West Virginia Lottery Upgrades Underway with IGT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (April 19, 2018) – Now through June 15th, new and improved lottery equipment will be installed at West Virginia Lottery retail locations across the State. Lottery players will start seeing new terminals, new ticket checkers, and new self-service machines at retail stores.

“This transition is happening to better serve our players,” said Alan Larrick, Director of the West Virginia Lottery. “We are excited about the new technologies and the additional value this transition will bring to our players and our retailers.”

The new equipment being installed at retail locations includes IGT’s Altura™ Flex draw-based lottery terminals, Aurora™ MultiMedia in-store signage, and Gemini Touch vending machines.

IGT Global Solutions Corporation was awarded the contract for the Lottery’s online gaming system and services last year.

The contract commences on June 28, 2018 and has a seven year term, with three one-year renewal options.

The agreement includes new lottery retail and self-service terminals, a redundant, multi-technology communications network, development and support for the Lottery’s new mobile convenience app that will be launched in the Fall of 2018, and ongoing field services.

Since 1986, the West Virginia Lottery has generated more than $9.5 billion in proceeds for the State of West Virginia. Lottery proceeds benefit Education, Seniors, and Tourism in the Mountain State.

SOURCE: West Virginia Lottery (www.WVLottery.com).

Michael Kogeler Appointed Group Chief Operating Officer at INTRALOT

MAROUSSI, Greece (April 25, 2018) -- INTRALOT announces the appointment of Mr Michael Kogeler, as Group Chief Operating Officer, effective May 2nd 2018, following an extensive international search process. Mr Kogeler will be responsible for the Group’s business orchestration of its operations around the world, the relationships with partners and customers as well as the trading operations. 

INTRALOT Group CEO Mr. Antonios Kerastaris stated: “I would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Kogeler and wish him success in his new role as part of our senior management and member of the Executive Committee. Michael brings to our company enormous experience and expertise from international markets and a broader understanding of modern technological trends in the era of digital transformation. His knowledge will help us tremendously upgrade the way we integrate best practices in our model to fully serve our clients and make our operations around the world more profitable and efficient.”

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Mr. Kogeler comes to INTRALOT from Microsoft, where he last held the position of the General Manager, Central and Eastern Europe, with full accountability of 15 countries. In his 14 years with Microsoft, Mr. Kogeler also held positions like COO and CMO of Middle East and Africa, General Manager for Consumer and On Line in Belgium and Netherlands, as well as Business Strategy roles. His 26 years of overall professional experience also include work in companies like Mc Kinsey & Company and IBM consulting.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Rotterdam School of Management, of the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

About INTRALOT

INTRALOT, a public listed company established in 1992, is a leading gaming solutions supplier and operator active in 52 regulated jurisdictions around the globe. With €1.1 billion turnover and a global workforce of approximately 5,100 employees (3,100 of which in subsidiaries and 2,000 in associates) in 2017, INTRALOT is an innovation – driven corporation focusing its product development on the customer experience. The company is uniquely positioned to offer to lottery and gaming organizations across geographies market-tested solutions and retail operational expertise. Through the use of a dynamic and omni-channel approach, INTRALOT offers an integrated portfolio of best-in-class gaming systems and product solutions & services addressing all gaming verticals (Lottery, Betting, Interactive, VLT). Players can enjoy a seamless and personalized experience through exciting games and premium content across multiple delivery channels, both retail and interactive. INTRALOT has been awarded with the prestigious WLA Responsible Gaming Framework Certification by the World Lottery Association (WLA) for its global lottery operations.

For more info: Mr. Chris Sfatos, Group Corporate Affairs Director, Phone: +30-210 6156000, Fax: +30-210 6106800, email: sfatos@intralot.com.

SOURCE: INTRALOT (www.intralot.com).

Nederlandse loterij in Motion Award Rewards Initiatives that Contribute to a Happier and Healthier Netherlands

RIJSWIJK, Netherlands (April 20, 2018) --The Dutch Lottery in Motion Award rewards initiatives that contribute to a happier and healthier Netherlands. From the many submissions, a jury has selected four initiatives and nominated for the main prize. The jury consists of Pieter van den Hoogenband, Hugo Borst, Bibian Mentel, Ap Dijksterhuis, Guido Weijers, Marjan Olfers and Niels Onkenhout.

