IGT Senior Manager, Global Communications, Michelle Schenk, Honored by Global Gaming Women

LONDON, U.K. (October 9, 2018) -- International Game Technology PLC (IGT) (NYSE: IGT) announced that Michelle Schenk, IGT’s Senior Manager of Global Communications, Gaming, has received a Great Women of Gaming Award in the Rising Star category from Global Gaming Women. The award was presented to Schenk on Monday morning in conjunction with the Global Gaming Expo (G2E).

“Michelle is strategic and intelligent in her approach to provide media results that expand the scope of coverage for IGT,” said Renato Ascoli, CEO, North America. “She is a proven performer who continuously maximizes on opportunities to drive the business forward through global gaming communications.”

“Receiving the ‘Great Women in Gaming’ distinction is a tremendous honor, especially among the many inspiring and talented women within the gaming industry,” said Schenk. “Working in communications for IGT provides me with an opportunity to help drive IGT’s success, and a meaningful platform to cultivate the next generation of women in gaming.”

Schenk has more than 14 years of experience in public relations and strategic communications. In her current role, she drives awareness for IGT products by managing global gaming communications including partnership agreements, game and systems installations, and new game launches. She also fosters thought leadership by creating, identifying, and facilitating executive speaking opportunities to contribute to the overall success of IGT.

The Great Women of Gaming Awards bring global recognition to meaningful contributions by exceptional women in the gaming industry by annually recognizing a highly vetted select group of women for their outstanding contributions.

Schenk earned two bachelor’s degrees in journalism and communications studies from New Mexico State University, and a master’s degree in communications studies from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

About IGT

IGT (NYSE:IGT) is the global leader in gaming. We enable players to experience their favorite games across all channels and regulated segments, from Gaming Machines and Lotteries to Digital and Social Gaming. Leveraging a wealth of premium content, substantial investment in innovation, in-depth customer intelligence, operational expertise and leading-edge technology, our gaming solutions anticipate the demands of consumers wherever they decide to play. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 countries around the world, and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has more than 12,000 employees. For more information, please visit: www.igt.com.

CONTACT:

SOURCE: International Game Technology PLC (IGT).

INTRALOT Sign 10-Year Contract with Croatian State Lottery “Hrvatska Lutrija"

ATHENS, Greece (October 10, 2018) -- Following a competitive process by the Croatian State Lottery “Hrvatska Lutrija,” for the selection of a strong long-term strategical partner, INTRALOT is awarded a 10-year contract for the implementation of the new integrated Lotos10 ecosystem with the Omni Channel capability, the deployment of innovative Retail technology and the provision of operational support. All of the above will be customised to the specific needs and requirements of Hrvatska Lutrija and the Croatian gaming market, supporting the strategic and operational objectives for the extensive growth and future expansion of Hrvatska Lutrija in the verticals of Numerical & Instant Games, Betting and Online Casino.

Hrvatska Lutrija is the state licensed lottery organization, with a long and successful tradition of 45 years in organizing games of chance in Croatia, offering full variety of gaming products, including the lotteries, instant lotteries, betting, casinos and slot clubs, participating also in the multijurisdictional lottery games, EuroJackpot. In 2017 Hrvatska Lutrija generated over €150 million in stakes. The chosen model of cooperation is a Gross Gaming Revenue share model where Croatian lottery and INTRALOT share investment cost, responsibility, risks, and ultimately profits according to a pre-negotiated split.

Specifically, the agreement includes the deployment, customization and integration of INTRALOT’s holistic and cross-channel Lottery Gaming Platform based on the L10 Product, the next generation of LOTOS platform, along with the terminal software for the operation of its 3.000 terminals, the Interactive Gaming Platform (based on the Player PULSE CRM-Platform) supporting all Hrvatska Lutrija gaming verticals, the innovative cross-channel Content Management System (based on the CANVAS Platform) and the Retailer Management System (based on the Retailer PULSE CRM-Platform), including full subset of the respective software components. INTRALOT will also provide the Lottery with dedicated training and knowledge transfer, as well as related system operation, software maintenance and supporting activities.

