• GTECH Announce the Promotion of Erik Dyson to Senior Vice President of Latin America and Caribbean. Full Story.
• La Fleur's Lottery Symposium, Washington, D.C. and OzLotto Finally Reaches $50 Million. Full Story.
• INTRALOT Supports the “Gaming Forum 2012” Organized By AIT & The British Council. Full Story.
• Twelve Lottery Players Reel In Second Chance Prizes. Full Story.
• LGA Sign MoU with European Sports Security Association. Full Story.
• Tipp24 Plans to Spin-Off German Business and Form Independent Listed Company.Full Story.
• HOPE Recipient Enhances Journey with Cadillac SRX. Full Story.
• GLI Europe Names Spanish Market Gaming Industry Expert David Jimenez Technical Manager of GLI Espana. Full Story.
• Gaming, Racing & Wagering Australia Conference. Full Story.
• OLG Issues 4Q Payments to Municipalities Currently Hosting Gaming Facilities. Full Story.
• Victorious Touch™ and Flowers Touch™ Added to Netent’s Mobile Portfolio. Full Story.
• Guatemala GranPremio to Launch 6/26 Lotto First Draw Empowered by eGame. Full Story.
• Leading Gambling and Players Associations Celebrate First Year Success of Their Joint Betting Education Programmes. Full Story.
• New Government Campaign to Debunk Gambling Myths. Full Story.
• 50 Cent and GSN Digital Team Up to Bring Blackjack to Facebook. Full Story.

GTECH Corporation Announce the Promotion of Erik Dyson to Senior Vice President of Latin America and Caribbean

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – (April 26, 2012) – GTECH Corporation announced that Erik Dyson has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Latin America and the Caribbean, reporting to GTECH President and CEO Jaymin B. Patel. In this elevated role, Mr. Dyson will be responsible for managing GTECH's operations and pursuing new business opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"Latin America and the Caribbean have become two of our fastest growing geographies," said Mr. Patel. "This region has become incredibly diverse in terms of products and services we provide, and we expect further expansion and growth. In order to accomplish that, it is important that we have a leader who can guide our growth and development. With Erik's business expertise, strong leadership qualities, and keen insight into the emerging Latin American and Caribbean landscapes, I am confident we will experience further accelerated growth in these regions in the coming years."

Mr. Dyson will focus on ensuring that GTECH successfully executes its various private operator contracts that are now in place in Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Antilles Lotteries (lotteries located in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Dominican Republic). Additionally, Mr. Dyson manages operations that offer a varied portfolio of products and services that include bill payments, cellular phone top-ups, money transfers, and government payments in the region.

Mr. Dyson joined GTECH in 2004 and has held various positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Latin America, guiding growth and development across Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to that, Mr. Dyson served as the Senior Director of Real Estate and Facilities, managing the Company's worldwide portfolio of owned and leased facilities. In this role, he led the team that constructed the GTECH worldwide headquarters in Providence, Rhode Island.

"I am honored to be able to lead GTECH's Latin America and Caribbean operations at such a vital time in the lottery industry," said Mr. Dyson. "As the marketplace continues to evolve, I look forward to working with our existing and new customers to help them maximize their growth potential with innovative products and services."

Before joining GTECH, Mr. Dyson worked in commercial real estate in the Boston area, managing a series of large scale commercial developments. Prior to that, he spent three years working in El Salvador and Costa Rica, managing an affordable housing program for Habitat for Humanity.

Mr. Dyson is a graduate of Harvard Business School, where he pursued his Masters in Business Administration, and the American University, where he studied International Business and Finance. Mr. Dyson resides in Massachusetts with his wife and three children.

About GTECH

GTECH is a leading gaming technology and services company. With 8,000 people in approximately 60 countries when combined with Lottomatica Group, GTECH provides innovative technology, creative content, and superior service delivery to effectively manage and grow today's evolving gaming markets. GTECH is a subsidiary of Lottomatica Group, one of the world's largest commercial lottery operators and a market leader in the Italian gaming industry. For more information about GTECH, please visit www.gtech.com

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

SOURCE: GTECH.

La Fleur's Lottery Symposium, Washington, D.C. and OzLotto Finally Reaches $50 Million

Article B: By Mike Veverka,- CEO and Executive Director, Jumbo Interactive

TOOWONG, Queensland, Australia (April 25, 2012)  2012 - The La Fleur'sLottery Symposium has just concluded in Washington, D.C. and discussions centred once again around Internet Lotteries.

Fifteen (15) sessions discussed the topic and ranged from legislative issues, strategies, ideas and updates from many of the state lotteries.

One particularly interesting topic was the creation of a 3rd national US lottery in addition to the Powerball and MegaMillions.

