| Lottomatica’s GTECH Subsidiary Expects to
Complete Acquisition of 50 Percent of Atronic from Gauselmann Group on January
31, 2008 GTECH to Acquire
Remaining 50 Percent Interest in Atronic By December 31, 2008
Total Enterprise Value of Approximately euro 172
Million, Including Debt ROME, and PROVIDENCE,
Rhode Island (January 22, 2008) -- Lottomatica S.p.A.’s (Pink Sheets:
LTTOY) wholly-owned subsidiary, GTECH
Corporation, announced that all closing conditions to acquire a 50 percent
controlling interest in the Atronic group of companies owned by privately-held
Gauselmann Group are expected to be satisfied by January 31, 2008, and expects
to complete the acquisition of such interest on that date. GTECH will pay euro
20 million for the 50 percent equity stake. GTECH also
announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the remaining 50 percent
of Atronic for euro 32 million. The transaction is subject to routine
regulatory reviews and approval prior to closing which is anticipated to be
during 2008.
The Company expects to fund
the cash portion of the transaction from existing cash balances. The overall
transaction is expected to have a total value of approximately euro 172
million, which includes approximately euro 120 million of debt.
“With the acquisition of Atronic, GTECH will
become one of the top five suppliers to the worldwide machine gaming
market,” said Lottomatica Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Pellicioli.
“The addition of Atronic to GTECH’s Gaming Solutions division,
which includes Spielo, a leader in the government- sponsored gaming market,
will create an organization of considerable scale that will have the content,
products, and services to successfully compete in the commercial gaming, as
well as, the government-sponsored market sectors. From Lottomatica’s
perspective, the decision to acquire all of Atronic is a clear indication of
our commitment to support and invest in GTECH’s strategic- growth
plan.” “Atronic’s seasoned
management team will add international experience and depth to GTECH’s
core gaming expertise,” said Gauselmann Group Co-Chairman and CEO
Michael Gauselmann. “Combining the GTECH global footprint with
Atronic’s worldwide distribution capabilities, local gaming licenses,
linked and wide- area progressive solutions, and successful licensed brands,
allows the combined entities to compete more effectively in the venue and
distributed markets.” GTECH President and CEO
Jaymin B. Patel added, “We have completed a detailed integration plan
for implementation after the close. Once we get underway, we expect the
integration to be completed quickly. I have asked Atronic CEO Gerhard Burda to
lead the integration effort. He will continue as Atronic CEO and has accepted
the position of Senior Vice President for GTECH’s Gaming Solutions. He
will form a leadership team that will include Victor Duarte, Spielo COO, who
has very capably led the GTECH Gaming Solutions division during this transition
period.”
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Atronic is a market leader
in Europe, Russia, and Latin America, with a solid presence in the U.S. and
growing footprints in Africa and Asia. In calendar 2006, Atronic had total
revenues in excess of euro 152 million. The company, which will continue to
maintain its established worldwide brand identity, holds a total of 230
worldwide gaming licenses worldwide, including 27 U.S. states and 165 tribes.
Atronic, together with GTECH and Spielo, are licensed to sell products in over
300 gaming markets globally including Nevada. Lottomatica is one of the world’s largest commercial
lottery operators and a market leader in the Italian gaming industry. GTECH is
a leading gaming technology and services company, providing innovative
technology, creative content, and superior service delivery. 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 De Agostini, which belongs to a century-old
publishing, media, and financial services group. Lottomatica is publicly traded
on the Italian Stock Exchange (LTO), and in 2006, had approximately euro 1.7
billion in revenues and 5,900 employees in over 45 countries when combined with
GTECH. For further information: AD HOC Communication
Advisors 02/7606741, Mario Pellegatta—Matteo Cidda 335/1415585
GTECH contact: Robert K. Vincent Public Affairs
1-401-392-7452. SOURCE GTECH Corporation.
CONTACT:
Robert K. Vincent, Public Affairs of GTECH, +1-401-392-7452; or AD HOC
Communication Advisors, 02-7606741, or Mario Pellegatta or Matteo Cidda
335-1415585, all for GTECH.
