from around the globe, from the Americas in the west, to Australasia in the east – as well as a host of lotteries from across Europe. Camelot has already received expressions of interest from lotteries in 48 states and countries around the world – and is in ongoing negotiations with individual and multi-jurisdiction lotteries.

The exact mechanism for the new draw has yet to be agreed by all the partners, but Camelot’s plans are for a monthly game creating a ‘shower of winners’ – up to 100 millionaires worldwide for every draw, building excitement and a sense of occasion.

Camelot is also proposing to develop the game mechanic so that the monthly draws build up into a much bigger multi-million pound once-a-year-prize, drawn at the time of a key holiday season or event, to help drive sales and greater returns to the Good Causes.

It is expected that the individual numbers will be drawn separately from six or seven different global locations – and broadcast in a global TV spectacular, as well as being streamed online.

Camelot met with potential partners in November 2006 at the World Lottery Association Conference in Singapore, and will be meeting with those parties again later this year.

Camelot was one of the original founding partners behind the multi-jurisdiction EuroMillions lottery game, originally proposed as part of its bid for the second lottery licence in 2000. Should the bid be successful, Camelot will use its expertise of rolling out a multi-country game across different time zones, currencies and legal systems to deliver the world game. Camelot launched EuroMillions in February 2004 with partners in France and Spain. Eight months later, six new member countries were welcomed into the EuroMillions fold – Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria and Portugal – making it the biggest lottery game in the world to date.

EuroMillions also boasts the biggest jackpot in European lottery history – after reaching the equivalent of a massive £125 million on Friday 3 February 2006. This roll series produced more than three million prize winners in the UK alone. Like that draw, it is proposed that the new World Lottery Draw will be played in local currencies, with all money raised from UK ticket sales distributed to the existing UK Good Causes.

Dianne Thompson, Camelot Chief Executive, said: “Our Bid Team has thought very radically about the future of the lottery and has delivered an innovative and exciting bid which I believe will really capture the playing public’s imagination – and delivers for the Good Causes.

If we win the bid, we’re looking forward to working in close partnership with other world-class lottery operators from around the globe to develop what we believe will be the first world lottery draw.”

Camelot’s bid to operate The National Lottery® was submitted to the National Lottery Commission this morning (9th February 2007). The preferred bidder is due to be announced in summer 2007, and the new licence will commence in February 2009. Camelot began work on its bid in January 2005, and created a dedicated bid team to work on the third licence while the rest of the company continued with the vital work of raising money for UK Good Causes.

For further information, please contact Ben Rosier, Head of Media Relations Robert Byrne and Miranda Pugh, Media Relations Managers Camelot Press Office: 020 7632 5711

SOURCE: Camelot press release.


Lotteries Go Retro with MDI Licensed Games, The Flintstones™ and The Jetsons™ Tickets Debut

ALPHARETTA, Georgia, USA (February 8, 2007) -- Looking to capitalize on the appeal of nostalgic themes, lotteries are taking the unique step in offering and marketing retro instant games with cross-generational appeal.

Nostalgic-themed games have consistently performed well,” said Steve Saferin, president of MDI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games (NASDAQ: SGMS). “It’s an important category for instant game line ups and they traditionally stand out among other games. Now that we’re passed the holidays, nostalgic-themed games make a nice bridge to summer games and promotions.

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The Oregon Lottery launched, and is collectively advertising, three licensed instant games -- Be My Boop, featuring the famous Betty Boop, The Jetsons, and Space Invaders – with the tagline “Travel Back Scratch-Its.” The $1, $2 and $3 games respectively all launched in January and are all MDI licensed properties. Oregon is the first lottery to launch a Jetsons game.

The Lottery is using television, radio, outdoor, POP and direct mail couponing to support its Travel Back Scratch-Its theme.  “By launching three nostalgic-themed games at the same time, we felt we could build a comprehensive campaign behind it,” said Carole Hardy, assistant director, marketing. “The direct mail coupon offer is, buy all three tickets and get Betty Boop for free, i.e. a $6 ticket purchase for $5. We are anxious to see the result of this new approach.