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Mr Mario Musa, President of the Board of Hrvatska Lutrija, stated: “As a result of an extensive and long lasting competitive process, we tasked INTRALOT to partner with Hrvatska Lutrija and invest on the transformation and innovation of our current operations by implementing its new Systems and Platforms based on LOTOS 10 ecosystem and advanced Retail digital technology. This new partnership will fully cover all business requirements and operational procedures required for our business to grow significantly in the upcoming years.. We are convinced that we have selected a strong partner who meets all our requirements for adapting to customer needs and legal changes much faster and at lower costs because of its new modular and micro-services-oriented architecture. We are recognized as the most responsible gaming organiser, which means that responsibility must be interwoven into all areas of business operations, to enable us to remain a credible source of knowledge sharing and support in raising the level of players’ competence to play games of chance in a responsible manner. We are looking forward to a smooth customization and implementation process followed by 10 years of a strong and successful partnership with INTRALOT which will support our vision to strengthen Hrvatska Lutrija as the leading gaming operator in the Croatian market.”

INTRALOT’s Group Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Nikos Nikolakopoulos commented: “We are delighted that we have been selected to assist the Lottery to grow significantly their business across gaming verticals and in every channel. INTRALOT's selection proves that we have met Hrvatska Lutrija Strategic and Operational objectives for their future transformation as well as our good track record and successful presence in Croatia. We are honoured by Hrvatska Lutrija’ trust and we are committed to invest the best technological and operational solutions in terms of innovation, digitalization, security, reliability, products, cost-efficiency and support, coupled with a true partnership approach, which will provide considerable advantages to the stakeholders and customers of Hrvatska Lutrija.”

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) press release.

Woosley Elected First VP of Lottery Executive Committee

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (October 8, 2018) -- Bishop Woosley, Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) director, was recently elected first vice president of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), an organization representing 52 lotteries in North America.

He has served on the NASPL executive committee since 2016 as secretary, treasurer and second vice president. He will advance to president of the organization next year.

NASPL was founded in 1971. Evolving from an informal exchange of information among three pioneering lottery directors, the organization has now grown into an active association covering the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Although the association’s membership and services have grown tremendously over the years, its basic mission remains to assemble and disseminate information and benefits of state and provincial lottery organizations through education and communications and where appropriate publicly advocate the positions of the association on matters of general policy.

“I am honored to serve on the NASPL executive committee,” Woosley said. “Being a small state and a fairly newcomer to the lottery world, it is important to have a voice.

"Serving in a leadership position with such a prestigious organization gives us the opportunity to express our thoughts and concerns.”

Woosley joined the Arkansas lottery at its inception in 2009 as chief legal counsel.

He was promoted to director in February 2012. Prior to the lottery, Woosley worked as a deputy attorney general in the Arkansas attorney general’s office.

A native of Stuttgart, Woosley practiced law in his hometown and served as deputy prosecuting attorney there after graduating from the University of Central Arkansas in 1996 and then earning his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 1999.

About the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery

More than 92 cents of every dollar of Lottery revenue goes to prizes, scholarships, retailer

commissions, and other expenses in Arkansas. Since 2009, the Lottery has provided more than $781 million for more than 302,000 college scholarships, more than $2.7 billion in prizes to players, about $230 million in retailer commissions and more than $117 million state and federal tax revenue.

Follow the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit

MyArkansasLottery.com for more information on scholarships, winners, games, odds,

promotions – and to join The Club for free. To hear winning numbers, call the Winning Numbers

• Hotline at 501-682-IWON (4966). To get help with problem gambling, contact the National
• Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

CONTACT: Kara Lee Ford at 501-683-1646 for more information.

SOURCE: Arkansas Scholarship Lottery press release.

Swedish Gambling Regulator Swamped for License Applications and Questions about the New Licensing System

SWEDEN (October 5, 2018) -- We have - like the rest of the game industry - had busy days getting everything in place for the new licensing system. So far, we have received 60 license applications, of which 55 concern commercial internet games (casino and betting). It is important that as many game operators as possible wish to be part of the Swedish licensing system. This gives us good opportunities for a well functioning gaming market in Sweden. At the same time, all applications and other preparations involve a high workload for the authority.