Each state lottery currently runs their own smaller state-based lotteries however the 2 larger national games - Powerball and MegaMillions. (administered by MUSL) regularly reach jackpots over $300 million. A third national game would indeed be exciting.

Advertisement

Brian Roberts, John Carson and I were able to make new contacts as well as catch up with many of the state lottery executives we are already in discussions with.

Next week is the APLA / WLA conference in Hanoi, Vietnam where Jumbo is a major sponsor. I will be giving a presentation titled "Innovation and Best Practices for Lotteries on the Internet" to an audience of Asian lottery executives, including many from our Australian lotteries. Asia is another large lottery market that is looking to move onto the Internet.

We have been making inroads into Asia for over a year now and will continue building the relationships that are necessary in Asian culture.

Back in Australia, the OzLotto has jackpotted to $50 million for next Tuesday 1st May. It has been 2 years since Australia has seen a jackpot of this size, so we are expecting a very busy week ahead.

Don't forget to buy your ticket at Ozlotteries.com! http://www.ozlotteries.com/

About Jumbo Interactive Ltd (http://www.jumbointeractive.com/)

Jumbo Interactive Ltd is an innovative and successful online lottery business that has created the hugely popular Oz Lotteries website.

Thousands of people each day play their favourite numbers in their favourite lottery games using this safe, secure and innovative website based on technology that has been in development for over 10 years.

The Internet is the clear future for many industries, lotteries being one of them. Jumbo has rekindled the enjoyment of playing the lottery and helped reinvigorate the industry with its innovative technology and interactive marketing on display at OzLotteries.com

Revenue has tripled over 3 years to $76 million and net profit after tax has reached a record $4.8 million for FY2011.

Jumbo Interactive also plays an important role in helping fund many government social initiatives such as Veteran care, schools and health.

Over $15 million of additional government duties were raised in FY2010 and another $17 million in FY2011.

This growth has not only benefited our lottery partners and suppliers, but also thousands of Jumbo Interactive shareholders around the world.

SOURCE: Jumbo Interactive.

INTRALOT Supports the “Gaming Forum 2012” Organized By AIT & The British Council

ATHENS, Greece (April 24, 2012) -- Being at the forefront of events dedicated to innovation in the gaming sector, INTRALOT is the gold sponsor of the forthcoming Gaming Forum 2012. This year marks the launch of the initiative, which seeks to become an annual networking event aimed at sharing information, discussing new trends in the gaming sector, and creating a game development community. The Gaming Forum is a two day event co-organized by the Athens Information Technology (AIT) and the British Council on April 27-28, 2012, in Athens, Greece.

INTRALOT is also the proud sponsor of the Popular Choice Award of the Gaming Contest that will be held in the framework of the Gaming Forum. A judging committee comprised of international representatives from the Gaming Industry, the British Council, the Greek gaming community, and academia, will select a short list of gaming ideas which will be open for public voting through social media to determine the winner. The Contest aims to reward the development of gaming ideas and game prototypes in the categories of Entertainment Games, Social Games, and Business & Educational Games.

The two day Gaming Forum will include the Gaming Convention and the Gaming Contest on the first day, and the Gaming Arena on the second day. The Gaming Convention will bring together academia and industry to discuss various topics related to the concepts of gaming and gamification, from industry trends to applications in areas such as education, marketing, branding, and audience engagement.

The Gaming Contest will bring together game enthusiasts and game developers in order to facilitate the creation of highly innovative game ideas and working game prototypes.

The Forum will close with the Gaming Arena, a festival based on the culture of video games that will feature tournaments with the most popular video games, music challenges and many prizes for participants.

About INTRALOT (www.intralot.com)

INTRALOT, a public listed company, is the leading supplier of integrated gaming and transaction processing systems, innovative game content, sports betting management and interactive gaming services to state-licensed gaming organizations worldwide.

Its broad portfolio of products & services, its know-how of Lottery, Betting, Racing & 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 more than 53 countries, with approximately 5.500 people and revenues of €1.2 billion for 2011, INTRALOT has established its presence on all 5 continents.

For more information CONTACT: Ms Persa Kartsoli, Head of Communications, Phone: +30-210 6156000, Fax: +30-210 6106800, email: kartsoli@intralot.com.

SOURCE: INTRALOT Media Release.

Twelve Lottery Players Reel In Second Chance Prizes

First Guy Harvey® Sportsman’s Paradise Second Chance Drawing Held Today

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (April 25, 2012) – The Florida Lottery held the first of four second chance drawings for non-winning GUY HARVEY® Scratch-Off tickets in the Guy Harvey® Sportsman’s Paradise Second Chance Promotion. One grand prize winner was awarded a Sportsman’s Paradise fishing trip for two to St. Petersburg Beach. The winner and a guest will enjoy three nights' luxury suite accommodations at Guy Harvey® Outpost - A TradeWinds Beach resort, a full day of offshore fishing, daily lunch and dinner at Piper's Patio or Bermuda's Steak and Seafood, a $500 gift certificate to Guy Harvey® TradeWinds Outpost gift shop and $2,000 cash.