Ontario Lottery
Tickets Are Singing A Different Tune
More Protection For Customer With New Terminal
Messages And Mandatory Signing TORONTO,
Ontario, Canada (January 21, 2008) -- New measures to protect Ontario Lottery
customers from fraud were announced today by Kelly McDougald, CEO of the
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
(OLG). "We are determined to pay the right
prize to the right customer," said McDougald. "That is why we continue
to build on the many security measures already implemented with mandatory
signing of tickets and new sounds and messages from the lottery terminals that
help ensure no confusion between a customer and a retailer about whether a
ticket is a winner or non-winner." The new
security measures are:
- Beginning on Monday, January 28,
2008 retailers are not allowed to validate a ticket unless the customer has
signed it. A signature box is located on the front of all on-line lottery
tickets such as LOTTO 6/49. With INSTANT tickets, customers should continue to
sign the back of those tickets until a new signature box on the front is
introduced for INSTANT tickets in the coming months.
- Beginning January 22, 2008, new
musical and voice alerts on all lottery terminals will help to instantly inform
Ontario lottery players of the status of their ticket. Every time a ticket is
validated, the lottery terminal now plays a new musical tune and a bilingual
voice message, and displays a corresponding message on the customer-facing
video screen. The tunes and voice messages alert players as to whether a ticket
is a winner; a winner of a major prize of $10,000 or more; a non-winner; or if
the ticket cannot be processed, etc..
NOTE: Broadcast quality audio files and video B-roll
demonstrating the new sounds/messages for a small win (under $10,000), a
non-win and a big-win ticket validation will be available at:
http://cnw.pondeserver.com/story_details.asp?fn=182
2:00 p.m. today. Since January 1, 2008, the Alcohol
and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) assumed its new role as the province's
lottery regulator, and is now responsible for investigating insider and
suspicious lottery wins as well as registering all lottery retailers in
Ontario. Detailed information on OLG's lottery prize
integrity measures is available at www.olg.ca
or by calling OLG toll free at 1-800-387-0098. OLG is
a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming
facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, Casinos, Slots, and Resort Casinos have
generated more than $23 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario.
Gaming proceeds support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and
cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health
care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit
organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation. For further information: Media Contact: OLG Public Affairs,
(705) 946-6716. Florida Lottery
Celebrates 20 Years of Winning More than $18 Billion Contributed to
Education TALLAHASSEE, Florida (January 18,
2008) -- On January 12, 2008, the Florida
Lottery kicked off its 20th anniversary by hosting a series of community
events throughout the state - most taking place at Florida Lottery district
offices. Lottery players were given the opportunity to win great prizes and
receive a free Florida Lottery 20th anniversary t-shirt, as well as a slice of
birthday cake.
Since inception, the
Florida Lottery has contributed more than $18 billion to the Educational
Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF). Over the past 20 years, more than 1,045 lottery
players have become millionaires and millions more have won smaller prizes,
with prize payments totaling more than $26.5 billion as of December 31,
2007. Florida Lottery ticket sales began on January
12, 1988 with the first $1 Scratch-Off game, MILLIONAIRE. The game was an
instant hit, with sales exceeding $95 million in the first week alone - setting
a lottery industry record. On April 29, 1988, FLORIDA LOTTO™ and CASH
3™ launched, becoming the Florida Lottery's first On-line games. Twenty
years later, the Lottery has offered five core On-line games (FLORIDA LOTTO,
MEGA MONEY™, FANTASY 5®, PLAY 4™ and CASH 3), more than 600
Scratch-Off games, and more than 30 special promotions and limited-time
games. Since the launch of MILLIONAIRE, Florida
Lottery ticket sales have remained strong. In 1990, two years after sales
began, the Florida Lottery became a multi-billion-dollar-a-year entity with
annual sales surpassing the $2 billion mark. Since then, the Lottery has
experienced incredible sales growth - especially over the past five years,
resulting in contributions to the EETF of more than $1 billion per year. In
fiscal year 2006-07, for the first time since its inception, the Lottery's
annual net sales exceeded $4 billion, resulting in more than $1.26 billion to
the state's public education system. "The Florida
Lottery's success has been 20 years in the making. The Lottery's mission
continues to be fulfilled year after year as a result of a united effort among
Lottery staff, players, supporters and retailers. By working together, the
Lottery will continue to provide entertainment to players while carrying out
its mission of maximizing revenues for the enhancement of public education in
our state," said Florida Lottery Secretary
Leo DiBenigno. "As the Lottery
enters its 20th year of operation, we recognize the need to re-energize our
efforts and strive to meet the challenges resulting from the slowing growth
typical of mature lotteries," added Secretary DiBenigno.