A review of all applications shows that many gaming companies need to come up with comprehensive additions. We have begun to send out the request for completions and the gaming companies who do not submit completions within the specified time may not be licensed until January 1, 2019.

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It may be necessary to clarify that it is advisable to submit a license application even after the end of December this year. There is also no thanks for the number of licenses.

We get a lot of questions from the industry about how the game language should be interpreted in different areas, especially if you want answers to questions about gaming responsibilities and match fixing. Our intention is to answer questions as far as possible, but due to the extremely short time from the decision to play the game in the Riksdag until the first licenses are issued, we do not have concrete answers to all questions at the present time. Our absolute priority in the autumn is to process applications and make decisions about licenses.

We therefore do not have the opportunity to meet individual gaming companies to a large extent, but we keep the dialogue with the industry open primarily through the trade associations SPER and BOS. However, it is good to email or call questions to us. Based on the questions we receive, we regularly update Questions and Answers .

Another highlighted area is the game advertisement, where we have also shared supervisory responsibility with the Consumer Agency. Definitions and concepts like "moderate marketing" will be clarified through jurisprudence, as in all legislative areas. We can not provide advance notice of how the legislation should be interpreted in individual cases. The starting point for the interpretation of different provisions of the new spell legislation is the intentions of the whole reform; namely a safe and secure gaming market where we jointly help to reduce the harmful effects of gaming and create a positive gaming experience.

Camilla Rosenberg

Director General, Lottery Inspectorate.

SOURCE: Lotteriinspektionen.

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®) Announces European Promotions

NMi Gaming and GLI Merger Integration Complete, Bringing Additional Benefits to EMEA Clients

HAARLEM, The Netherlands (October 8, 2018) – Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®) and NMi Gaming have completed their integration and have announced several staffing changes that will bring further operational efficiencies; speeding time-to-market, increasing bandwidth, and offering other key benefits to clients.

Martin Britton continues in his role as Managing Director over GLI EMEA, while the backbone of GLI UK remains the same; headed by Andrew Rosewarne and Dr. Rich Edwards.

With the expansion of iGaming across the EMEA sector, Rosewarne continues to provide great iGaming knowledge and initiative, playing a key role working in collaboration with GLI’s global offices and Salim Adatia, GLI’s VP of iGaming, to provide GLI’s iGaming clients with instant global reach through GLI’s 23 offices and 475 jurisdictions.

As the UK office headed by Rosewarne particularly specializes in iGaming, he and his team can provide the expertise to ensure the delivery of outstanding customer service; leveraging the merged capabilities of both GLI and NMi operations to help providers meet key regulatory deadlines with more speed, reliability, efficiency, and quality than ever before. GLI’s valued customers and clients will, therefore, benefit from this combined business ethos and enhanced operational bandwidth, which offers even more efficient testing and auditing brought about by the integration of GLI’s and NMi’s extensive resources in the region.

Additionally, Edwards is now leading all GLI engineering and math groups throughout EMEA, providing a wealth of experience to enhance methodology deployed with new technology products. These two key appointments ensure GLI’s position throughout the

EMEA region in providing outstanding knowledge that can be passed onto clients in assisting them through the compliance process.

Additionally, the GLI and NMi sales teams have been combined across the EMEA region. Chris Davies is now co-head of sales with James Illingworth. Our frontline teams are key to ensure we reach our clients in providing guidance, assistance, and expertise.

“Over the past several months, there has been a great deal of positive internal activity. During this period, we have improved many processes to further benefit our clients, Now, these combined departments across EMEA, with key leaders providing enhanced focus, will further enhance our ability to provide unsurpassed service,” said James Illingworth, GLI’s Director of European Client Services – Netherlands.

The combined GLI and NMi operation consists of eight offices across EMEA with more than 320 employees.