In addition, a second prize winner will receive a Guy Harvey® original painting of “Sail on Teaser” (26" X 30" framed watercolor) plus $500 cash, and ten third prize winners will receive a $200 gift certificate to GuyHarveysportswear.com.

The first drawing’s grand prize winner and second prize winner are listed below. For a complete list of winners, please visit the Lottery’s website at www.flalottery.com.

Three second chance drawings remain and will be held on May 16, June 6 and June 27. 

Players may enter their non-winning GUY HARVEY® Scratch-Off tickets on the Lottery’s website. Tickets entered by midnight on the night before each drawing will be included in the drawing. The grand prize winners in the remaining drawings will receive a Sportsman’s Paradise fishing trip for two to Duck Key, the Bahamas or Grand Cayman Island.

The winner of the Grand Cayman Island trip, along with the winner’s guest, will get the opportunity of a lifetime - to go fishing with Guy Harvey himself! Second prize winners in the drawings will receive an original Guy Harvey® framed watercolor painting and the third prize winners will receive a $200 gift certificate to GuyHarveysportswear.com. The Sportsman’s Paradise fishing trip packages and original paintings will vary by drawing. Additional information about the Guy Harvey® Sportsman’s Paradise Second Chance Promotion is available on the Florida Lottery website.

The GUY HARVEY® Scratch-Off game launched on April 3 and offers cash prizes of up to $30,000. Each ticket costs $2 and features one of six colorful wildlife illustrations from the Guy Harvey® Collector’s Series. The overall odds of winning are one-in-4.37.

About The Florida Lottery(www.flalottery.com)

Florida voters, by a two-to-one margin, approved a constitutional amendment in 1986 authorizing the state to operate a lottery for the purpose of generating significant additional moneys for education. To date, the Florida Lottery has funded Bright Futures scholarships for more than 550,000 Florida students to attend college in our state. Floridians continue to show their support by purchasing billions of dollars in Lottery products per year, resulting in contributions of more than $23 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund since 1988. For more information regarding the Florida Lottery, its games and its contributions to education, visit www.flalottery.com.

CONTACT: Florida Lottery Communications, (850) 487-7727.

SOURCE: Florida Lottery.

Lotteries and Gaming Authority Sign MoU with European Sports Security Association

MALTA (April 20, 2012) -- The Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) has entered into a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Sports Security Association (ESSA), in the interests of protecting and maintaining the integrity of sports and sports betting.

The aim of this MoU is to cooperate in order to avoid the manipulation of sports events and competitions, whereby the LGA in collaboration with its licensed operators shall assist ESSA in its reporting relationships with other international sporting associations.

In practice, ESSA, on the one hand, and LGA and its licensed betting operators, on the other, will cooperate to exchange betting-related information to assist the investigation of irregular betting patterns or insider betting connected with sporting events and competitions.

Dr Gayle Kimberley, LGA’s Manager Legal (EU and International Affairs) stated that this agreement is one of a series of agreements that the LGA is entering into on sports integrity, as this is an important subject of high priority to the Authority. Dr Kimberley believes such collaboration initiatives will demonstrate that match-fixing through sport betting does not find fertile ground in thoroughly regulated jurisdictions such as Malta’s.

Mr Khalid Ali, the Secretary General of ESSA said "it's in all our interests to defeat betting related match-fixing. By signing an MoU with the LGA in Malta we have a direct link with the Regulator to report any suspicious betting patterns thereby developing a robust eco-system to protect the interests of consumers, sport and the betting operators."

SOURCE: LGA.

Tipp24 Plans to Spin-Off German Business and Form Independent Listed Company Lotto24 AG

Lotto24 Shares to be Distributed to Shareholders as Dividend in kind

HAMBURG, Germany (April 20, 2012) -- Tipp24 SE intends to spin off its German lottery brokerage business launched in February 2012 under the Lotto24 brand from the Tipp24 Group and to transfer it to a public limited company to be listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The Executive Board and Supervisory Board will therefore propose to the Annual General Meeting of Tipp24 SE to distribute shares in the future Lotto24 AG (formerly Tipp24 Deutschland GmbH) to all shareholders in a 1-to-1 ratio as a dividend in kind. Each shareholder of Tipp24 SE would therefore additionally receive a Lotto24 share for each Tipp24 share held by it.