In Illinois, the Lottery launched a new Flintstones instant ticket, also the first of its kind. The new game has a $2 price point and features six different scenes with The Flintstones characters Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty, Pebbles, Bam Bam and Dino.

The Flintstones is one of the most popular animated series of all time,” said Michele Eichhorn, instant ticket manager, Illinois Lottery. “For generations, we’ve all enjoyed the Flintstones and still do. We chose this ticket because of its mass appeal.

In March, the Hoosier Lottery is launching its version of The Jetsons instant game. The $2 game will feature five colorful scenes of George, Judy, Jane, Elroy, their dog Astro and the robot maid Rosie.

About Scientific Games
Scientific Games Corporation (www.scientificgames.com) 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. MDI Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation, is the worldwide leader in licensed lottery games and promotions.

SOURCE: MDI. CONTACT: Jeff Schweig, Phone: 678-297-5212.


La Française des Jeux Release 2006 Results: A Growth Driven By Euro Millions

FRANCE (February 10, 2007) -- La Française des Jeux closed its 2006 financial year with sales of EUR 9.5 billion, representing an increase of 6.1% year on year.

This growth has been mainly driven by Euro Millions which accounts for 80% of total company’s growth. With sales of EUR 1.3 billion and boosted by 2 major rolling jackpots, Euro Millions allowed 119 French people to win prizes ranging from EUR 131,000 to EUR 61 million.

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Sports betting games posted sales of EUR 387 million compared to EUR 283 million in 2005 explained by the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the success of Cote & Match (since its introduction in 2002) as well as the increase of the number of single bets events (Cote & Match generated revenues of EUR 249 million).

Sales through Internet (Loto, Euro Millions, instant games and sports betting) also continue to develop and achieved EUR 106 million, which accounts for 1.1% of the company’s overall turnover (compared to 0.8% in 2005).

Rapido game has seen a slowdown in its development with a limited sales increase of 3.1% and a decrease of its share in total sales.

Scratch games sales showed a downturn (-2.6%) due to less extensive sales activity with few games launches.

In 2006, La Française des Jeux kept enforcing its mission of public order, developing a responsible gaming action plan.

SOURCE: La Française des Jeux.
CONTACT: Antonia Dadoun, La Française des Jeux, Studies & International Relations, Phone: Tel: 33 1 41 10 35 44.


Tipp24 Earnings for 2006 Higher Than Expected
EBIT increased to € 7.2 million (previous year: € 6.0 million)
Number of customers registered considerably larger than planned at about 1.8 (1.3) million
Share buyback programme agreed

HAMBURG, Germany (February 12, 2007) -- Tipp24 continues growth path in the 2006 fiscal year and exceeds expected earnings.

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The company increased the number of its customers considerably to about 1.8 million (previous year: 1.3 million) in the 2006 fiscal year. The billings - – essentially lottery tickets that are sold – climbed to EUR 264.2 (204.7) million, growth of 29.1 per cent. The revenue by Tipp24 of EUR 34.6 (26.1) million was up 32.6 per cent, which was within the forecast growth range.

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) improved by 20.0 per cent to EUR 7.2 (6.0) million. Group earnings increased far more – more than doubling to EUR 7.5 (3.3) million, an increase of 127.3 per cent. Tipp24‘s Group earnings were higher than expected as a result.

Dr Hans Cornehl, Chief Financial Officer of Tipp 24: “We consider the continued dynamic growth of our company in a difficult regulatory environment to be a complete success. Particularly in view of the fact that there were special negative effects in 2006: higher marketing expenses in connection with the record jackpot, costs of lobbying activities and the elimination of ExtraLotto."

Share buyback programme
The price of the Tipp24 AG share does not reflect the positive development of the company’s business in the past business year. Great ongoing uncertainty about the legal situation with regard to private Internet providers of state lottery products is the reason for this. “The market is making a maximum risk discount in the case of Tipp24 and is not taking into account the fact that a growing proportion of sales is being generated outside Germany and that the company has growth potential there. We have therefore decided to implement a share buyback programme for up to five per cent of the Tipp24 shares“, says Jens Schumann, one of the founders and management board members of Tipp24AG.
Tipp24 plans to acquire a total of up to 443,615 of its own shares in the context of this programme. The shares are to be used primarily as acquisition currency. In addition to this, all or some of the shares can be withdrawn instead.