In July 2017, the GLI Group acquired NMi Metrology & Gaming Ltd. and related gaming assets (“NMi Gaming”) from NMi Certin, B.V. and related parties. That move supported NMi Gaming’s clients by providing them with instant global reach through GLI’s accredited 475 jurisdictions. Additionally, the transaction aided GLI’s clients by allowing the firm to provide even greater levels of service and attention.

Learn more this week in GLI’s booth #4430 at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.

About Gaming Laboratories International

Gaming Laboratories International, LLC delivers the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services. GLI’s laboratory locations are found on six continents, and the company holds U.S. and international accreditations for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, 17020, and 17065 standards for technical competence in the gaming, wagering and lottery industries. GLI also holds ISTBQ certification. For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

CONTACT: Christie Eickelman, Vice President of Global Marketing, T: +1 (702) 914-2220 or E: c.eickelman@gaminglabs.com.

SOURCE: Gaming Laboratories International press release.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Increases Profits $24.3 Million Over Previous Year

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada (October 10, 2018) -- All major lines of business at Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, including casinos, video lotto, and liquor operations increased their revenues in 2017-18. The results are found in the corporation’s new annual report, tabled in the provincial legislature today.

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An increase of overall revenues, net of direct expenses, to $610.4 million marks back-to-back years of growth. The year-over-year rate of growth nearly doubled to reach 4.1%.

The 2017-18 fiscal year demonstrates what we can achieve when we refocus on core operations, developing new ideas and projects to enhance our main lines of business," said Polly Craik, Chair, Board of Directors. "The board continues to provide strong guidance as we take a more defined business approach to our operations.”

As a Crown corporation that delivers entertainment experiences and operates at the retail level, customer satisfaction is a critical measure of success.

“Here again we have set new benchmarks for ourselves,” said Peter Hak, President & CEO. “Our casinos established an annual customer satisfaction score of 83%, while 94% of respondents gave Manitoba Liquor Marts a top grade. These are the highest ever annual satisfaction ratings for both sides of our business.”

As a Crown corporation, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries returns its revenues to the Province of Manitoba to support government programs and initiatives such as healthcare, education, social services, housing and infrastructure that are a benefit to all citizens.

CONTACT: Andrea Kowal, Director, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, Phone: 204-957-2500, ext. 2781, Email: Andrea.Kowal@mbll.ca.

SOURCE: Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries.

Wyolotto Eclipses $10m in Total State Transfer Funds after Fourth Straight $1m Quarterly Transfer

CHEYENNE, Wyoming (October 9, 2018) -- On October 5, WyoLotto™ transferred $1,407,967 to the State Treasurer’s Office. The State Treasurer distributes the funds to cities, towns, and counties, where they decide how to best use it for local projects that benefit their communities. This is the second highest amount ever transferred to the state since the launch of the Wyoming Lottery in 2014, and the fourth consecutive transfer to the state of over $1 million, bringing the total transfer amount over $10 million since April 2016.

“Breaking the $1 million transfer amount for the fourth consecutive quarter is great news for Wyoming residents,” Jon Clontz, CEO of WyoLotto, said.

“We’re grateful to be able to give back, and we owe that in large part to our players. The quarterly transfer is a way we can give back to all Wyoming residents,” Clontz concluded.

It’s worth repeating that WyoLotto is able to give back because of the support of its players. Look no further than the Cowboy DrawⓇ, Wyoming’s own game, which now has a jackpot of over $1.9 million! The highest jackpot in Cowboy Draw history. Someone will win bigger than ever before.

Cowboy Draw is not the only jackpot that is on the rise. PowerballⓇ and Mega MillionsⓇ jackpots have climbed to $282 million and $470 million respectively. The next Mega Millions drawing is at 9 p.m. MT on October 9, and Powerball will be drawn at 9 p.m. MT on October 10.

Since the lottery opened its doors, it has paid more than $45,000,000 in winnings to players across all four products the lottery sells.

See how WyoLotto is giving back in its new Giving Back video.