After the planned spin-off of its German operations, Tipp24 SE will focus on the expansion of its foreign business. In particular, Tipp24 SE intends to establish a new international business division with Internet services for lottery companies.

Advertisement

Lotto24 AG will focus on brokering state lotteries in Germany. Launched in February on www.lotto24.de, the new service only targets customers in Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony-Anhalt at present. In Schleswig-Holstein, new gaming legislation was passed in 2011 which now permits the online brokerage of state lotteries. In Saxony-Anhalt, Tipp24 SE had successfully fought in court for the legal right to broker lotteries online. Tipp24 SE believes that with the adoption of the Revised State Treaty on Games of Chance in July 2012, there will once again be a legal basis for the online brokerage of lotteries throughout Germany.

Lotto24 AG will have to apply for permits from the various regulatory authorities of the individual states in order to act as a broker in Germany. In this case, a continued legal connection between Lotto24 AG and Tipp24 SE or its fully consolidated minority holdings may jeopardize permit application processes. In order to enable the resumption of business in Germany without such legal disputes, Tipp24 SE plans spinning off its German activities into an independent listed company.

Dr. Hans Cornehl, CEO of Tipp24 SE, states: 'Tipp24 has been involved in legal disputes about the resumption of its online lottery brokerage business in Germany for four years now. Although we have achieved some clear victories, we believe that a complete legal separation is the best option to provide Lotto24 AG with a starting position in the German market which is not burdened by legal disputes.'

The future Lotto24 AG will therefore be ideally positioned to benefit from the imminent liberalization of online lottery brokerage in Germany and to take advantage of the significant opportunities offered by this market. In the course of resuming online lottery brokerage in Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony-Anhalt, work has already begun on establishing Lotto24 as a strong and distinctive brand for the German business. Moreover, Tipp24 SE will provide the company with a multi-year licence for a powerful IT platform.

Petra von Strombeck, Executive Board member of Tipp24 SE in charge of marketing, states: “Following the ban of online lottery brokers as of 2009, the German lottery market shrank to a volume of around EUR 6.5 billion. With regard to per capita lottery spending and the previously banned online brokerage business, the German market has a great deal of catching up to do. We are therefore convinced that the forthcoming market liberalization and resumption of online lottery brokerage will open up considerable growth potential and offer sustainable benefits for Lotto24.”

Planned transaction steps:

Tipp24 SE intends to transform its current subsidiary Tipp24 Deutschland GmbH into a public limited company and change its name to Lotto24 AG. To this end, Tipp24 SE will transfer assets required for the establishment of business to Lotto24 AG in the form of a contribution in kind.

In connection with the planned distribution of a dividend in kind and initial listing of Lotto24 AG shares, Lotto24 AG is also to receive sufficient funds to guarantee operations should there be delays to the further liberalization of the German market. In order to meet these liquidity needs, Lotto24 AG plans raising cash through a public offer of shares ('new shares') to all shareholders of Tipp24 SE.

According to current plans, the Annual General Meeting of Tipp24 SE on 22 June 2012 is to decide on the distribution of shares held by Tipp24 SE in Lotto24 AG ('old shares') as a dividend in kind. On the basis of a valuation report commissioned by the Executive Board of Tipp24 SE, an enterprise value of EUR 19.97 million has been determined for Lotto24 AG.

Based on currently 7.985.088 dividend-bearing Tipp24 shares, this translates into a value of EUR 2.50 for the dividend in kind allocated to every Tipp24 share. Tipp24 SE does not intend to pay out a cash dividend for the fiscal year 2011. Details on the process and time schedule will be published with the invitation to the Annual General Meeting. An initial listing of the old and new shares in Lotto24 AG in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is planned for early July 2012.

CONTACT: Tipp24 SE, Investor Relations, Frank Hoffmann, Phone: +49 40 32 55 33-142, Fax: +49 40 32 55 33-5100.

SOURCE: Tipp24 SE.

HOPE Recipient Enhances Journey with Cadillac SRX

ATLANTA, Georgia (April 24, 2012) --  In anticipation of a May graduation, one Cobb County man has recruited a new crossover utility vehicle, enhancing his collegiate journey courtesy of the Georgia Lottery.

Agape Shacor, a HOPE Grant recipient attending Atlanta Technical College, played the instant game Cadillac Riches and instantly won a brand new Cadillac.

Georgia Lottery representatives presented Shacor with the keys to his new 2012 Cadillac SRX Crossover Tuesday at Heritage Cadillac, 7134 Jonesboro Road in Morrow.

“It’s great! I’m glad it happened,” said Shacor, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday in May.

Shacor is a full-time student at the college and anticipates receiving an associate degree in computer science.

