| Lottery Recognized For Financial Reporting
OKLAHOMA, USA (August 22, 2007) --
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada
(GFOA) recently awarded the Oklahoma Lottery
Commission with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial
Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report.
The Certificate of
Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental
accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant
accomplishment for the Oklahoma Lottery and its management.
“Our staff members are to be commended for
their excellent work and commitment to our organization,” said
Jim Scroggins, executive director of
the Oklahoma Lottery Commission. “It is staff dedication like
this that makes an organization successful.”
The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving
approximately 16,000 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago,
IL, and Washington, D.C. Net proceeds of all Lottery
games are used to support improvements and enhancements for Oklahoma
education. More than $139 million has been contributed to education since
November 2005. For more information about The
Oklahoma Lottery, please visit www.lottery.ok.gov.
SOURCE: Oklahoma Lottery. Hong Kong Jockey Club Granted Nevada Gaming
Commission Approval LAS VEGAS,
Nevada, USA (August 24, 2007) -- In a historic decision, the Nevada Gaming
Commission has given its approval to allow the
Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) to accept
commingled bets from the United States on Hong Kong racing. The approval
process is the first major step in distributing HKJC’s world-class racing
product to the US marketplace.The decision validates the strategic partnership
between the HKJC and Nevada-based Las Vegas Dissemination Company (LVDC) to
provide live simulcast, pari-mutuel wagering, and commingled pools of all HKJC
races into the U.S. For the first time, a wager placed within the U.S. will be
commingled directly into the HKJC pools, which are the largest commingled pools
on horse racing in the world.
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“We thank the
Nevada Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission for their approval to import
Hong Kong’s world-class racing product,” said Winfried
Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the HKJC. “We have a
mission as the Hong Kong Jockey Club to be a world leader in racing and sports
betting entertainment businesses and with globalization we see the importance
regarding our brand image. Any ventures into overseas markets must be done in
the right way, consistent with our commitment for best practices. It is our
view there is no better place in the world with respect to best practices than
the state of Nevada with its worldwide reputation as a premier regulatory
authority in a very competitive gaming environment. We believe that Nevada is
the right entry point for our first overseas commingling venture.”
“It is the biggest news to hit the horse
racing industry in the past 30 years and will be a boost to the sport’s
global popularity. HKJC’s 78 race days in the 2006/07 season generated US
$8.2 billion, which is equivalent to more than 50% of the aggregate total U.S.
racing turnover in 2006. The impact of the Hong Kong races will reverberate
throughout the racing and casino industries and will enhance the way American
race books and race tracks operate their businesses,” said John
Gaughan, President and CEO of LVDC. “This is a
historic moment for fans of horse racing,” said Robert Moretti,
Executive Vice President and COO of LVDC. “The Gaming Commission’s
decision places the prestigious Hong Kong Jockey Club on a world-wide stage in
front of a global audience.” The agreement
endorses LVDC as the exclusive U.S. hub for commingling bets into the pools of
the HKJC. All U.S. wagers will be serviced by LVDC as it disseminates their
races to an expanded market place. “Wagering on HKJC races will now be
available at authorized locations in the U.S. utilizing LVDC as its tote
provider,” Moretti added.
The HKJC was very pleased
with its proposed cooperation with LVDC, given LVDC’s reputable position
in a highly regulated market place. With its non-restricted gaming licenses by
the Nevada Gaming authorities and constant supervision by the Nevada Gaming
Control Board, LVDC operates in one of the most highly respected gaming
jurisdictions worldwide. “According to the HKJC,
LVDC was selected for its market position, Nevada non-restricted gaming
licenses and full-service systems operator for the U.S. horseracing pari-mutuel
industry,” said Moretti. About Hong Kong
Jockey Club The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of
the largest racing organizations in the world. Horse racing is the most popular
spectator sport in Hong Kong and through its subsidiaries, the Club is the only
authorized operator of horse racing. It also operates the Mark Six lottery and
under Government authority offers betting on football matches held outside Hong
Kong. The Club is the largest single taxpayer in Hong Kong - HK$12.64 billion
in 2006/07, or about 8.2% of all taxes collected by the Government’s
Inland Revenue Department. A unique feature of the Club, much admired
worldwide, is its not-for-profit business model whereby its surplus goes to
charity. Over the past decade, the Club has donated an average of one
billion Hong Kong dollars every year to hundreds of charities and community
projects. Today, the Club ranks alongside organizations such as the
Rockefeller Foundation as one of the biggest charity benefactors in the world.