All around, 2008 will be an
exciting and promising year for the Florida Lottery. The revenue-generating
state agency is seeking to expand its retailer network by 500 from the current
13,000 retailers to approximately 13,500 by March 2008, which is expected to
net a significant positive return on investment by increasing Lottery sales and
contributions to the EETF. Retailer recruitment efforts are underway statewide,
and the inventory of new terminals will be rolled-out in stages as new
businesses are signed-on as retailers. In addition, the Florida Lottery will
unveil new and exciting game launches, as well as enhancements to current game
offerings, designed to keep the agency as a strong partner for education in
Florida. The Florida Lottery continues to fulfill its
mission of maximizing revenues for the enhancement of public education. The
agency has not only fully-funded more than one million Bright Futures
scholarships for more than 354,000 students in the state, but also has
contributed to K-12 programs, community colleges and state universities,
workforce education programs and other state student financial aid.
Additionally, the Lottery has guaranteed bonds for school construction and
maintenance as part of the Classrooms First and Classrooms for Kids
program. Florida voters, by a two-to-one margin,
approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to operate a lottery
for the purpose of generating significant additional moneys for education.
Today, Floridians continue to show their support by purchasing in excess of $4
billion in Lottery products per year. For more information regarding the
Florida Lottery, its games and its contributions to education, visit
www.flalottery.com.
SOURCE: Florida Lottery.
CONTACT: Jacqueline
Barreiros, (850) 487-7727.
New Mexico
Lottery Launches ‘Betty Boop’ Scratcher For Valentine’s
Day Net Revenues Support
Legislative Lottery Scholarships ALBUQUERQUE,
New Mexico (January 23, 2008) -- To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the
New Mexico Lottery is bringing back the
popular “$10,000 Betty Boop” Scratcher game.
Under the theme
“Betty through the Decades,” the game depicts the curvy cutie
in six retro ticket scenes, including “Flapper Betty,”
“Summer-of-Love Betty” and “Disco
Betty.” In the play area, feather boas, peace signs, electric
guitars and dance club strobe lights conceal winning numbers and possible
prizes. Available now at $2 a ticket, the game features top prizes
of $10,000. As a legendary femme fatale, Betty
Boop is a sweetheart subject for a Valentine’s Day Scratcher game, sales
from which will benefit Legislative Lottery Scholarships, an in-state tuition
assistance program for New Mexico residents attending public colleges and
universities. In her previous four runs as a New Mexico Lottery
Scratcher, Betty Boop has been a sell-out game in a matter of
weeks. All six tickets scenes and ideas
for using Betty Boop Scratchers as Valentines can be viewed at
www.nmlottery.com.
SOURCE: Lottery Communications Office, (505) 342-7616,
(800) 642-6689, ext. 7616 Email:
media@nmlottery.com.
National Lottery Operator Gidani Strikes Overnight
Success SOUTH AFRICA (January 10,
2008) -- Barely three months after the new National Lottery operator kick-started the
instant millionaire breeding game, a total of R222 million has already been
paid out to charity organizations. This is after
Gidani, the new Lotto operator
committed to contributing a total of 34% from each weekly Lotto ticket sales
revenue generated since October last year to donate to charity organisations
across South Africa.
Since October 13 when the
Lotto returned, 15 millionaires have already been created despite the general
public perception that the new Lotto operator does not have winners. The
winners shared between them more than R60 million worth of jackpots won.