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They nominated Moving Learning, the Kids Moving Route, Happy Monday and the eventual winner Old Scholar Young Done. All nominations can be found on: https://over.nederlandseloterij.nl/in-beweging-prijs/nominaties

About the winner

The winning initiative is aimed at bringing together the elderly and students. Foundation Old Learned Young Done allows students interactive lectures on interesting topics to seniors in nursing homes, community centers and libraries. Ilse Nieuwland very happily received the prize. "Together with Enny van Arkel, I started the Foundation Old Learned Young Done four years ago.In our own time we have worked extremely hard to bring old and young together and thus increase the level of well-being of seniors.With this amount we can make many more seniors happy. "

Pieter van de Hoogenband, chairman of the jury and ambassador of the Dutch Lottery, presented the prize. "I think it's wonderful to see how students share their knowledge with the elderly and offer them a cognitive challenge.”

“The initiative fits perfectly with the Dutch Lottery's ambition to make the Netherlands happier and healthier.”

“By bringing old and young together, the project actively contributes to the well-being of seniors and students gain experience with presenting. Different generations continue to develop in this way. There are few activities that respond to the intellectual ability of seniors, but you are never too old to learn!", Says van den Hoogenband.

Dutch Lottery invests in the Netherlands

During the event, not only the Dutch Lottery in Motion Award was presented, but also the amount invested in the Netherlands. Niels Onkenhout, CEO of the Dutch Lottery, unveiled the total amount of € 165,000,000: "We are proud that this year we are again investing a great amount of money in Dutch sports through NOC * NSF, 18 Dutch charities and in Dutch society. In this way we make a substantial contribution to our goal to make the Netherlands happier and healthier. "

The amount is distributed as follows: €17,000,000 goes to the charities, almost €45,000,000 is invested in Dutch sports and the State of the Netherlands receives €104,000,000 euros.

SOURCE: Nederlandse loterij (Dutch National Lottery).

Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich Announces He Intends To Retire Late This Year Or In Early 2019

CLIVE, Iowa  (April 19, 2018) -- Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich announced today that he intends to retire in late 2018 or early 2019. Rich has led the Iowa Lottery since February 2009 and is just the second person to serve as its CEO since the lottery’s start in 1985.

Rich, 65, released this statement regarding his retirement:

Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich

“Over the past years, I’ve had the privilege of serving three Iowa governors while achieving some significant milestones at the lottery, helping with projects to address some of the state’s biggest challenges, and driving meaningful increases in the vital state proceeds generated by the lottery. I’ve done everything I’d hoped to accomplish at the Iowa Lottery. With that success, it’s time to move on.

“Besides spending more time with family and friends, there are professional opportunities that excite me as I head into this management transition: to help one more organization grow success as a member of its Board of Directors or management staff; or to produce one more national TV show while continuing to present keynote speeches at local and international conferences.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed providing Iowans with entertainment as CEO of the Iowa Lottery. It has been our pleasure to help design successful games with the highest degree of integrity and accountability. I’ve been lucky enough to lead the most prominent national lottery organizations, and my signature has appeared on hundreds of millions of lottery tickets – and checks for Iowa’s biggest lottery prizes. I’m announcing my retirement now so that transition plans can be made at the lottery.”

The Iowa Lottery has achieved a number of milestones under Rich’s leadership:

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• Annual Lottery sales have increased $100 million, from the $240 million range to over $350 million range today.
• Annual lottery proceeds to state causes have increased from the $60 million range in 2009 to the $80 million range today, driven in large part by repeated record sales of instant-scratch tickets.
• The Iowa Lottery received a clean audit from the state Auditor’s Office each year that Rich was CEO.
• Fiscal year 2016 went into the books as the lottery’s best year to date, with record sales, proceeds to state causes, prizes to players and retailer commissions. The lottery generated a record $88 million in proceeds that year. Annual sales were a record $366.9 million.

During his years heading the Iowa Lottery, Rich also was selected by his peers to lead the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries as its president for 2014-2015.

But perhaps what will be remembered most from Rich’s time as lottery CEO is the long-running lottery jackpot investigation that uncovered fraud against U.S. lotteries and resulted in guilty pleas from three men who admitted they illegally claimed prizes by rigging lottery drawings in five states.

“This case will remain an important reminder to organizations everywhere to keep monitoring and making improvements to stay ahead of those who would try to beat the system,” he said. “I’m absolutely proud of the unwavering focus our lottery kept on security and integrity to ensure that our games are fair.”

The Iowa Lottery was named the 2018 winner for an International Gaming-Compliance Award for its work in the case, which spanned seven years.