The Club is one of the largest employers in Hong Kong, with 4,400 full-time and
20,000 part-time staff. For more information, visit
http://www.hkjc.com.
About Las Vegas Dissemination Company
Las Vegas Dissemination Company (LVDC) is the industry
leader for pari-mutuel wagering and racetrack simulcasting. As the racing
industry’s only full-service, race information and off-track-betting hub
facility, LVDC is the exclusive pari-mutuel service provider for Nevada’s
gaming industry and major, out-of-state casinos. In
all, the company provides common-pooling through its hub into nearly 100
racetracks throughout North America. LVDC’s key market advantage is that
it is Nevada’s only licensed systems operator for pari-mutuel wagering. To
that end, the company holds three non-restricted Nevada gaming licenses as a
disseminator, live broadcast disseminator, and pari-mutuel systems operator.
LVDC operates under the regulatory oversight of the Nevada Gaming Control Board
and Nevada Gaming Commission (which regulate all the casinos in Las Vegas and
throughout the state of Nevada). For more information, visit
http://www.lvdc.com.
CONTACTS: LVDC: Kurt Ouchida (702) 300-5756, Francine
Mazzella (702) 739-8781. SOURCE: Hong Kong Jockey
Club. INTRALOT: Rapid Expansion of International
Operations – €378.8 Million Turnover in 1H07
ATHENS, Greece (August 29, 2007) --
INTRALOT SA today announces its financial
results for the six-month period ending June 30th, 2007, prepared in accordance
with IFRS.
Consolidated Revenues for
the period reached €378.8m, posting a 0.8% decrease compared to 1H06.
EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) decreased
by 1.7% to €120.6m, compared to the same period last year. Earnings Before
Taxes (EBT) recorded a decrease of 9.1% y-o-y by reaching €103.7m compared
to €114.1m in 1H06. Earnings After Taxes and after minorities (EAT-am)
increased by 4.3% y-o-y to €57.6m from €55.2m in 1H06.
Total International Revenues for the INTRALOT Group
amounted to €317.1m, or 83.7% of total Group sales, compared to 73% in
1H06. The cash balance reached €345.8m in 1H07,
while the net debt position is low and reaches €12.8m. The decrease of the
company’s net cash position is a result of the financing required for all
the major projects that the company has been undertaking recently.
Revenues for the parent company were €102.5m,
compared to €106.7m in 1H06. Earnings Before Taxes (EBT) were €85.4m,
compared to €62.6m, posting a 36.4% y-o-y increase. Earnings After Taxes
(EAT) reached €74.9m in 1H07, posting a 65.3% y-o-y increase (1H06:
€45.3m). Commenting on 1H07 results
INTRALOT’s CEO, Mr, Constantinos
Antonopoulos, noted: “INTRALOT’s management is very pleased
since the Group delivered robust financial results in 1H07. The semester’s
net earnings have increased, despite the fact that this period’s betting
operations globally had to be compared with the sound results of 2Q06 after the
football World Cup, which took place in June 2006."