Meanwhile, Gidani is still calling upon the winners, who each scoped one of the
three collective jackpots of R13,5 million drawn between November and December
last year, to come forward. These unidentified winners
include a lucky player in the Eastern Cape, who won the Lotto draw of R10,9
million on November 3. The second winner from Gauteng became an instant
millionaire on November 10, but has also not come forward to claim the R1,4
million won in the Lotto Plus draw on that day. Another Gauteng millionaire,
the third winner, is still sought after following the Lotto Plus jackpot of
over a million being scooped again on December 29. Meanwhile, the
Wednesday’s 9.30pm Lotto jackpot draw of an estimated R3 million was not
won and rolled over to an estimated R4 million on Saturday at 9.30pm. While the
Lotto Plus stands at R1 million. All the unidentified
winners have 365 days from the date they bought their tickets to claim their
prizes. Of the eight million Lotto's weekly regular players, a total of 727 of
them have already been turned into instant millionaires. In what can be
described as an overnight success by Gidani in the past three months, also saw
the operator take the game to the people live in KwaZulu Natal, for the first
time in just its second month of having started operating. King Goodwill
Zwelithini’s eldest daughter, Princess Nombuso, who drew the R7,4 million
jackpot, lit-up the Gateway Theatre of Shopping on December 15, when she pushed
the lotto machine buttons. An expansion of the Lotto retail network is set to
increase from about 7 000 to more than 10 600, this year so to create extended
opportunities to create more millionaires at the benefit of charity.
SOURCE: Gidani (Pty) Ltd. Sweden’s Largest Gaming Company, Svenska
Spel, Signs Card Payment Processing Agreement with
Samport STOCKHOLM, Sweden (January
17, 2008) -- Svenska Spel is the largest
gaming company in Sweden and is owned by the Swedish state. In early 2007,
Svenska Spel initiated a selection process to find the most suitable partner
for their card payment transactions. After research and evaluation of potential
payment providers, Svenska Spel decided to enter into partnership with Samport
Payment Services AB.
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The agreement allows
Svenska Spel to use Samport’s system for Internet- and terminal payments
(POS) as well as Samport’s advanced anti-fraud solution. Initially, all
kinds of Internet payments are to be handled by Samport whilst the terminal
payments are optional to Svenska Spel. With one platform providing the ability
to perform both Internet- and terminal payments, Samport offers Svenska Spel a
cost efficient solution for all card payment transactions.
“We are very proud and excited to welcome Svenska
Spel as a customer. We are confident that our payment system and anti-fraud
solution will meet Svenska Spel’s demands. Samport’s system is built
to handle both Internet- and terminal payments, and together with our
anti-fraud solution we can offer a complete solution,” says Mikael
Hedlöf, CEO at Samport. “Efficient and
secure card payments are becoming even more important as we experience business
growth. With Samport, we can work closely with one provider for all areas.
Samport’s capabilities to offer Internet- and terminal payments (POS) from
one system as well as their advanced anti-fraud solution were important factors
for us. In addition, we were impressed by their flexibility, competence and
responsiveness. We are looking forward to working with Samport as our card
payment partner,” says Andreas Jansson, Director of Corporate
Communications at Svenska Spel. For more information,
please contact Mikael Hedlöf, CEO Samport at:
mikael.hedlof@samport.com or at
+46 8 400 15 401. SOURCE: Samport Payment Services AB.
Lottery Profits Show Continued
Growth NASHVILLE, Tennessee, USA
(January 18, 2008) -- This week’s close to the first six months of the
Tennessee Lottery’s 2007-08 fiscal
year brings total education profits 6.5 percent higher than for the same period
during the previous fiscal year. The quarterly education profits of $68,675,000
for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2007 brings the total raised for education
since inception to $1,053,000,000.
“We’re proud
to report continued growth,” said Rebecca Hargrove, President and CEO
of the Tennessee Lottery. “Education in Tennessee continues to benefit
from the hard work of so many, and we’re committed to continuing this
momentum.” Year-over-year, Tennessee Lottery
profits for education have continued to grow. During fiscal year 2006-2007, for
example, the total raised for education for the first two quarters (July 1-Dec.
31) was $130,193,000. That amount has grown by $8,393,000 (6.5 percent) to
$138,586,000 during the current fiscal year. This total includes money raised
for after-school programs resulting from unclaimed prizes.