Prior to Rich becoming the lottery’s CEO in 2009, Dr. Ed Stanek led the organization from its start in 1985 until his retirement in October 2007.

In addition to his career at the lottery, Rich was CEO of Iowa's Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines; President and CEO of Rich Heritage Inc., a national marketing and television production company based in Des Moines; and Vice President of Marketing for Heritage Communications Inc. in Des Moines.

Rich has won numerous entrepreneurial awards in television production and marketing, has a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and is an ISU Foundation Governor Emeritus.

For additional information, CONTACT: Iowa Lottery External Relations, Kim Vore at T: (515) 725-7890, E: kvore@ialottery.com or Mary Neubauer at, T: (515) 725-7906, E: mneubauer@ialottery.com.

SOURCE: Iowa Lottery.

Pollard Banknote Revs Up Its Licensed Portfolio with the Legendary Chevrolet® Silverado®

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada (April 23, 2018) -- Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) (“Pollard Banknote”), a leading lottery partner that provides instant tickets, interactive solutions, and full marketing support, is excited to announce the addition of Chevrolet® Silverado® -- one of the most dependable, longest lasting full-size trucks on the road -- to its licensed brands portfolio.

Silverado® joins the Corvette® Stingray™ in Pollard Banknote’s array of licensed games, for a pair of Chevrolet flagship brands that appeal to large segments of Chevy™ enthusiasts. Silverado® aficionados and lottery players alike will want to ‘pick up’ instant tickets featuring this legendary truck.

2018 represents 100 years of Chevy Trucks and the brand has ramped up marketing and promotions to celebrate this milestone making the Silverado® centre stage. Lotteries launching a Chevrolet Silverado® instant game can leverage the momentum Chevrolet is building with extensive centennial advertising and special events, as well as a broad range of celebratory promotional merchandise.

“Chevrolet Silverado® comes with strong market awareness and a loyal, passionate fan base, including Chevrolet’s more than 25 million social media followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube,” notes Sina Aiello, Pollard Banknote’s Vice President, Marketing. “The vehicle category is solidly entrenched in the lottery market, and we are excited to rev it up by adding Chevrolet Silverado® to our line-up. Our initial ticket designs incorporate Scratch FX®—one of Pollard Banknote’s most successful print innovations that adds sparkle and shine to a ticket—further elevating the brand and garnering the attention of this built-in fan base at retail.”

Pollard Banknote’s Licensed Products team offers a full turnkey program that includes the design, programming, and printing of themed tickets, as well as various options such as second chance draws, a POS program, and broadcast and digital marketing.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About Pollard Banknote

Pollard Banknote is a leading lottery partner to more than 60 lotteries worldwide, providing high quality instant ticket products, licensed games, and a full suite of digital offerings ranging from game apps to comprehensive player engagement and iLottery solutions, including strategic marketing and management services. The company is a proven innovator and has decades of experience helping lotteries to maximize player engagement, sales, and proceeds for good causes. Pollard Banknote also plays a major role in providing pull-tab tickets, bingo paper and its Diamond Game and Oasis-branded electronic ticket machines to charitable and other gaming markets in North America. Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is owned approximately 67.6% by the Pollard family and 32.4% by public shareholders, and is publicly traded on the TSX (PBL). For more information, please visit our website at www.pollardbanknote.com.

For more information CONTACT: Sina Aiello, Vice President, Marketing, Telephone: (204) 474-2323, E-mail: saiello@pbl.ca.

SOURCE: Pollard Banknote.

Iowa Lottery Wins International Gaming-Compliance Award For Work In Investigation

Long-Running Case Culminated In 2017 Guilty Pleas From Three Men

CLIVE, Iowa  (April 19, 2018) – The Iowa Lottery has won an international gaming-compliance award for its work in the long-running lottery jackpot investigation that uncovered fraud against U.S. lotteries and resulted in guilty pleas from three men.

GamblingCompliance on Wednesday named the Iowa Lottery its 2018 recipient for outstanding achievement in compliance. The organization’s annual awards that recognize excellence in 11 categories focused on regulatory compliance and responsible gaming were presented in London. The lottery was one of five finalists worldwide for the gaming-compliance award.

international gaming-compliance award

“I‘m enormously proud of the work we put in and the perseverance investigators showed through the years in bringing this long-running case to a successful conclusion,” Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich said. “This was a crucial opportunity for us to pinpoint security enhancements and new technologies that we could bring to our operations. I’m confident in the integrity of our games and know we will continue to aggressively monitor and make improvements to protect against vulnerabilities identified.”

