International Game Technology PLC Reports Fourth Quarter and
Full Year 2018 Results
- 2018 full year net loss of $21 million includes
$120 million of non-cash impairment charges; 2018 Adjusted EBITDA of $1,737
million within expected range when normalized for FX
- Fourth quarter net loss of $102 million reflects
non-cash impairment charges; Adjusted EBITDA of $416 million on strong global
Lottery performance and North America gaming machine unit shipments
- Net debt of $7,761 million; final installment of
Scratch & Win license fee paid in fourth quarter
- Cash dividend declared of $0.20 per ordinary
share
LONDON, U.K. (March 7, 2019) --
International Game Technology PLC ("IGT") (NYSE:IGT) today reported financial
results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018. Today, at
8:00 a.m. EST, management will host a conference call and webcast to present
the fourth quarter and full year results; access details are provided
below.
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 Interactive and
Social Gaming.
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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...
"Our 2018 results are in line
with the improved outlook we provided in October. The year was characterized by
strong global Lottery performance, resilience in Italy, and progress in North
America Gaming," said Marco Sala, CEO of IGT.
"We've established solid
foundations to build on securing large, long-term Lottery contracts in
key markets and executing a full refresh of our gaming machine cabinet and
content portfolio. These efforts will translate into improved free cash flow
beginning in 2019."
"We achieved 4% Adjusted EBITDA
growth on stable revenue at constant currency and scope in 2018," said
Alberto Fornaro, CFO of IGT. "We managed our net debt effectively, while
making large upfront payments for a key Lottery license in Italy, investing in
long-term North America Lottery contracts, and returning capital to
shareholders through dividends. Our outlook for 2019 Adjusted EBITDA of
$1.70-$1.76 billion assumes underlying growth for our core Lottery and Gaming
businesses."
CLICK here to view/download the IGT Report Fourth Quarter
and Full Year 2018 Results
SOURCE International Game Technology
PLC.
Sokratis Kokkalis Becomes INTRALOT CEO
ATHENS, Greece (March 1, 2019) --
INTRALOT S.A. announces that, effective today, the Chairman of its Board, Mr.
Sokratis Kokkalis, assumes also the duties of Chief Executive Officer,
following the resignation of Mr. Kerastaris as CEO and Executive Member of the
Board of Directors.
Mr. Kokkalis thanked Mr. Kerastaris
for his contribution to the INTRALOT and INTRACOM Holdings Groups in the past
10 years.
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Mr. Kerastaris will be replaced in
the Board of Directors by Mr. Alexandros-Stergios Manos as non-executive board
member.
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 HQ and
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.
The company has designed a new
ecosystem of holistic omni-channel solutions across verticals (Lottery,
Betting, Interactive, VLT) for Lotteries digital transformation.
INTRALOT has been awarded the
prestigious WLA Responsible Gaming Framework Certification by the World Lottery
Association (WLA) and the WLA certificate for the Security Control
standard.
For more information CONTACT: Ms.
Spyranda Anamouroglou, Corporate Communications Manager, Phone: +30-210
6156000, Fax: +30-210 6106800, email:
anamouroglou@intralot.com
SOURCE: INTRALOT (www.intralot.com).
Pollard Banknotes Licensed Games Portfolio Gets a Leg Up
on the Holidays with a Christmas Story
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada (March 6,
2019) -- Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) (Pollard Banknote), a
leading lottery partner that provides instant tickets, interactive programs,
retail solutions, and full marketing support, in partnership with Warner Bros.
Consumer Products, is excited to announce the addition of the renowned classic
holiday film, A Christmas Story, to its expansive portfolio of licensed brand
offerings.
First premiering in 1983, the film
remains an integral part of holiday festivities to this day. Heralded as
maybe the best Christmas movie ever by The New York Times, A
Christmas Story, a nostalgic view of Christmastime in Indiana during the 1940s,
stars Peter Billingsley as Ralphie, a nine-year-old who has only one thing on
his Christmas list: a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Air Rifle. With his
parents unwilling to buy him the present, Ralphie decides to mount a
full-scale, hint-dropping, Santa-begging campaign.
With its memorable cast of
characters and iconic imagery, A Christmas Story presents many exciting
creative options for lotteries. Pollard Banknotes Licensed Products team
will offer 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.