"This semester, the
Company has continued to expand its international operations significantly and
to add major contracts in its portfolio. Specifically, in addition to the
recent agreements in Taiwan and South Africa, INTRALOT succeeded to win
contracts with the license holders of the All-Russian State Lottery and South
Korea’s National Lottery. The above lotteries were the 4 largest projects
that were tendered the past 2.5 years in the global gaming sector. The fact
that INTRALOT has managed to win all of them is indicative of the
Company’s competitiveness and strength in the industry. Moreover, the
Company signed a 3-year agreement with OPAP for the provision of support
services and infrastructure for the “Pame Stihima” betting
game." "Finally, INTRALOT won its 4th contract
in the US with the New Mexico Lottery, strengthening further its presence in
this highly demanding and lucrative market." "The above developments together with other major projects
under way, will fuel INTRALOT’s continuous global expansion and
demonstrate the Company’s ability to take advantage of the significant
upcoming opportunities in the gaming sector internationally.”
About INTRALOT (www.intralot.com) INTRALOT, a public listed company, is the leading supplier of
integrated gaming and transaction processing systems, innovative game content
and sports betting management, to state-licensed gaming organizations
worldwide. It’s broad portfolio of products & services, its know-how
of Lottery, Betting & Video Lottery operations and its leading-edge
technology, give INTRALOT a competitive advantage which contributes directly to
customers’ efficiency, profitability and growth. With presence in over
than 40 countries, with more than 3,600 people and revenues of €791,4 m.
for 2006, INTRALOT has established its presence in all 5 continents.
For more information please CONTACT: Ms Evi Ioannidou,
INTRALOT Communications Director, Phone: +30-210 6156000, Fax: +30-210 6106800,
email: ioannidou@intralot.com.
Pollard Banknote Awarded Instant Ticket Contract
By Connecticut Lottery
WINNIPEG, Canada (August
29, 2007) -- Pollard Banknote has been
awarded a new contract by the Connecticut
Lottery Corporation (Connecticut Lottery) to provide instant tickets and
related marketing services. The contract, which follows a competitive
procurement, has an initial term of three years. Two additional one-year
extensions are at the Lottery’s option. “Pollard Banknote has supplied the Connecticut
Lottery since 2002, and we value this endorsement to keep bringing forward the
compelling instant games and the marketing services that are helping the
Lottery build its business,” said Gordon Pollard, Co-Chief Executive
Officer. Over the past five years Pollard Banknote
has produced a diverse range of instant products for the Connecticut Lottery,
including games at higher price points, as well as games incorporating special
features such as pouching, foil stock, embossing, and extended play
formats. About Pollard Banknote Limited
Partnership Pollard Banknote Limited Partnership
(“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.
SOURCE: Pollard Banknote (www.pollardbanknote.com). FOR MORE
INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon Pollard (gpollard@pbl.ca) or John Pollard (jpollard@pbl.ca) Co-Chief Executive Officers,
Phone: (204) 474-2323. Are You a Lottery
Winner? Listen for the New Winning Jingle!
RICHMOND, British Columbia, Canada (August 28, 2007) -
British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC)
has launched a fresh, new, modern-sounding winning jingle. Listen for the new
tune at lottery retail locations across B.C. to find out if you are a
winner.
"This is one of many
steps we are taking to improve and secure the lottery playing experience,"
said Dana Hayden, BCLC President and
CEO. "The winning jingle is a fun way for the lottery system to let you know
your ticket is a winner." If you are lucky enough
to have a winning ticket and hear the winning jingle (now set at the loudest
volume), watch the customer display monitor, which displays the prize amount
and word "winner" while animated dollar signs fly across the screen.
The new jingle is an initiative of the Player First
program, BCLC's commitment to a higher standard in player service and
protection. On September 12, 2007, BCLC will publicly report its progress in
implementing Player First. 
Click Here to
listen to the NEW Winning Jingle!
Click Here to
listen to the OLD Winning Jingle! BCLC is a
provincial Crown Corporation reporting to the Minister of Public Safety and
Solicitor General through a Board of Directors. Its mission is to provide
high-quality gaming entertainment in a socially responsible manner for the
benefit of British Columbians. For more information,
please
CONTACT: British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Owen Gormley,
Corporate Communications Officer, (604) 247-3013 or Cell: (604) 220-2915,
Email: ogormley@bclc.com
Lottery
Advertising Contract Awarded to Cactus Marketing
Communications DENVER, Colorado,
USA (August 21, 2007) -- On the verge of its 25th anniversary, the
Colorado Lottery is announcing a new
partnership with one of the fastest growing, premier advertising agencies in
Colorado. Awarded a three-year contract, Cactus Marketing Communications will
officially begin on September 1. The contract was
awarded after a state bid process that narrowed the field to three companies,
who were invited to make presentations on their successes, philosophy and new
ideas for the Lottery.