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The planned share buyback programme starts on 19. February and ends on 30. September 2007. The company will be publishing further details about this programme in good time on the Tipp24 AG website (www.tipp24.de).

About Tipp24 AG (www.tipp24-ag.de)
Tipp24 was established in 1999 and is now the market leader for lottery products in the Internet on the basis of billings. The company has succeeded in achieving impressive growth rates right from the start. Almost all state lottery products are supplied. It only takes a few mouse clicks to buy a lottery ticket – round the clock, quickly and anonymously. The ticket receipt is kept safely, winners are notified about their prizes automatically by text message and e-mail and prizes are credited automatically. No extra charge is made for this service. Subsidiaries of Tipp24 (www.tipp24.de) are Ventura24 in Spain (www.ventura24.es) and Puntogioco24 (www.puntogioco24.it) in Italy.

Fiscal Year   2006 2005 Change
Billings € million 264.2 204.7 + 29.1%
Revenue € million 34.6 26.1 + 32.6%
EBIT € million 7.2 6.0 + 20.0%
Group earnings € million 7.5 3.3 + 127.3%
Registered customers at the end of the fiscal year in thsd. 1,770 1,322 + 33.9%

CONTACT: Andrea Fratini, Phone: +49 (040) 32 55 33 – 660, Fax: +49 (040) 32 55 33 – 77, Email: presse@tipp24.de


New Mexico Lottery Posts Record ‘Scratcher’ Sales
All Net Revenues Support Lottery Success Scholarships

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, USA (February 13, 2007) --The New Mexico Lottery announced today that it sold a record number of instant “Scratcher” tickets in the week ending Feb. 10.  Sales totaled $2.1 million, beating an earlier instant ticket sales record of $2.06 million set only seven days earlier.

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All net revenues from the sale of Lottery games benefit the Lottery Success Scholarship program, which provides tuition assistance for New Mexico residents attending the state’s public colleges and universities.

To help advance its mission to maximize revenue for the Lottery Success Scholarship fund, CEO Tom Romero said the Lottery introduced a greater array of Scratcher games as a strategy to minimize the impact of lower Powerball sales.  As a result, gross sales for instant tickets are up $3.3 million from this time last year.  

The mix of games we offer today is more attractive to a broader range of players,” Romero said, adding that the Lottery always considers the necessity to promote responsible gaming as it evaluates new marketing programs.  “We’ve launched games that are nostalgic, related to popular pastime activities and linked to pop culture.” 

Current game titles include “Special Edition Crossword,“$10,000 Betty Boop™,” “Magic 8 Ball™” and “Deal or No Deal™”  Details about Scratcher games are available at www.nmlottery.com.

Consumers have many choices in how they spend their entertainment dollars and we appreciate their support of Lottery games and, more importantly, the Lottery Success Scholarship program,” Romero said.

To further support the more diverse product line-up, Romero said the Lottery staff identified new opportunities to enhance communication and coordination across product development, marketing, sales, MIS, accounting, security and distribution to in turn increase support to the vital network of 1,100 retailers.

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Romero said recent sales were further lifted by the break from unseasonably harsh weather, stable gasoline prices and the Valentine’s Day gift-giving season.

Prior to the sales achievements reached in the last two consecutive weeks, the Lottery’s highest gross for instant ticket sales was $2.04 million from May 2005.  The Lottery introduced instant tickets in April 1996.  Today, instant Scratcher tickets − which reveal any resulting prize immediately to players − represent 60 percent of all Lottery sales.

In January, the Lottery announced that it has surpassed the $300 million mark in money raised for public education in New Mexico.  More than 43,000 students have received Lottery Success Scholarships in the last decade.  Information about Lottery Success Scholarships is available at www.nmlottery.com/scholarships.htm.