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About Warner Bros. Consumer
Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
(WBCP), a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, extends the Studios
powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of
fans around the world. WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees
globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and
publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, Wizarding World,
Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera. The divisions successful global themed
entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The
Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. With
innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives,
promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading
licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
A CHRISTMAS STORY
and all related characters and elements © & Turner
Entertainment Co. (s19)
About Pollard Banknote
Pollard Banknote is a leading
lottery partner to more than 60 lotteries worldwide, providing high quality
instant ticket products, licensed games, Schafer Systems retail merchandising
solutions, 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 provides 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 67.5% by the Pollard family and
32.5% 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: Brad
Thompson, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Telephone: (204) 474-2323,
E-mail: bthompson@pbl.ca
SOURCE: Pollard Banknote press
release.
March
is Problem Gambling Awareness Month NASPL and NCPG Partner to Promote
Awareness + Action
CONCORD, Ohio (March 4, 2019)
This March, in recognition of Problem Gambling Awareness Month
(PGAM), the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries
(NASPL) is partnering with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to
provide educational resources and training to members, retailers and
players.
The theme for the 2019 PGAM is
Awareness + Action." The national campaign, which is in its sixteenth
year, aims to increase public awareness of problem gambling, as well as the
availability of prevention, treatment and recovery services. A toolkit guide,
event calendar and graphics downloads are available to PGAM participants on the
NCPG website.
According to the NCPG, research
indicates that most adults who choose to gamble are able to do so responsibly.
Approximately 85 percent of US adults have gambled at least once in their
lives; 60 percent have done so in the past year. Of those U.S. adults, about
one percent meet the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling.
This month and year-round, NASPL and
the NCPG are working together to improve responsible gambling education and
practices within the lottery industry. At NASPL we value our relationship
with the NCPG, and were excited to see the ongoing improvements made
possible by our combined efforts, said Executive Director David Gale.
NASPL recently released its
Guidelines for Responsible Gambling to assist lotteries in
developing best practices. Additionally, NASPL and the NCPG worked together to
establish a Verification Program for lotteries seeking to create or improve
responsible gambling programs within their jurisdictions. By the end of 2019,
half of the lotteries in the U.S. are expected to achieve official
verification.
Responsible gambling resources,
including Verification Program information, employee and retailer training
videos, and a downloadable RG Toolkit are available to NASPL members on the
NASPL Matrix.
When help is needed, the NCPG
operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network, which provides
resources and referrals to all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Canada
and the US Virgin Islands. Communication is 100 percent confidential, and help
is available 24/7 by calling or texting 1-800-522-4700 or by accessing the
Helpline Chat at ncpgambling.org/chat.
About NASPL: The North
American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries was founded in 1971.
Evolving from an informal exchange of information among three pioneering
lottery directors, the organization has grown into an active association
representing 52 lottery organizations. NASPL's basic mission is to assemble and
disseminate information on the lottery industry through education and
communications, and where appropriate publicly advocate the positions of the
Association on matters of general policy.
Media contact: David Gale, Executive
Director, 440-361-7962 or dgale@nasplhq.org.
SOURCE: NASPL.
Global
Lotteries Enjoy Good Start to 2018
Global lottery sales
increased a healthy 5.7% during the first quarter of 2018, with Africa
celebrating thanks to outstanding growth in South Africa and
Morocco.

BASEL, Switzerland (March 7, 2019)
-- Lotteries around the world enjoyed a strong first quarter of 2018 with every
continent recording positive growth. The last occasion lotteries worldwide
enjoyed such a favorable start to the year was 2015.
Africa was the most spectacular
performer, with contributing lotteries across the region posting
quarter-on-quarter growth of 17.7%. Latin America followed closely behind with
quarter-on-quarter growth of 13.9% in aggregate. Growth in the Latin American
region was almost wholly attributable to the strong performance of
Brazils Caixa Econômica Federal.
For their part, the North America
and Asia Pacific regions both enjoyed aggregate growth rates of around 7%
quarter-on-quarter. Growth in the Asia Pacific region was underpinned by
Chinas Sports Lottery, which enjoyed stellar Q1-on-Q1 growth of
18.3%.