To receive updates and notifications about Cowboy Draw, Lucky for LifeⓇ, Mega Millions or Powerball, visit: wyolotto.com/signup

About Wyoming Lottery Corp

The Wyoming Lottery Corp. is a corporate business entity established by House Bill 77 in the 2013 legislative session and signed into law by Governor Matt Mead. The corporation operates as a private business and does not employ state employees or use state tax money. State law requires Lottery revenue to be distributed to cities, towns and counties based on ticket sales. 

SOURCE:  Wyoming Lottery Corp.

The Florida Lottery Receives Top Responsible Gaming Certification

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (October 5, 2018) -- The Florida Lottery announces that it has received the top certification for responsible gaming from the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Florida becomes one of only 14 lotteries to have achieved this distinction. Elements of the program include employee and retailer training, public education and awareness, product oversight, research and advertising.

The Lottery's commitment to build responsible gaming best practices into all agency operations was instrumental in achieving this highly sought industry recognition.

"This certification emphasizes that in everything we do, from the way we design and advertise our games, to the resources we offer our players, we are working to keep responsible play at the heart of our operations," said Secretary Jim Poppell.

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The Responsible Gambling Verification Program was launched by NASPL and NCPG in 2016. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, the Florida Lottery encourages you to contact the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling at 1-888-ADMIT-IT, or the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 for confidential help.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $33 billion to education and sending more than 775,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 98 percent of its revenue back into Florida's economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Florida retailers and contributions to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $56.3 billion in prizes and made more than 2,000 people millionaires. For more information, please visit: www.flalottery.com.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Florida Lottery announced Tuesday that until further notice, all lottery drawings will be relocated to Orlando due to Hurricane Michael.

The storm is headed directly toward the Florida panhandle and Tallahassee area, predicted to make landfall Wednesday afternoon.

As a result, the will be no live satellite feeds of the drawings available for Fox 4 to air live.  The winning numbers will still be published on the Florida Lottery website and Twitter as soon as possible.

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

SOURCE: The Florida Lottery press release.

eCOGRA to Test and Certify Operators and Software Providers In Sweden

LONDON, U.K. (October 11, 2018) -- eCOGRA, the independent testing laboratory, has announced it is ready to commence testing and certification of operators applying for online gambling licenses in Sweden. This follows the granting of the necessary scope extension to its ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to include the relevant standards and technical requirements from Sweden Lotteriinspektionens.

eCOGRA will be further able to service its clients in this market by leveraging the fact that it is the only online gambling testing laboratory authorised to offer operators and software providers accredited ISO/IEC 27001 certifications for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), by having an ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015.

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Shaun McCallaghan, eCOGRA Chief Operating Officer, said "we are extremely pleased to be able to assist our existing clients, and potential new clients, to comply with the necessary testing and certification requirements in Sweden. It is encouraging that a significant number of the largest multi-jurisdictional operators and software providers have already committed to using our services in this market, which reflects the quality of the service we've provided for these clients in other complex licensing jurisdictions".

McCallaghan added that eCOGRA has also recently obtained testing laboratory approval from PAGCOR (Philippines) and in Jersey, and the company remains committed to servicing its clients in each of the regulated markets where they choose to license their online gambling products.

ABOUT eCOGRA:

Founded fifteen years ago to establish and improve operational standards and player safety requirements in the online gambling space, eCOGRA has amassed a wealth of experience in implementing international best practice standards and requirements, and ensuring these are maintained through regular review and monitoring.

eCOGRA acts as a regulatory audit partner to over 100 multi-jurisdictional operators, software providers and other relevant service providers in the online gambling industry. The independent testing laboratory is staffed by a team of professional auditors with Big 4 auditing firm experience, information security experts, test engineers and responsible gambling specialists.

The company has been awarded the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) ISO approval ISO/IEC 17025:2005 : General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories for the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark, as well as ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, which is a prerequisite for carrying out third-party ISO/IEC 27001 audits and accredited certifications of Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

For more information about eCOGRA's testing and certification services, please visit: www.ecogra.org.

SOURCE: eCOGRA press release.