“There continues to be more than enough funding to
provide a grant or scholarship to every student who applies and
qualifies,” said Hargrove. “We are pleased to be accomplishing
our mission, helping make each day brighter for education in
Tennessee.” The Tennessee Lottery’s
profits are used for specific programs such as HOPE Scholarships, Wilder-Naifeh
technical grants, and pre-kindergarten programs. Funds raised from unclaimed
prizes are used for after-school programs. For more information, please visit
www.tnlottery.com. For information
about Lottery-funded scholarships, visit
www.collegepaystn.com.
SOURCE: Tennessee Lottery.
CONTACT: Kym Gerlock,
615-324-6556 Office, 615-604-2827 Mobile. 
Mad Money Hits Big
Screen, Mad Money Scratchers® a Hit with Players
SACRAMENTO, California (January 17, 2008) -- As the comedy
caper, Mad Money, makes its big screen premiere across the nation, the
California Lottery encourages players to
pick up a Mad Money Scratchers® ticket on the way to theaters.
The unique movie-themed
Scratchers® game represents a first-time, direct partnership between
Overture Films and the California Lottery. Mad Money debuts in theaters January
18. The film was directed by Oscar® winner Callie Khouri and stars Diane
Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes. The trio of stars play the roles of
three employees at the Federal Reserve who plot to steal money that is about to
be destroyed. Mad Money Scratchers® offer players
the opportunity to win cash prizes ranging from $10 to $1,000, but also include
unique second-chance prizes. One of those second-chance prizes, already
awarded, was a trip for two to the Los Angeles premiere of Mad Money.
“I had the time of my life,” said winner
Dennis Weiss who attended the L.A. premiere and gleefully pointed out the red
carpet he expected actually was green to match the color of Mad Money.
“The movie really was quite enjoyable.”
Other prizes still up for
grabs include a walk-on role for an upcoming movie, a visit to the set of a
future Overture Films production, and a trip for two to a future Overture Films
movie premiere. Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 5.45 and odds of winning a
cash prize are 1 in 11.96. “The combination of
Hollywood and a new Lottery game is an exciting, dynamic duo,” said
Lottery Director Joan Borucki.
“The Lottery is honored to partner with Overture to create a
combination of entertainment and a new way to benefit our communities, as 95
cents of every Lottery dollars goes to education, prizes and
retailers.” ABOUT OVERTURE FILMS
Overture Films (overturefilms.net) develops,
produces, acquires, and distributes feature-length, theatrical motion pictures
worldwide. The studio is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which in turn is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to
Liberty Capital Corp. Its affiliated companies, Anchor Bay Entertainment and
Starz Entertainment, make the films available domestically to viewers via home
video, premium television, Internet and other outlets. ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA LOTTERY More than 95 cents of every Lottery dollar is returned to the
community in the form of contributions to education, prizes and retail
commissions. The California Lottery contributes at least 34 cents of every
dollar that players spend on Lottery products to public education and returns
more than 50 percent of sales to players in the form of prizes. Since its
inception in 1985, the Lottery has contributed more than $20 billion to
California schools out of total sales of more than $54.8 billion. Retailers win
too, earning $3.5 billion in compensation since 1985. CONTACTS: Olga Gallardo/Cathy Johnston/California Lottery,
(916) 324-9639. Adam Keen/Overture Films, (424) 204-4144. 
New Lottery Game Will Make 20 Instant
Millionaires MISSOURI, USA
(January 18, 2008) -- You know it’s a big game when the second prize is $1
million! The Missouri
Lottery’s first $20 Scratchers game, "4 Million Dollar Cash
Bonanza," offers four top prizes of $4 million and 16 $1 million
prizes. The game offers the highest payout in Missouri Lottery history
and will make 20 instant millionaires.
"We’re excited
about this new Scratchers game because it offers a 76.2 percent prize payout -
the highest ever in Lottery history - which means more winners," said Bill
Burton, instant game product manager for the Missouri Lottery.
"In addition to the top two prize levels, there are
more than 7,500 prizes from $1,000 to $25,000 up for grabs."