An Austell resident, Shacor purchased the lucky ticket at QuikTrip #0738, 7130 Mableton Parkway in Mableton.

He purchased the ticket March 30 during the Mega Millions frenzy.

“Everyone was in the gas station buying Mega Millions tickets, and my mom, aunt and I decided to play Cadillac Riches,” he explained. “We went to the car and scratched it off. Everyone was really excited.”

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $13.1 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.4 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.1 million 4-year-olds have attended the state-wide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

For more information on the Georgia Lottery Corp., please visit: www.galottery.com and www.lotterybenefitsgeorgians.com.

CONTACT: Kimberly M. Starks, Media Relations Specialist, Georgia Lottery Corporation, P: (404) 215-5062, F: (404) 215-8983, C: (404) 831-4995, Email: kstarks@galottery.org.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgialottery.

SOURCE: Georgia Lottery Corp.

GLI Europe Names Spanish Market Gaming Industry Expert David Jimenez Technical Manager of GLI España

HILLEGOM, The Netherlands (24 April 2012) – GLI Europe BV, the European operation of Gaming Laboratories International,  the world’s leading technical consulting and independent certification laboratory, has named David Jimenez as Technical Manager of its new lab in Barcelona.

“We are thrilled to have David join our team at GLI España, and we are confident that his extensive experience will be extremely beneficial to our regulatory and supplier clients. Adding David to the GLI team will allow us to better serve the Spanish AWP and iGaming markets,” said GLI Interactive Managing Director Phillip Barow.

“Our intention is to have 10 native Spanish-speaking engineers to support land-based and iGaming clients in Spain and Latin America. David will be instrumental as a leader on our team to achieve that goal,” Barow added.

A native of Spain, Jimenez has extensive technical experience in the Spanish gaming market. He most recently was Product Manager of the Gaming Department at Applus, where he worked closely with regulators and suppliers in Spain, Europe and Latin America. He has also served as Business Development and Compliance Manager and as a Technician at Applus. Previously, he has served as an Engineer for Tyco Electronics in Spain.

For more than 20 years, Gaming Laboratories International has been the world leader in providing independent testing, inspection and certification services to the gaming industry. With 20 laboratory locations located across Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, North America and South America, GLI is the only global organization of its kind to hold U.S. and international accreditations for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, 17020 and Guide 65 standards for technical competence in the Gaming industry. GLI offers independent third party evaluation and certification of Gaming technology, devices and systems in addition to providing network and information security assessments.

For more information, visit www.gaminglabs.com. 

CONTACT: Christie Eickelman, Sr. Director of Worldwide Marketing, Telephone: +1 (702) 914-2220 or Email: c.eickelman@gaminglabs.com

Media CONTACT: Paul Speirs-Hernandez Steinbeck Communications +1 (702) 413-4278.

SOURCE:  Gaming Laboratories International.

CONFERENCE: Gaming, Racing & Wagering Australia

Event Name: Gaming, Racing & Wagering Australia

Date: 20-22 August 2012

Venue: Sofitel Hotel, Sydney Australia

Organiser: Beacon Events

Website: www.GamingDownunder.com

The region's most popular conference, Gaming, Racing & Wagering Australia, will once again be held alongside the Australasian Gaming Expo, the region's largest trade show for the gaming and hospitality industry.

Designed as a strategic complement to the exhibition, day one of the conference will focus on gaming-related issues and will be held the day before the main expo opens on Monday 20 August.

Day two on Tuesday 21 August covers competitive issues for sports betting and topical matters for racing and sport.

Day three on Wednesday 22 August features an in-depth workshop on the emerging importance of social media and gaming.

Supported by an advisory board of cross-industry representatives, this is the only event that covers legal, regulatory, marketing and technology trends for gaming operators and associated industries.

Hear from industry leaders, legislators, technology providers and legal counsel on where the market in Australia & NZ is headed. To register, please call ++852 2219 0111, Email: info@BeaconEvents.com or fax +852 2219 0112

OLG Issues Fourth-Quarter Payments To Municipalities Currently Hosting Gaming Facilities

ONTARIO, Canada (April 20, 2012) -- The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) today issued fourth-quarter (January to March 2012) non-tax gaming revenue payments of a total of $17.9 million to 23 municipalities which currently host OLG facilities.

As announced on March 12, 2012, OLG is modernizing Ontario’s lottery and gaming industry. The effort will increase revenue for the province and create jobs while continuing to support municipalities through a new consistent funding model to be developed for towns and cities that host an OLG gaming facility.

“OLG’s Modernization Plan will help Ontario eliminate the deficit and create thousands of new jobs, while also supporting those communities where gaming sites exist,” said Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance.