Yggdrasil Signs Svenska Spel Content Agreement Ahead of 2019 Swedish Market Regulation

SWEDEN (October 5, 2018) -- Innovative gaming solutions supplier Yggdrasil has boosted its presence in the soon-to-be regulated Swedish market by agreeing to provide Svenska Spel Sport & Casino (subsidiary of AB Svenska Spel) with its leading casino slots content.

Svenska Spel is the largest and most established gaming operator in the Swedish market with brands including Lotto, Triss, Stryktipset, Oddset, Vegas and Casino Cosmopol. The Swedish market will open its doors to regulated online gaming on 1st January 2019.

The operator will take Yggdrasil’s portfolio of innovative slot games including Penguin City, Hanzo’s Dojo, and latest release Wolf Hunters that calls on the bravest players to take on the foul Werewolf in its latest quest-based video slot.

Fredrik Elmqvist, CEO, Yggdrasil, said: “We’re really happy to have agreed terms with Svenska Spel ahead of the Swedish market regulating next year.”

“Our strategy to expand our regulated market footprint is ahead of schedule and demand from operators across a wide variety of regulated and newly regulating markets is rapidly growing. We will be ready to go well ahead of the January 2019 launch date.”

Fredrik Wastenson, MD, Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, said: “Yggdrasil was an obvious choice when selecting a casino gaming solutions partner. The innovative offering performs well in regulated markets and we are confident they will attract a large following in Sweden.”

About Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil is a provider of superior online gaming solutions for igaming operators. The business was founded in 2013 and has since emerged as one of the industry’s most respected and acclaimed suppliers. Yggdrasil operates a highly scalable business model and covers three product verticals: Casino Slots, Table Games and Bingo, in addition to the business verticals: Yggdrasil White Label Studios, YGS Masters and Yggdrasil Dragons. Since its inception, Yggdrasil has embarked on a solid growth trajectory enabled by a strong corporate culture focused on innovation, creativity, quality and technology leadership. Yggdrasil is headquartered in Sweden and has offices in Malta (operational HQ), Poland and Gibraltar.

SOURCE: Yggdrasil Gaming.

Retiring Gaming Authority Board Members Disappointed that Remote Gaming Act Has Not Yet Been Adopted by Parliament

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (October 8, 2018) – Jan Suyver and Henk Kesler left the Gaming Authority on 1 October 2018 – their term was over. Today (8 October 2018) they officially said goodbye during a gathering for invited guests in the heatre Diligentia in The Hague. The chairman and vice-chairman look back on the first six years of supervision of the market for games of chance. The duo is satisfied with the organization that was put down, but disappointed about the fact that the Remote Gaming Act has not yet been adopted by parliament.

The task of the government to Jan Suyver and Henk Kesler was clear in 2012: “The Law on Remote Gaming is on the way, with the Gaming Authority (Ksa), the legalization of online gambling is on the right track.” This law makes it possible to offer games of chance with a license under strict conditions via the internet. The idea is that on a regulated market it is much easier to protect the consumer and to combat illegal supply. The Remote Gaming Act provides (in addition to a licensing system whereby requirements can be imposed on providers and can be supervised), also in means to effectively take action against illegal supply – instruments that are missing in the current Act on games of chance of 1964.

Experience in other countries – Denmark, Sweden – learns that it is perfectly possible to regulate the market in a relatively short time. For the Netherlands, a channelization target of 80 percent was once mentioned; This means that 80 per cent of the gambling participants play with a licensed provider.

Consumer protection

But the law is not there in 2018 yet, so that the legal gambling playing field in the Netherlands is clear. This market is limited to lotteries, the gaming machine industry (gaming halls and in the hotel and catering industry), the Holland Casino branches (casino games and slot machines) and one sports betting provider, the Toto, and one for horse races and horse racing.

But there is also a clear need for online gambling opportunities among consumers: it is estimated that between 500,000 and 1 million Dutch people sometimes (or more often) participate in a game of chance with an online provider. They now do so illegally and unprotected against malpractices. Consumer protection is one of the three public goals of the Ksa. The other two are preventing gambling addiction and combating illegality and crime.