GamblingCompliance, with headquarters in London and its U.S. hub in Washington, D.C., provides independent legal, regulatory, and business intelligence to the global gambling industry.

The jackpot investigation case began with a lottery ticket purchased in Des Moines in December 2010 and culminated in 2017 with guilty pleas from three men who admitted they illegally claimed prizes by rigging lottery drawings in five states. Eddie Tipton, the man at the center of the investigation, installed malicious computer code that allowed him to predict winning numbers in some lottery drawings.

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Tipton pleaded guilty to three felony charges in Iowa and Wisconsin and was sentenced in August 2017 to up to 25 years in prison. He had conspired with friends and family to claim lottery prizes in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin and attempt to claim a lottery jackpot in Iowa, which ultimately was not paid.  

Tipton’s younger brother, Tommy Tipton, also pleaded guilty in the case, as did Tipton’s long-time friend, Robert Rhodes.

“It’s appalling that the person at the center of the case once worked at a lottery-industry vendor organization and willingly committed crimes,” Rich said. “He was brought to justice and we have moved forward with an even greater understanding that we must trust but verify in all areas of our operations. We’re pleased that this international award recognizes the team for that effort.”

For additional information

CONTACT: Iowa Lottery External Relations, Kim Vore at T: (515) 725-7890, E: kvore@ialottery.com.

SOURCE: Iowa Lottery.

MAGNUM’s New Game Offers Winners RM1,000 a Day for 20 Years

Celebrating its golden anniversary, Magnum launched a new and innovative lifestyle game with sustainable winning experiences, offering winners to live life a thousand times better!

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (April 23, 2018) -- How would you change your lifestyle, if you were given an extra RM1,000 every single day, for the next 20 years?

Magnum Corporation (Magnum) today launched Magnum LIFE, a new game that offers a grand prize of RM1,000 every day for 20 years. CEO Dato’ Lawrence Lim Swee Lin explained that Magnum introduced this innovative game to serve the younger generation of players. “This game offers life enhancing opportunities with worry-free money management,” he said. “Our market is young office workers who dream about travelling, the freedom to start their own businesses and to pursue their passions in life.”

With RM1,000 prize money credited daily into the winner’s bank account, the winner can plan and manage their winnings better, without fear of blowing their money all at once. Dato’ Lim expressed confidence that the winners will use the prize money to realize their dreams in a sustainable manner. “Encouraging customers to play responsibly has always been one of Magnum’s core values,” he adds. “By teaching them to also win responsibly, we are taking our corporate social responsibility to the next level.”

Magnum LIFE is simple to play:

1. Choose 8 numbers from 1 to 36.
2. The results comprise of 8 Winning Numbers, and 2 additional Bonus Numbers.
3. If all 8 numbers played match the 8 Winning Numbers, the player will win the Grand Prize of RM1,000 EVERY DAY for 20 YEARS.
4. There is a 2nd Prize of RM1,000 EVERY DAY for 100 DAYS, which is won by matching 7 Winning Numbers, and either one of the Bonus Numbers.

Each play costs RM1 and players can buy up to 10 sets of numbers per ticket. Players can also choose to improve their odds of winning by playing 9 or more numbers using an option called System Play. The results of the 8 Winning Numbers and 2 Bonus Numbers are derived from the Magnum 4D Classic game.

Similar games have been available in developed markets such as USA, Australia and Canada to attract younger players.

With Magnum LIFE, Magnum has achieved another significant milestone in Malaysia’s gaming industry as the first mover to offer an innovative game to the market. This year, Magnum is set to embark on a round of nationwide outlet renovations as part of its journey to rebrand towards a new generation of players and remain competitive in an increasingly challenging market.

About Magnum

Since its inception in 1968, Magnum has been setting the benchmark for the gaming industry on both the local and international front. In 1988, it was the first company in Malaysia to modernize the gaming operation through the computerization of 4D ticket sales, resulting in greater efficiency and guaranteed fairness and sustainability.

In 2009, it continued to innovate the industry by introducing the world’s first 4D game with a Jackpot element with the launch of ‘Magnum 4D Jackpot’.  In Malaysia, this swiftly became the second most popular game after the ‘4D Classic’ and the most popular Jackpot game by far.