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“Cactus
representatives really impressed our review committee with their enthusiasm,
creativity and dedication to their clients,” said
Peggy Gordon, director of the Lottery.
“We’re looking forward to establishing and strengthening our
partnership because their expertise is integral to our success.”
The agency will handle the Lottery’s $8.8 million
annual advertising budget that includes advertising creation, media buys, Web
site management, research coordination and special event planning. The Lottery,
by statute, is an enterprise fund, which means it does not receive tax money
and is self-supporting. The state Legislature approves the Lottery budget each
year as part of the State Budget Bill. In fiscal year 2007, Lottery sales
totaled $455.9 million. Cactus will be the second
advertising agency since the Lottery opened its doors in 1983. Cactus has
clients in fields that include healthcare, public health, retail, financial
services, packaged goods and high technology. Cactus
is led by Joe Conrad, founder and strategic director, and Norm Shearer,
creative director. With two dozen employees, the agency was founded in 1990 on
the philosophy that ideas grow brands. This remains the core value of the
agency’s culture. SOURCE: Colorado Lottery.
Florida Lottery Hires Product Development
Specialist TALLAHASSEE, Florida,
USA (August 28, 2007) - The Florida
Lottery today announced the hiring of Product Development Specialist Justin
Mysock. Mysock began his new role on July 30. He previously worked
for Scientific Games International, where
he served as the company’s game coordinator working on the
Missouri, Washington D.C. and
Tennessee lottery accounts.
“Justin is a great
addition to our team,” said Florida Lottery Secretary
Leo DiBenigno. “His
talent has already been put to use, and his experience has allowed him to jump
in with both feet to help us drive sales higher than ever before.”
As product development specialist, Mysock is charged with
developing the Florida Lottery’s Scratch-Off games and their prize
structures. His duties also include deciding on the graphics of the
Scratch-Off tickets and creating promotions for the new games when they
launch. Mysock is a graduate of the University
of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, with a double major in marketing
and management, and a minor in psychology. Mysock began his career by
interning with the South Carolina Education
Lottery while in college. After he graduated, the South Carolina
Education Lottery offered him a full time position as product development
specialist. Since 1988, the Florida Lottery has
contributed more than $17 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund,
benefiting our students and schools, as well as funding more than 850,000
Bright Futures scholarships for more than 300,000 students statewide.
By a two-to-one margin, Florida voters in 1986
approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to operate a lottery
for the purpose of generating significant additional moneys for education.
SOURCE: The Florida Lottery (www.flalottery.com).
CONTACT:
jacqueline barreiros, (850) 487-7727. Baltimore Attorney
Stanley Fine Named Chairman BALTIMORE, Maryland, USA (August 29, 2007) – On August
22, 2007, Stanley Fine was unanimously elected Chairman of the Maryland State
Lottery Commission. The Lottery Commission serves as
an advisory board to the Lottery Agency. Mr. Fine succeeds E. Randolph
Marriner as Chairman.
“I am honored to
serve as Chairman and look forward to working with Commission members and
Lottery Agency staff to continue the excellent reputation and performance by
the Lottery,” Mr. Fine said. Mr. Fine was involved in the start
up of the Maryland Lottery in 1973, first
serving as Chief Deputy Director in 1973 and from 1974-1978 as Director of the
Lottery. A partner at the Baltimore law firm of
Rosenberg | Martin | Greenberg, LLP, Mr. Fine was appointed to the Lottery
Commission by Governor Martin O’Malley and has been a member of the
Commission since April, 2007. He is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins
University and the University of Maryland Law School. In addition, Mr. Fine has more than a decade of experience
consulting within the lottery industry. “We welcome Mr. Fine into
this new role,” said Governor O’Malley. “His wealth of experience in the lottery industry
– specifically as it relates to the Maryland Lottery – will be
tremendously beneficial.” For more
information on the Lottery Commission, log on to
www.mdlottery.com
SOURCE: Maryland Lottery. For Information,
CONTACT:
Carole Everett, 410-230-8800.