The OLG modernization effort will help create some 2,300 net new industry jobs and about 4,000 service sector jobs. It will improve how lottery and gaming is delivered in Ontario, and expand OLG’s approach to Responsible Gambling.

In 2011-2012, the province allocated $120 million in gaming revenue to support charities through the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Every year, the Government of Ontario allocates funding to the province’s problem gambling program for research, treatment and prevention. The amount for 2011-2012 was budgeted at $41 million.

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 $34 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.

SOURCE: Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

Victorious Touch™ and Flowers Touch™ Added to Netent’s Mobile Portfolio

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (April 20, 2012) -- Net Entertainment, the world’s leading provider of high quality casino games, is pleased to announce it is expanding its mobile games portfolio with two new additions: Victorious Touch™ and Flowers Touch™. Both slots are already available on desktop and now on iOS devices.

Classified Advertisement

At the end of 2011, Net Entertainment launched its first ever casino games designed specifically for mobile. The Net Entertainment Touch™ portfolio now consists of four slots: Gonzo’s Quest™, Jack Hammer™, Victorious™ and Flowers™, as well as Blackjack. More mobile games will be launched during 2012 for both iOS and Android devices.

As with all the other NetEnt Touch™ games, Victorious and Flowers have unique sound support and the same high quality graphics as the desktop versions.

Both games have been optimized for full screen and the simplified keypad and navigation ensures intuitive user interaction. NetEnt Touch games offer the same features, such as Quick Spin, Free Spins and Bonus games, that are found on desktop versions, ensuring a premium gaming experience.

Per Eriksson, Net Entertainment CEO, said: “We have seen a positive growth on our mobile games since its launch end of 2011,and we are committed to build up a solid portfolio of new games to be released to the market throughout the year. We take utmost care in ensuring that the top class gameplay and graphics, for which Net Entertainment games have always been known, are replicated on mobile, and we are now delighted to release two more games, which will further support our partners end to end portfolio offering to their players.”

For additional information please CONTACT: Hanne Aimonen, Marketing Manager, Net Entertainment

Phone: +356 2276 8123, Email:hanne.aimonen@netent.com 

SOURCE: Net Entertainment.

Guatemala GranPremio to Launch 6/26 Lotto First Draw Empowered by eGame

GUATEMALA (April 26, 2012) – GranPremio, an authorized private electronic lottery operator, will launch the first draw of its new 6/26 Lotto empowered by eGame Solutions on May 4,2012 (Friday).

GranPremio (www.granpermio.com.gt) is a 6/26 lottery game which will be available nationwide. The game, according to GranPremio, is operated with the M.Lottery system terminal provided by eGame Solutions that enables fast, secure and easy purchase of game tickets through 500 points of sale. Along to the provision of M.Lottery Platform and Lottery terminals, eGame Solutions through its Virtual Server offers the hardware infrastructure necessary for Gran Premio to provide its players a professional world-class service from inception.

eGame has provided a customized 6/26 lotto modules for the operation of GranPremio’s lottery game. Transactions of GranPremio’s ticket purchase are processed by the M.Lottery platform on real-time basis, wager records are reflected immediately in WEB-based management system, so as live sale reports down to each point-of-sale. The M.Lottery, according to eGame Solutions, is a platform specially engineered to cover all aspects of online lottery operations such as ticket sales, validation, prize payout, game management, terminal and user management. In addition to core modules, peripheral systems such as remote application update, ERP, membership system have been integrated to the M.Lottery platform seamlessly.

Advertisement

Click here for the latest electronic version of Lottery Insights.

Featured with the slogan “Fácil jugar! Fácil ganar” (easy to play, easy to win!), the game’s pre-sale was held on 19 April 2012 and was claimed to be smooth and successful after only 2 to 3 months of preparation. At a Quelzal(Q)2.00 price point, players can get the opportunity to win a grand prize of Q100,000.00 and other additional prize offered in each draw. To win the jackpot, players have to hit 6 numbers out of 26 numbers; secondary prize will awarded to players who match 5 and 4 numbers. The jackpot will accumulate in the absence of lottery winners. Grand prize can only be claimed from GranPremio’s head office while other prizes can be claimed from any authorized dealers in the region.

As a televised game authorized by the government of Guatemala, the new lotto game is going to attract spotlights of Guatemalans who would like to buy a chance of winning. The game is scheduled on every Friday at 8pm on Guatemala’s TV channel “Guatevision”. The lotto draw result will be unveiled within a 3-minutes show attended by representatives from the government of Guatemala to testify and ensure legality of the draw. Players can also check the draw result immediately through GranPremio’s official website (www.granpremio.com.gt/) or through other media such as radio and newspaper.