SOURCE: New Mexico Lottery. CONTACT: Lottery Communications Office, (505) 342-7616, (800) 642-6689, ext. 7616, Email: media@nmlottery.com.


Pollard Banknote Adds “1 Vs 100” To Portfolio Of Licensed Properties

WINNIPEG, Canada (February 13, 2007) -- Pollard Banknote Limited Partnership (“Pollard Banknote”) has acquired the rights to “1 vs 100”, the international hit game show on NBC.

From the producers of “Deal or No Deal”, “1 vs 100” is a showdown in which one contestant faces a mob of 100 for a chance to win up to $1 million.

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Hosted by Bob Saget, the show has delivered the network’s highest rating in the Friday night 9 p.m. time slot since 2002. The debut of the North American version of the show drew 12.6 million viewers and was the night’s number one show in the 18-49 demographic, total viewers and other key ratings categories.

In a very short time, ‘1 vs 100’ has resonated with North American audiences,” said Sina Aiello, Director, Licensed Products, Pollard Banknote. “The show’s popularity in the 18-49 player demographic makes this an ideal brand for lotteries to add to their instant ticket line up. ‘1 vs 100’ is fresh, unique and offers a big cash prize, all elements that can be incorporated into an instant game.

To date, the worldwide success of “1 vs 100”—developed by the production company Endemol International—has been overwhelming. “1 vs 100” is an international hit in Argentina, Belgium, Holland (where it originated), Germany, Portugal, Sweden and was recently sold to BBC in the United Kingdom to air in primetime.

Pollard Banknote offers a turnkey solution for licensed games, including ticket design and manufacturing, prize structure consultation, merchandise selection and fulfillment, publicity and promotional opportunities, and second chance draw process management (including all customer service, Internet marketing, and post-game analysis).

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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.

About Endemol USA
Endemol USA is a leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television. The company produces the break-out hits “Deal or No Deal”, “1 vs 100”, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”, “Fear Factor” and “Big Brother”. Endemol USA also produces extensive content and editorial services to support online and wireless platforms.
Endemol USA is a division of Endemol B.V., a prominent international content developer, producer and distributor of television and online programming. The company, headquartered in the Netherlands, now has subsidiaries and joint ventures in 24 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as in Latin America, South Africa and Australia. Endemol is a publicly traded company on Eurolist by Euronext Amsterdam. For more information, please visit www.endemol.com.

For more information CONTACT: Gordon Pollard (gpollard@pbl.ca) or John Pollard (jpollard@pbl.ca) Co-Chief Executive Officers, Phone: (204) 474-2323.


Set for Life Snow Day Makes Winners out of Shovelers

MONCTON, New Brunswick, Canada (February 14, 2007) -- People shoveled their way to winnings on January 30 as part of a unique launch for the Atlantic Lottery Corporation's new Set for Life product. The event, held in Halifax, N.S., invited the first participants on the scene to compete for 45 prizes hidden under what looked like a giant Scratch 'n Win ticket made of snow. Participants were given a time limit to uncover these prize vouchers. Approximately $2,400 was given away instantly.

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As Alison Stultz, Manager, Product Development & Launch with the Atlantic Lottery Corporation explains: "This kind of event has never been done in this region before and we felt it really reflected the message behind the new Set for Life game - All new.

This edition of Set for Life has four top prizes of $1,000 per week for 25 years remaining to be won. "Twenty Atlantic Canadians have taken home the top prize since the game launched in 2001 and we look forward to meeting our next winners," added Stultz.

Ryan Leardgrosvenor was the top winner at the event, collecting $1,070. All participants also received the new Set for Life ticket. Onlookers were treated to hot chocolate to help them stay warm.

There was limited pre-event promotion, with radio stations announcing the event only one hour in advance. Passersby were also invited to the event. "We wanted this to be spur-of-the-moment to demonstrate how fast you can win," Stultz said.

For further information: Robert Bourgeois, 1-800-561-3942

SOURCE: Atlantic Lottery Corporation.



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