The new $20 game, "4 Million Dollar Cash Bonanza,"
officially begins on Jan. 26. It offers more than $175 million in
prizes. "Several other states lotteries have
introduced $20 instant games, and they’ve been successful in generating
revenue for important programs in those states," Burton noted.
For more information about the Missouri Lottery’s new
"4 Million Dollar Cash Bonanza" game, visit the Lottery’s Web site
at www.Molottery.com.
SOURCE: Missouri Lottery. Holiday Spending and What it Means for the
Lotteries CHICAGO, Illinois, USA
(January 17, 2008) -- Independent Lottery Research (ILR), the Chicago based
Research Company which coined ‘Joe’ and
‘Jack’ to designate core versus non-core lottery consumers,
has released its National Poll results on Holiday spending. For the third year
in a row ILR asked Joes (core lottery players) and Jacks (infrequent, lapsed,
and non players) what their spending plans were, how the national economy was
affecting them, and what they thought about lottery Holiday games.
The key finding: As in past
years, far more women and young adults plan to purchase Holiday lottery games
than during other parts of the year. ILR data, based
on a nationally representative telephone survey, has found that Joes and Jacks
have the same confidence in their financial situation and earning power as they
did in the 2006 holiday season. The ILR National
PollSM has found that consumers are cutting back on major purchases as well as
day-to-day purchases. The consumables spending index, which measures spending
for everyday purchases, was on a decline for the 2007 holiday season. One in
five (22%) consumers planed to spend more this past Christmas (down two points
from 2006) and 53% of consumers planed to spend less (up 11 point from
2006). How did the decrease in overall holiday
spending effect holiday ticket buying intent? Lottery
spending for the holidays followed general Christmas spending trends. ILR found
a downshift in gift ticket purchase intentions this past holiday. Half the
percentage of Joes were planning on purchasing lottery tickets as gifts this
past year (18%) as compared to 2006 (35%). Jacks and
Joes were just as likely to say they are planning to buy gift tickets in 2007
(17% vs.18%). Overall purchase intent has decreased 5 in 2007 points from 2006
(12% vs. 17%). Those who purchase lottery tickets as
Christmas gifts are younger and much more likely to have teenage children at
home than the typical lottery player. Two in five (43%) people age 35-54 planed
to buy lottery tickets as gifts during the 2006 holiday season. Young adults
continue to be a consistently important segment of holiday lottery ticket
purchasers. A third (35%) of young adults (those 35 and under) said they were
likely to purchase tickets as gifts in 2007. Just 19% of those age 55+ planned
to purchase gift tickets this past holiday season.
Women lead the ticket gift
purchasing segment with nearly three in five (57%) who said they were likely to
purchase lottery tickets as gifts for Christmas in 2007. This figure is up from
2006 by 7 points. The $1 instant tickets are reported
as the most popular gifts year-to-year, with one third (33%) of those asked
saying they were going to purchase $1 gift tickets. Those who planed to give $5
instant tickets as gifts increased from 25% in 2006 to 31% in 2007. Higher
priced instant games ($10 and $20) remained the least popular gift tickets for
the holidays. Joes continued to lead the category or
spending on gift tickets per person. Jacks planed to spend more on lottery
tickets for gifts than in 2006. Two fifths (39%) of
adults mentioned that they almost always buy the holiday-themed tickets as
gifts for the holidays. Another one third (33%) of people
said that half or some of their gift tickets are holiday-themed. However, just
over a quarter (27%) reported that none of the lottery tickets they purchased
are holiday themed. ILR finds that two in five (41%)
report no buying strategy and they tend to pick instant tickets at random. One
fourth (25%) of respondents chose their tickets based on price. Just one in ten
(11%) said they chose their lottery gift tickets based on a theme. Less than
one in ten (9%) chose their gift tickets based on perceived payout.
Independent Lottery Research (ILR) is the nation’s
foremost lottery market research company. To find out
more, or to purchase the actual data, call 312-546-5925 x6 or visit the
firm’s website: www.ilresearch.com.
CONTACT: Brooke Hendricks, Independent Lottery Research,
Email: brookeh@ilresearch.com,
Phone: 312-546-5925, ext. 6.