"We are very pleased to be chosen by Guatemala Gran Premio Lottery as technology providers to deploy the first electronic lotto in the country, Gran Premio contract represent yet another success case to solidify the presence of eGame Solutions in Latin America region,”  said Victor M. Angel, CEO for M.POS Latin America.

About eGame Solutions

eGame Solutions (www.egame-solutions.com), headquartered in Hong Kong, is a specialized technology provider and skilled management team of high-quality product, state-of-the-art technology and innovative lottery solutions. eGame delivers premium technology and management services to support license owners worldwide, maintaining top level of service and integrity, minimizing the business risks whilst maximizing profit at most reasonable budget at optimal timeframe.

About M.POS Latin America, S.A.

M.POS Latin America (www.mpos.com.mx), headquartered in Mexico City, is a subsidiary of M.POS Group in charge of Latin America region.

About GranPremio

GranPremio (www.granpremio.com.gt) is a private operator of electronic game in Guatemala with its lottery operation authorized by the Government of Guatemala (Gobierno de la República de Guatemala).

SOURCE: eGame Solutions press release.

Leading Gambling And Players Associations Celebrate First Year Success Of Their Joint Betting Education Programmes

BRUSSELS, Belgium, LONDON, U.K. (26 April 2012) -- The gambling trade associations, the RGA, EGBA, and ESSA, along with EU Athletes and the Professional Players Federation celebrate today the first year anniversary of their joint betting education programmes (see link). They call on the sports world to enter discussions about an agreed overarching set of principles for a sports betting integrity education programme that can be adapted to local circumstances.

Over the last 12 months, EU Athletes and the Professional Players Federation (PPF) education programmes have spanned 6 European sporting nations, (including England, Germany, France and Spain), 7 sports (including football) and reached around 9200 athletes. This campaign, which uses as a basis its common code of conduct, uses ex-players and top athletes to go into the dressing rooms and make the players aware of the dangers of corruption in sport, what it looks like, how to deal with it and the consequences of failing to do so.

Walter Palmer, General Secretary of EU Athletes, which runs the player education programme for the EGBA and ESSA and reached out to over 2700 athletes so far, commented:  “Our team visits show that there is still a substantial lack of knowledge of local rules on sports betting by players . It is the responsibility of all sports stakeholders to educate players and also to respect the basics principles of good governance. A single code of conduct for players across all sports disciplines would be a step in the right direction but the specificities of countries should be taken into account.”

Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the EGBA, added: “The prevention of match fixing is of the upmost priority for the licensed European sports betting industry. We are glad to see that sports regulators are following in the footsteps of our initiative with EU Athletes and making the education of players a priority.” 

Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive of the RGA, stated that: “After the EUA and PPF agreed a single educational code 12 months ago its benefit and reach has been considerable. The code can now be regarded as the template for sporting participants to follow and we were encouraged that SportAccord drew heavily on it when launching its global programme, earlier this year. We hope this marks an important step towards the establishment eventually of a single unified code of education in this area.”

Brendon Batson, MBE Chairman of the Professional Players Federation (PPF), which has developed and manages the player betting education programme funded by the RGA and three of its members (bet365, Betfair and Ladbrokes) said “The player education programmes in the UK, made possible by funding from the RGA and its members, are already showing real benefits. Player education about sports betting integrity is the first line of defence, particularly against illegal and unregulated betting. Our projects are helping players to play their part in protecting the integrity of British sport in 2012.”

The PPF funded project focussed the majority of resources in 2011/12 on football, cricket and rugby union with more than 3,660 professional and 1,940 academy players receiving face-to-face briefings on sports betting integrity and responsible gambling advice.

SOURCE: EGBA.

New Government Campaign to Debunk Gambling Myths

HOBART, Tasmania (April 24, 2012) -- The Minister for Human Services, Cassy O’ Connor, said a new campaign launched this morning was aimed to debunk the myths surrounding gambling.

The campaign forms the next stage of the Government’s Know Your Odds campaign, which began last year.

“Research has shown too many gamblers believe that so-called ‘systems’ can help them beat the odds, or that thinking positively can improve their chance of winning,” Ms O’Connor said.

“People also wrongly believe a machine that has not paid out recently is more likely to give them a win.

“The Know Your Odds campaign will help dispel those myths.”

Ms O’Connor said the Know Your Odds campaign was based on the recommendations of the 2010 Productivity Commission Report into gambling,

“Problem gambling can have a devastating impact on individuals, their families and loved ones and the broader community, and we’re committed to tackling this issue,” she said.

“This next stage of Know Your Odds will run on television, radio and at the cinema – focussing on the message that ‘it doesn’t matter what you believe about gambling, the longer you play, the more you lose,” she said.

“There’s also a campaign blog and Facebook page, where people can post questions and comments.”