International
Lottery & Totalizator Systems Receives Order for Additional Terminals From
Sports Toto Malaysia VISTA,
California, USA (August 27, 2007) -- International Lottery & Totalizator Systems,
Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ITSI) announced today that the Company has
received an order valued at approximately US$ 2.4 million (two million and four
hundred thousand dollars) from Sports Toto
Malaysia for Intelimark FLX lottery terminals and associated services.
Sports Toto Malaysia is the sole national lotto operator in Malaysia. Delivery
of the terminals will begin in November 2007. “Sports Toto has been operating the ILTS advanced
DataTrak gaming system since 2002 and we are pleased with their continued
confidence in our products and services,” said ILTS President Jeff
Johnson. “This current order will bring the total number of terminals in
their nationwide network to more than 3,000.” International Lottery & Totalizator Systems, Inc.
provides computerized wagering systems, equipment and services to lottery and
racing organizations worldwide. ILTS can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.ilts.com.
SOURCE: International Lottery & Totalizator Systems,
Inc. Higher Education Benefits from Lottery Programs
Higher Education
Students Begin Academic Year with Help from Education Lottery
Appropriations
COLUMBIA, SC (August 30, 2007) –
Students in higher education are starting their academic year with the help of
revenues from the South Carolina Education
Lottery (SCEL.) These funds provide students with the resources, programs
and tuition assistance necessary for successful learning. Since the start of
the Lottery on January 7, 2002, the South Carolina Legislature has appropriated
more than $1.73 billion to expand educational opportunities through fiscal year
2007-08.
As of July 16, 2007, more than $1 billion has
been appropriated to Higher Education by the Legislature from the Education
Lottery Account, including $180 million towards the Endowed Chairs Program.
This matching-funds program creates Research Centers of Economic Excellence
attracting world-class scientists or "endowed chairs" to the state's three
research universities: Clemson University, the Medical University of South
Carolina, and the University of South Carolina.
“At USC in Columbia,
about 98% of eligible freshmen are entering college with a lottery-funded
scholarship which enables them to focus on their studies without having to
worry about tuition payment, room and board,” said Dr. Scott Verzyl,
undergraduate admissions director at USC’s Columbia Campus. “Since
the beginning of the lottery-funded scholarships, we have experienced increased
participation in undergraduate research programs, extracurricular activities
and studying abroad. These programs enable our graduating students to be an
asset to our economy.”
Dr. Verzyl said lottery-funded scholarships help
allow students to consider education beyond the four-year degree.
“Additionally, more of our undergraduate students are indicating they are
interested in pursuing a graduate degree. The lottery-funded scholarships help
make this possible because they are less likely to go into debt and take out
student loans for their undergraduate education.
Students attending technical and two-year
colleges also benefit from lottery appropriations. “The lottery-funded
scholarship has allowed me to go to college and put 100% of my concentration on
classes without having to work part-time,” said Audrey Kennedy, a nursing
student at Midlands Technical College. “It gives me extra time to go to
open labs and ask for help from my professors. I can get any extra help that I
need at school, and my GPA shows it.
The SCEL markets fun and entertaining
games in a responsible manner. The funds are appropriated by the General
Assembly to supplement educational programs. Since start up, more than $1.73
billion in lottery proceeds has been appropriated towards educational programs
including K-12 programs, the Endowed Chairs Program at South Carolina’s
three research universities, and higher education scholarships. Learn more
about how education is winning by visiting www.sceducationlottery.com —
Where Education Wins!
SOURCE: SCEL Press Release 
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