GTECH
Corporation Names Gerhard H. Burda Senior Vice President of Gaming
Solutions PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island
(January 22, 2008) -- GTECH Corporation, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Lottomatica
S.p.A. (Pink Sheets: LTTOY), announced that Gerhard H. Burda has been named
Senior Vice President of Gaming Solutions -- a division consisting of GTECH's
subsidiary, Spielo Manufacturing ULC, and GTECH's pending controlling share of
Atronic. This appointment will become effective on January 31, 2008, the
anticipated closing date of GTECH's 50 percent equity interest in Atronic.
Reporting to GTECH President and CEO Jaymin
B. Patel, Burda will be responsible for managing and overseeing the
long-term strategic direction of GTECH's Gaming Solutions division, and
providing operational leadership for the global business unit. In this role,
Burda will guide GTECH's investment in future technology and content
development to achieve market leadership in the government-sponsored and
commercial gaming industries, as well as the identification of new market
opportunities. He will also lead global market-requirements process, product
development and product positioning, and provide sales and marketing leadership
for the domestic and international government-sponsored and commercial gaming
markets.
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"Gerhard has more than
20 years of gaming industry experience, and his passion for the gaming product,
his thorough understanding of player and operator needs, and his excellent
customer relations uniquely qualify him to combine the skills of both
companies, Spielo and Atronic, to form the foundation for our ambitious growth
plans in this business segment," said Mr. Patel. Burda most recently served as CEO of the Atronic Group of
companies consisting of Atronic International, Atronic America, and Atronic
Systems. He is a founding member of Atronic, which has grown to a US$200
million business since its inception in 1993. Prior to joining Atronic, Burda
held several managerial positions in the European telecommunications industry.
He graduated from engineering school in Graz, Austria. Burda, 48, currently
resides with his wife Dubravka and their daughter Ana in Graz, Austria. They
plan to relocate to Rhode Island over the next 12 months.
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 De Agostini, which belongs to a century-old
publishing, media, and financial services group. Lottomatica is publicly traded
on the Italian Stock Exchange (LTO), and in 2006, had more than euro 1.7
billion in revenues and 5,900 employees in over 45 countries when combined with
GTECH. CONTACT: Robert K. Vincent, Public Affairs,
GTECH Corporation, 401-392-7452 SOURCE: GTECH
Corporation. Pollard Banknote
Signs New Contract With The Iowa Lottery
YPSILANTI, Michigan, USA (January 22, 2008) -- Pollard
Banknote (www.pollardbanknote.com) has once
again been chosen to supply instant tickets to the
Iowa Lottery. The result of a competitive
procurement, the two-year contract is expected to generate approximately $1.2
million (US) in revenue. Three subsequent one-year extensions can also be
exercised at the Lottery’s discretion following the expiration of the
initial agreement in December 2009.
“In partnering with
the Iowa Lottery, we have been pleased to help in a series of advances across
several categories that have translated into meaningful growth in instant
sales,” said Don Sawatzky, Vice President, Sales & Marketing,
Pollard Banknote. “And the Lottery’s well-earned reputation for
presenting its players with a steady stream of innovations also makes for a
partnership that raises our own game to its highest possible
level.” A client since 1993, the Iowa Lottery
currently relies on Pollard Banknote to
supply core games like Bingo and Crossword (both of which employ the
company’s proprietary translucent marking system) along with another
patented innovation: a dual-sided Double Play® ticket comprised of a
traditional scratch-off game on one side and a pull tab game on the other.
Additionally, Pollard Banknote produced the Lottery’s inaugural $20 ticket
last June. Collectively, Pollard Banknote-printed
products account for over 40% of the Lottery’s instant sales this fiscal
year to date. Since its inception in 1985, the Iowa
Lottery has raised over $1 billion for state programs while returning over $2
billion in prizes to its players. In fiscal 2007, instant ticket revenues
reached $125 million—53% of overall Lottery sales—which has meant the
transfer of over $30 million to help fund initiatives in such areas as
education, agriculture, justice, and health and human services.
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. FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT: Gordon Pollard (gpollard@pbl.ca) or John Pollard (jpollard@pbl.ca), Co-Chief Executive
Officers, Phone: (204) 474-2323.
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