Ms O’Connor said the campaign has been funded by the Community Support Levy and commences April 26, 2012.

For help when gambling becomes a problem call Gamblers Help 1800 858 858, or go to www.gamblinghelponline.org.au

SOURCE: Cassy O'Connor, MP, Minister for Human Services, Tasmanian Government Media Release.

50 Cent and GSN Digital Team Up to Bring Blackjack to Facebook

WALTHAM, Massachusetts (April 18, 2012 – Hip-hop star and entertainment mogul 50 Cent together with GSN Digital, the interactive division of GSN (Game Show Network), today launched 50 Cent’s Blackjack on Facebook.  The rapper’s first foray into the gaming space, 50 Cent’s Blackjack combines 50 Cent’s entrepreneurial spirit with GSN Digital’s proven success in gaming to create a social gaming experience that appeals to 50’s broad fan base and blackjack lovers alike.

The game welcomes players into 50 Cent’s lavish casino at:

www.facebook.com/50centblackjack, where they compete against the dealer for chips and against their friends and other 50 Cent fans for bragging rights on the leaderboard.  Players can build their wardrobes and customize their avatars by acquiring the hottest virtual fashions and swag.

50 Cent’s Blackjack also introduces exciting twists to the game by providing several boosts, which can be purchased with tokens.  The “I’m Killin’ It” boost tells players whether they’d bust on their next card, and “Ace Rich” lets players immediately gain an ace in their hand.  The “Freestyle” boost allows players to split their hand, even if they don’t have matching cards.  Another cool feature is “Table Heat,” a cooperative element that rewards all players at the table after they’ve won enough Blackjack hands by turning all twos in the deck into aces for a limited period of time.

In addition to launching on Facebook, GSN Digital will soon introduce a mobile version of 50 Cent’s Blackjack for Android and Apple devices.  The mobile game will be available later this quarter.

With 19 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including three number-one hits, more than six million followers on Twitter, and nearly 22 million Facebook fans, 50 Cent has gained an international following as a respected rapper and businessman.  50 Cent’s widespread achievements include the success of his children’s book on bullying, Playground, as well as a partnership with the United Nations on Street King, an initiative aimed at feeding one billion African children through sales of Street King energy shots.  50 Cent’s powerful combination of entertainment experience and business savvy will bring the friendly and fun competition of social games to a new audience through 50 Cent’s Blackjack.

GSN Digital’s partnership with 50 Cent marks a continued dedication to creative social gaming, giving players the chance to experience the true thrill of winning while connecting with one of their favorite entertainers.  A top game publisher on Facebook, GSN Digital has a proven track record of creating popular social games on Facebook, which collectively reach nearly 2 million users per day and over 7 million players per month via the Games app and standalone apps.

“50 Cent is an entertainment force of nature, and we’re excited to partner with him on his first venture into the world of social gaming,” said Peter Blacklow, executive vice president, GSN Digital.  “50 has garnered an incredible following of millions of fans on Facebook, and we’re excited to bring this audience, as well as the millions of game fans out there, a fast-paced social blackjack experience.”

“I am excited to partner with GSN Digital on this venture to create an unparalleled social gaming experience for my fans. 50 Cent’s Blackjack is filled with fun twists and innovative features that is sure to provide hours of entertainment,” states 50 Cent.

About 50 Cent

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is widely recognized as one of the most talented and prolific music artists of his time.  Since exploding on the music scene in 2003, he has sold over 22 million albums worldwide and received numerous awards and 13 GRAMMY® nominations. In recent years, he has managed to leverage his star power into record breaking brand extensions encompassing a broad spectrum of businesses including music ownership, artist management, film production, footwear and clothing, video games, publishing, health drinks and supplements.  With annual sales approaching $300 million from a variety of business interests along with numerous business endeavors on the horizon, Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson has cemented his position in the industry as both a business and entertainment powerhouse.

About GSN

GSN is a multimedia entertainment company that offers original and classic game programming and competitive entertainment via its 75-million subscriber television network and online game sites.  GSN’s cross-platform content gives game lovers the opportunity to win cash and prizes, whether through GSN’s popular TV game shows or through GSN Digital’s free casual games, mobile and social games, and cash competitions.  GSN is distributed throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Canada by all major cable operators, satellite providers and telcos.  GSN and its subsidiary, WorldWinner.com, Inc., are owned by DIRECTV and Sony Pictures Entertainment.  For further information, visit GSN at www.gsn.com.

CONTACT: Annie Perkins, SHIFT Communications, 617 779 1817, Email: GSN@shiftcomm.com or Allison Rynak, GSN Digital, 781 250 8734, Email: arynak@gsn.com.

SOURCE: GSN press release.