Understanding

In mid-2016, four years after the kick-off of the Ksa, the House of Representatives agreed to the Bill on Remote Gambling.. The Senate has not yet reached the treatment, more than two years later. The Netherlands is one of the few countries in the European Union that has not yet legalized online games of chance.

‘In our country it is a complicated, ideological dossier in which there is a wide range of insights and interests’, says Jan Suyver diplomatically. Not only religion plays a role in politics. The Christian parties have difficulty with gambling, but on other grounds this also applies to the SP.

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Although the outgoing chairman ‘has all the understanding for the careful political deliberations that take place in the Netherlands’, he does think that the Law on Remote Gaming should now come quickly. Suyver: ‘The consumer simply has the right to be protected. I always say: even though you are against gambling, that can not be a reason not to arrange it. Rather, on the contrary, I would say. “

Instrumentarium

Henk Kesler has less understanding and typifies the following six years as follows: ‘Unfortunately we were not allowed to do what we wanted to do. For that reason I do not look back with great satisfaction. A nice organization has been set up, but politics has not delivered what we were promised at the start of the Gaming Authority: a toolbox to steer online gambling on a regulated market. I’ve become pretty cranky now and again. A lot of complaining in the Lower House, but get along with the necessary legislation. Only slow down, ball wide and then play back, just to speak in football terms. ‘

Capacity

Certainly for Kesler, who earned his spurs as a lawyer, in business and later as a KNVB director, it was sometimes difficult to be part of this process. Jan Suyver, once secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice at that time, used such lengthy legislative processes before. He wonders whether sufficient capacity has been made available for the chance file at the Ministry of Justice and Security. ‘The answer to parliamentary questions sometimes took a long time. I have the impression that the file now has more attention, I have also asked for it from the Secretary-General. The legalization of online games of chance is also mentioned in the coalition agreement, which is a good sign. ‘

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Both Suyver and Kesler characterize the situation in which the Gaming Authority has served as an ‘administrative spage’ for the past six years. Granting licenses for offering online gambling can not be done under the current Act on games of chance, while on the other hand there are hardly any means to combat illegal providers. Moreover, in some cases it also concerns companies that are respected abroad, sometimes even listed on the stock exchange, and that have, for example, addiction prevention in order. Kesler: ‘I once said that we had to go to war in the lions’ den with a toothbrush. The consumer deserves protection, but politicians must give the Ksa the means to do so. ‘

Certainly no regrets

Anyone who thinks that Suyver and Kesler regret that they started with the Gaming Authority six years ago, is wrong. They are both proud of the organization that has been put down. The duo refers in this connection to the evaluation of the KSA by the WODC last year. In general terms, this means that the Gaming Authority provides licenses in a clear and unequivocal manner, is operational in order and that the enforcement policy corresponds with what may be expected in view of the state of the art. Kesler particularly praises ‘the spirit, the collegiality and the fantastic atmosphere’. Suyver has ‘a nice organization with peace of mind in the hope and expectation that the Remote Gaming Act is coming soon’.

New board

The new chairman of the Gaming Authority is René Jansen, formerly a former director at the Dutch Healthcare Authority. He started on October 1^st. The new vice-chairman is Bernadette van Buchem, who is currently the director of consumers at the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets. It starts on 15 October. The third board member of the Gaming Authority is Joop Pot.

SOURCE: De Kansspelautoriteit (The Gaming Authority).

Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) Releases September 2018 Index

LAS VEGAS, NV (Oct. 8, 2018) -- The AGEM Index decreased in September 2018, finishing the month at 493.03 points, a decline of 28.48 points, or 5.46 percent, compared to August 2018. The AGEM Index reported a year-over-year increase for the 36th consecutive month and has climbed 35.12 points, or 7.67 percent, since September 2017.

During the latest period, six of the 13 global gaming equipment manufacturers reported month-to-month increases in stock price. Seven manufacturers reported decreases in stock price during the month.

The three major stock market indices saw gains during the month. The S&P 500 reported a month-to-month increase of 0.43 percent to 2,913.98. The Dow Jones Industrial Average grew 1.90 percent to 26,458.31, while the NASDAQ decreased 0.78 percent during the period to 8,046.35.