Following the success of Magnum 4D Jackpot, Magnum subsequently launched Magnum 4D Jackpot Gold and Magnum 4D Powerball in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

On 8 January 2018, Magnum celebrated its golden anniversary with renewed commitment to strengthen its brand’s positioning through new corporate identity and outlet uplifting exercise nationwide. The refreshed identity and outlet is modern, friendly and livelier. The rollout of outlet refurbishments has commenced in stages this year.

In his opening speech, CEO of Magnum, Dato’ Lawrence Lim Swee Lin noted that it was important to celebrate the significant milestones over the past 50 years, and it is also equally important to chart the path forward to carry on Magnum’s legacy of Inspiring HOPE in a relevant and sustainable way.

For more information, please visit: www.magnum.my.

For editorial enquiries or further information, please contact Eliza Chang at: eliza@magnum.my.

SOURCE: Magnum Corporation.

NANA’s Position on Lottoland’s Offer to Newsagents

SILVERWATER, NSW, Australia (April 18, 2018) -- From tomorrow (19 April), you are likely to receive a letter from Lottoland.  NANA understands the letter will refer to an offer Lottoland has made to NANA on behalf of its Members and other interested Newsagents across Australia.

NANA is considering that offer.  It is substantially higher than previous offers made to ALNA and to Newsagents in the media.  The offer is based on a percentage of sales value, not profit.

The percentage rate is higher than the percentages Newsagents and other lotteries outlets receive in commissions from Tatts Group Lotteries for their lotteries products.

Firstly, NANA is not in anyone’s pocket.

Secondly, Newsagents have asked NANA to negotiate with Lottoland and other alternate lotteries/wagering products providers to deliver a benefit to them.

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Lottoland is not the only player in this space.

NANA says that Lottoland’s approach to the industry in the past been ham-fisted.  At the end of the day, it is about income and income that Newsagents and other lotteries outlets are already losing to online lotteries and wagering product sales, irrespective of who the product owner is.

NANA has not finalised an agreement.  NANA is duty bound to consider any alternative that gives Newsagents a fair share.

NANA has written to the Deputy Prime Minister and Senator Fifield about the proposed amendments to the Interactive Gambling legislation.  If the identified issues concerning taxation, State government revenue, consumer education and income for Newsagents and other lotteries outlets are resolved, why shouldn’t Newsagents get an additional income stream, which balances what they are losing to alternate wagering products and to Tatts Group Lotteries’ own online sales activities.

From day one of the campaign funded and conducted by Tatts Group Lotteries against alternate lotteries/wagering products, NANA has stressed that there will be enormous consequences for Newsagents if Tatts Group Lotteries has no effective competition.

Already, Tatts Group Lotteries has an almost monopoly position in every State and Territory except Western Australia.  If this position is reinforced by a legislated ban on alternate/wagering products, there will be nothing to prevent Tatts Group Lotteries building on their thrust into online sales.  Already their online sales represent a significant proportion of the overall sales of lotteries products.

Monopolies are not good for small businesses.

Monopolies are not good for consumers.

Tatts Group Lotteries do not object to online sales of lotteries products.  They do it all the time.  They do it through their app and online.  They also have a substantial beneficial stake in the online lotteries sales company Jumbo Interactive.  This company is licensed by Tatts Group Lotteries and competes online against Newsagents and other lotteries outlets.

Throughout the campaign orchestrated and funded by Tatts Group Lotteries, a campaign on which they have spent more than $5 MILLION, they portrayed the resistance they have created as being initiated and managed on a grass roots level by Newsagents and other lotteries outlets.  Make no mistake, the campaign was and is funded and orchestrated by Tatts Group Lotteries.  Some Newsagent and Lotteries associations have tied themselves to the campaign and appear to act as mouthpieces for Tatts Group Lotteries.

One must ask the questions “How do they afford their extensive media and public relations campaign when they could be technically insolvent.  Who is picking up the tab for their media and PR agency and keeping them afloat?”

NANA has been approached to represent the interests of significant blocks of Newsagents outside of NSW and ACT.  Why?  Because Newsagents are sick and tired of being used as cannon fodder by the likes of Tatts Group Lotteries and associations that act as their mouthpiece.  NANA is working with those Newsagents to work out what will be best for them.

There is a long way to go in this saga.  NANA has existed for more than 125 years and is here for the long haul.  NANA is committed to continuing to work in the best interests of its Members.  Dismissing any genuine offer from any organisation to work with Newsagents closes the gate and will potentially cost Newsagents income.

NANA will continue to negotiate with Lottoland and other organisations for the benefit of its Members.

If an agreement cannot be reached that is good for Newsagents, then nothing will change.

We will keep you updated as things develop.

CONTACT: NANA on 1300 113 044 or by email tonana@nana.com.au.

SOURCE: The Newsagents Association of NSW and ACT (NANA).

Attitudes to Gambling – Latest Victorian Data

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia (April 17, 2018) -- Stigma remains a significant issue for people experiencing gambling harm, with more than 50 per cent of adults who participated in the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s 2017 community attitudes survey declaring most people would think less of a person who struggles with their gambling.

Further, almost 60 per cent said most people would consider someone with a gambling problem to be unreliable and without self-control, and 45 per cent agreed many people would avoid a person in this situation.

The annual survey findings were published today on the Foundation’s revamped website, which features a new section – Gambling in Victoria (responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/stats) – comprising the latest statistics, information and analysis about gambling, including gambling participation, community perceptions, harm and stigma.

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Chief executive Louise Glanville said insights gained through the survey continued to inform the Foundation’s work to reduce and prevent gambling harm, overcome barriers to help seeking such as stigma, and provide effective support services.

‘Men are more likely than women – at 8.3 and 4.9 per cent respectively – to report harm from gambling, and to believe that most people would think less of a person having difficulty keeping their gambling under control,’ Ms Glanville said.

‘One in 10 people acknowledge having experienced harm in the previous year because of someone else’s gambling, which they say is most commonly felt as sadness, anxiety, stress or anger, relationship difficulties, a negative impact on their social life, financial hardship, and a reduced ability to work or study.

‘This compares with the most common types of harm identified by individuals who describe the negative effects of their gambling as reduced spending money, reduced savings, feelings of regret or shame, less money for recreational activities, and feeling like a failure.’

Ms Glanville said sports betting, the fastest growing form of gambling in the state, disturbed many people in the community.

The survey found:

• 63 per cent of Victorians believe young people think betting on sport is normal
• 61.9 per cent think gambling should not be a part of experiencing sport
• 70.9 per cent think adolescents see and hear too much gambling advertising.

‘The potential impact on children of normalising sports betting is a particular concern, and is one of the reasons all 10 Victorian AFL teams are on board this year with the Foundation’s Love the Game initiative to reduce the exposure of fans to gambling advertising,’ she said.

In 2017, 1208 Victorians participated in the community attitudes survey, the results of which were weighted to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for age, gender and location to reflect the Victorian population.

The new, interactive Gambling in Victoria section of the Foundation’s website offers highly visual information about what Victorians think about gambling, who gambles and on what, what Victorians spend on gambling, pokies data by local government area, gambling advertising, and harm from gambling.

CONTACT: Fiona Skivington, Manager, Media & Communication on +61428248931 or fiona.skivington@responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au.

SOURCE: The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.

Betsson Appoints Former Svenska Spel Executive Chief Strategy Officer and Responsible for the Swedish Market

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (April 19, 2018) -- Peter Zäll joins Betsson Group on May 1st 2018 and will be based at Betsson’s operational headquarters in Malta. He was previously VP Product & Marketing at Svenska Spel and has also held a number of management positions in retail businesses and consumer marketing.

“I am delighted that Peter has decided to be part of the Betsson team as Chief Strategy Officer, his experience and personality fit the team perfectly. Also, as Betsson Group is gearing up for the opening of the Swedish gambling market there should be no better person to develop our position in the Swedish market,” comments Jesper Svensson, CEO Betsson’s operational subsidiaries.

“I am excited to join Betsson at these interesting times. I see many opportunities in the brand portfolio and look forward to working with the team to refine the strategy for the future,” says Peter Zäll.

SOURCE: Betsson press release.

Net Gaming Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Assets in the DACH Region

MALTA (April 19, 2018) -- Net Gaming has signed a letter of intent to acquire affiliate assets, primarily in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

The operations show strong growth and are currently expected to generate quarterly sales of approximately EUR 200,000, with an operating margin of approximately 75%. About 75% of the revenues are generated via revenue sharing.

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“I am very pleased that we have the opportunity to strengthen our position in the DACH region. This is an exciting market which we consider to have good growth opportunities ahead. In addition, completion of this transaction will give us further opportunities to grow our existing operations in the region, and expand these assets to other markets,” comments Marcus Teilman, CEO of Net Gaming.