Positive contributors to the September 2018 AGEM Index included the following:

• Crane Co. (CR) contributed 7.12 points due to a 7.75 percent increase in stock price to $98.35.
• Everi Holdings Inc. (EVRI) reported a 5.77 percent increase in stock price to $9.17, contributing 0.58 points.

Selected negative contributors included the following:

• With its stock price falling 9.97 percent to AU$ 28.44, Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) contributed negative 19.90 points.
• Konami Corp. (TYO: 9766) reported a 4.40 percent decrease in stock price to ¥4,450, contributing negative 5.52 points.

September 2018 has been a fairly active month for companies in the AGEM Index. PlayAGS Inc. (AGS) capped off the month by establishing a three-year marketing partnership with the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League. This partnership is the first of its kind in the United States between a major American sports franchise and a gaming equipment manufacturer. An example of a marketing initiative under this partnership is the “AGS Play of the Game,” which will show the top highlight of all preseason, regular and playoff games on the video screen above center ice.

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In addition to this partnership, PlayAGS Inc. installed its first Class II tribal Orion Slant cabinets at the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka, Alabama.

International Game Technology PLC (IGT) recently announced its partnership with William Hill US to bring sports betting to lotteries in the United States. The end product of the agreement is that the two organizations will produce a complete sports betting solution for state lotteries. Since the overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in June, four states have implemented legal sports betting, and a number of other states are considering legalized sports betting. Besides this partnership, IGT also came to an agreement with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to provide its PlayShot digital sports betting solution to three tribal casinos in Mississippi.

Scientific Games Corporation (SGMS) was also active during September. The company announced its installation of a number of products at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, including beverage management, game accounting and a number of slot and table games. Scientific Games also announced an extension of its contract with the state of Washington’s lottery to provide instant games, licensed brands and servicing. The contract runs into 2024 and continues a long-standing relationship that Scientific Games has had with the Washington Lottery since 1982. As part of the scope of the extended contract, Scientific Games will create a mobile app for Washington Lottery players, as well as a player loyalty program.

Agilysys Inc. (AGYS) released the newest version of its DataMagine software in September 2018. DataMagine is the company’s document management solution, which utilizes strong security frameworks to capture records permanently on an on-demand basis. The document management software has a flexible imaging module that integrates with most business applications. Additional features of the software include individual permission management, simultaneous access to stored documents and remote access to protected data. Also included are updates to the email service, which include automatic re-sendings of approval emails and adding notes to documents.

The AGEM Index

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The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) produces the monthly AGEM Index that comprises 13 global gaming suppliers throughout the world. A total of eight suppliers are based in the United States and are listed on the NYSE, Nasdaq or OTC market, while two trade on the Australian exchange, one on the Tokyo exchange, and another trades on the Taiwan OTC exchange.

The index is computed based on the month-end stock price (adjusted for dividends and splits) of each company and weighted based on approximation of market capitalization. Market capitalizations for manufacturers trading on foreign exchanges have been converted to US dollar-equivalents as of month-end for comparability purposes. The AGEM Index is based on a 100-point value as of January 2005.

About AGEM

AGEM is an international trade association representing manufacturers of electronic gaming devices, systems, lotteries, and components for the gaming industry. The Association works to further the interests of gaming equipment manufacturers throughout the world. Through political action, tradeshow partnerships, information dissemination and good corporate citizenship, the members of AGEM work together to create benefits for every company within the organization. Together, AGEM and its member organizations have assisted regulatory commissions and participated in the legislative process to solve problems and create a positive business environment.

AGEM Index

The AGEM index and overview is prepared by Applied Analysis (AA). AA is a Nevada-based advisory services firm providing consultation services for public and private entities. The company utilizes extensive experience in economics, information technology and finance to provide a wide range of services, including urban economic consulting, financial advisory services, market analysis, public policy analysis, hospitality industry and gaming consulting, and information system and technology consulting.

For More Information, CONTACT: Marcus Prater, Executive Director, T: 702.812.6932.

SOURCE: Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers press release.