The acquisition of the operations is expected to take place after completion of a due diligence process. The initial purchase consideration of EUR 2.29 million will be settled with existing cash resources. Payment of a maximum additional consideration of EUR 1.25 million may also be required. The additional consideration is based on the outcome of the acquired assets’ EBITA for the 12 months following completion of the transaction. For the full additional consideration of EUR 1.25 million to apply, the outcome of the acquired assets’ EBITA is required to be at least EUR 1.0 million over the next 12 months.

About Net Gaming

Net Gaming owns, operates and develops high-quality online comparison sites for the purpose of channelling user traffic to the Company’s customers – primarily iGaming operators. Within the Group, approximately 130 comparison sites are operated in 30 countries. Net Gaming generates valuable user traffic through the sites, mainly to global iGaming operators. The Company was founded in 2005, has over 80 employees and is headquartered in Malta. The share (NETG) is listed on AktieTorget.

SOURCE: Net Gaming press release.

Malta Gaming Authority Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

MALTA (April 23, 2018) -- The MGA Board (in accordance with Article 14 of the Lotteries and other Games Act and after consultation with the Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy & Innovation, Hon. Silvio Schembri) has appointed Heathcliff Farrugia as the new Chief Executive Officer of the MGA with effect from 24 April 2018. Heathcliff Farrugia succeeds Joseph Cuschieri who earlier this month was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).

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Mr Farrugia holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Leicester, UK, and is specialised in business management, operational efficiencies, strategic planning, and regulation. Throughout his professional career, he held various senior executive positions both within the private and the public sector.  In 2014, Mr Farrugia joined the Gaming Authority in the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO), and was pivotal in the transformation process which the Authority underwent. He held this position for two years until his appointment as Chief Regulatory Officer in 2016. In this role he was responsible for all the regulatory activities of the Authority with specific focus on Regulatory Supervision, Authorisations, Compliance and Player Support.

At the same time, he was also a member of the Supervisory Council, and co-chaired the Fit & Proper Committee, entrusted with the assessment of the fit and properness of individuals and companies applying for a MGA licence. Mr Farrugia was a board member of the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF), where he is now a member and is also a member of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA).

Prior to joining the MGA, Mr Farrugia spent the largest part of his career in the telecoms industry, specifically with Vodafone Malta, where he occupied various managerial positions. In 2013, he was appointed Customer Value Management (CVM) Manager for Vodafone Italy in Milan where he was responsible for the overall planning and strategy within the Consumer Department.

SOURCE: Malta Gaming Authority.

Lahcene Merzoug Appointed President of Cherry Subsidiary ComeOn

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (April 15, 2018) -- The Board of Directors of gaming operator ComeOn Malta Ltd, a subsidiary of Cherry AB (publ) – STO: CHER-B.ST, has appointed Lahcene Merzoug as Managing Director. By mid-July 2018, at the latest, Lahcene will succeed Tomas Johansson, who has been the acting Managing Director since October 2017.

The Board of Directors of gaming operator ComeOn Malta Ltd, a subsidiary of Cherry AB (publ) – STO: CHER-B.ST, has appointed Lahcene Merzoug as Managing Director. By mid-July 2018, at the latest, Lahcene will succeed Tomas Johansson, who has been the acting Managing Director since October 2017.

Lahcene Merzoug joins the company from Mr Green, where he was Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Before that, he worked at Evoke Gaming Ltd, now a part of Mr Green, where he was CMO and Chief Business Development Officer. Lahcene has an extensive background as an entrepreneur and solid experience from the iGaming industry.

“ComeOn is a leading player with a number of well-known brands that inspire our industry, and I am honoured to take over as Managing Director after Tomas Johansson,” says Lahcene Merzoug.

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“I look forward to continuing to develop the operations to give the company a clear market-leading position and to strengthen our position as the first choice for customers and employees.”

“I’m pleased with what we have achieved within ComeOn in a short period of time, and it’s very gratifying to see ComeOn return as a nimble player, focused on growth with good profitability. Since October, we have worked hard within ComeOn to identify and remedy a number of different areas, allowing us to regain our position as a leading player in the industry. The joint effort allowed ComeOn to report good growth and improved earnings already in the first quarter, as Cherry reported in the preliminary financial accounts communicated on 13 April 2018,” says Tomas Johansson, acting Managing Director of ComeOn.

“Together with the rest of ComeOn’s company management, Tomas has done a fantastic job of quickly reversing the trend within ComeOn, and the company now has more profitable and sustainable operations,” commented Anders Holmgren, Chairman of ComeOn. “Lahcene is the right person to take the company forward. His experience of building growth in organizations and his well-documented marketing skills will give us a smooth transition and take ComeOn several steps ahead,” Anders Holmgren continues.

As an adviser within the Cherry Group, Tomas Johansson will, in part, assist Lahcene and others in ComeOn’s management team during a transitional period and, in part, he will help strengthen and broaden Cherry’s market position in gaming, media and entertainment.

CHERRY IN BRIEF

Cherry is a Swedish innovating and fast-growing company with operations in gaming, entertainment and media. The company was established in 1963 and today operates through five diversified business areas: Online Gaming, Game Development, Online Marketing, Gaming Technology, and Restaurant Casino. The objective is to grow organically in combination with strategic acquisitions of fast-growing companies. Cherry employs some 1,400 people and has about 6,700 shareholders. The company’s class B share is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, Mid Cap segment. More information is available at: www.cherry.se.

SOURCE: Cherry.

Inspired Announces Content Deal with Novomatic

NEW YORK, N.Y. (April 25, 2018) -- Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (“Inspired”) (NASDAQ: INSE) today announces that it has signed an agreement to supply its games content to Novomatic’s Italian gaming platform.

In an agreement which extends to 2022, Inspired will supply VLT games content to Novomatic’s platform across its Italian retail estate, which totals over 30,000 terminals. Inspired will initially deploy two games which will be accessible from the main menu, with the potential for further titles and exclusives in the future. 

‘Inspired is delighted to be partnering with Novomatic in this exciting and strategic deal,’ said Luke Alvarez, President and CEO, Inspired.  ‘Novomatic is one of the largest gaming technology companies in the world, and the combination of our award-winning content with Novomatic’s platform will no doubt deliver a unique and compelling customer experience.  Italy is an important market for Inspired, and it’s exciting to be offering our content to more customers in partnership with Novomatic,’ he added.

About Inspired Entertainment, Inc.

Inspired is a global games technology company, supplying Virtual Sports, Mobile Gaming and Server Based Gaming systems with associated terminals and digital content to regulated lottery, betting and gaming operators around the world. Inspired currently operates approximately 30,000 digital gaming terminals and supplies its Virtual Sports products through more than 40,000 retail channels and over 300 websites, in approximately 35 gaming jurisdictions worldwide. Inspired employs approximately 800 employees in the UK and elsewhere, developing and operating digital games and networks.

SOURCE: Inspired press release.

Stride Enhances Aspers Casino Online Offering with Greentube Content

VIENNA, Austria (April 23, 2018) -- Stride Together, the B2B partnership division of leading online gaming operator Stride Gaming, is pleased to announce that it has integrated Greentube’s world-class casino content onto its platform to provide additional casino games to Aspers Casino Online.

Stride Together licenses its proprietary platform to gaming operators to enable them to create an online presence for their customer base. Stride Together established its first joint venture with Aspers Group Limited in October 2017, giving the established UK casino brand an online presence for the first time.

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Alongside existing content developed by Stride, the additional games from Greentube, NOVOMATIC’s interactive division, are now readily available to Aspers Casino Online players via Stride’s platform. The portfolio of Greentube games gives players a wide variety of fresh content to enjoy in an entertaining environment. This is a further enhancement of Stride’s joint venture with Aspers Casino Online and demonstrates that Stride’s platform can easily integrate third-party content to broaden its customer offering.

In addition to NOVOMATIC blue-chip slots such as Book of RaTM deluxe, Lucky Lady´s CharmTM deluxe and Sizzling HotTM deluxe, titles like Cops and RobbersTM Millionaires Row, Power StarsTM as well as dozens of others, are available on the popular online casino site.

Eitan Boyd, CEO of Stride Gaming, said:

“The successful integration of third party content to our proprietary platform further proves that we have flexible, cutting-edge technology to meet the needs of gaming operators. The addition of Greentube’s casino content onto our platform enables Aspers Online to provide its customers with even more engaging content to enjoy. The partnership has been very successful and we look forward to further developing our service offering to Aspers and its customers in future.”

David Bolas, Greentube UK Commercial Director, commented:

“We are delighted to expand our UK reach with Stride Gaming and Aspers Casino Online. We look forward to delivering additional value to the Stride/Aspers proposition, with our iconic content offering now available across both retail and digital channels.”

SOURCE: Greentube press release.