Africa: Jackpots at Ithuba take
off as Morocco's run continues
South Africas Ithuba began
2018 in fine form with a quarter-on-quarter jump in sales of 12.7%. The
increase in sales at the South African National Lottery was driven by large
jackpots for LOTTO and POWERBALL, with the top prizes for both games rolling
over from the end of the previous year. The LOTTO jackpot ultimately went on to
become the then-largest in the lotterys 18-year history, with four
winners eventually sharing the record ZAR 110 million prize. When combined with
the rollover of the POWERBALL jackpot from the previous month, this brought
Ithuba to record-breaking sales for January 2018.
Beyond this, Ithubas January
sales also featured a record-breaking week, which brought in ZAR 232 million.
The sterling performance of Africas lottery powerhouse helped the
continents contributing lotteries in posting a quarter-on-quarter
increase in sales of 17.7% in aggregate.
Not to be outdone, Moroccos
two lotteries again reaped rewards in the first quarter of 2018 after enjoying
a fruitful 2017, with Loterie Nationale and La Marocaine des Jeux (MDJS)
celebrating quarter-on-quarter growth rates of 26.1% and an indicator-leading
35.8% respectively.
Loterie Nationale was among the
WLAs fastest growing members in Africa during 2017 and is showing no
signs of wanting to relinquish this crown in 2018.
Latin America: Brazils
CAIXA powers Latin American growth
Contributing Latin American
lotteries enjoyed growth of 13.9% for Q1 2018, as against Q1 2017. Once again
Brazils Caixa Econômica Federal was almost solely responsible for
the ostensibly strong growth rate across the region. CAIXAs first-quarter
on first-quarter increase in sales of 18% pushed up the continents
aggregate growth to the reported 13.9% figure.
Elsewhere in Latin America,
Mexicos Pronósticos boosted its first-quarter sales by a
creditable 3.5% over the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Its sister
lottery Lotería National para la Asistencia Pública had a
relatively flat first quarter, which saw sales decrease marginally.
North America: OLG and the
California State Lottery bolster North America
The North American region also
performed robustly, with contributing North American lotteries reporting a
healthy 7.2% increase in sales in aggregate for the first quarter of 2018, as
against the first quarter of 2017.
The good performance of lotteries in
North America was built on the back of results from Canadas Ontario
Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and Americas California State
Lottery, which led the way with quarter-on-quarter increases in sales of 15.1%
and 13.7% respectively. The increase in sales gains at the California State
Lottery were largely attributable to the performance of the
multi-jurisdictional Mega Millions and Powerball games, and strong sales for
the lotterys Scratchers (instant) tickets. Mega Millions experienced
faster jackpot progressions after its matrix change and move from the USD 1 to
USD 2 price point in October 2017, resulting in higher sales per draw. The
average jackpot level for Mega Millions in Q1 2017 was USD 100 million,
reaching a high of USD 188 million.
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During Q1 2018 the average grew to
USD 221 million, and broke the USD 500 million mark for the first time since
2016, further driving sales. During this same period, Powerball also broke the
USD 500 million barrier in Q1 2018, reaching USD 570 million in January 2018;
in March 2018 the feat was almost repeated, with the jackpot reaching USD 455
million. This compared to Q1 2017, where only one Powerball jackpot over USD
400 million was recorded.
Sales of the California
Lotterys Scratchers also fared very well in the first quarter of 2018,
and were nearly USD 100 million higher compared to Q1 2017. These gains were
attributed to the USD 3, USD 5, USD 10, and USD 20 price points, with half
coming from USD 20 games alone. During Q1 2017, no new USD 20 games were
launched and only three to four USD 20 games were being sold in any given week,
whereas in Q1 2018 two new USD 20 games were launched and there were an average
of five to six USD 20 games on the market.
Even as OLG and the California State
Lottery were the pick of the North American lotteries, the Tennessee Education
Lottery Corporation could be pleased with a solid 6.8% boost in sales on the
previous year.
For their part, the New York State
Lottery, the Kentucky Lottery Corporation, and the Connecticut Lottery
Corporation all recorded Q1-on-Q1 growth rates of between 3 and 4.5%, while
Canadas BCLC enjoyed a first-quarter on first-quarter increase in sales
of 2.9%.
Asia Pacific: China Sports
Lottery enjoys an outstanding first quarter
Asia Pacifics lotteries
enjoyed yet another good quarter, with contributing lotteries reporting an
aggregate increase in sales of 6.9% for Q1 2018, versus the corresponding
revenue period of the previous year. The outstanding performance of the China
Sports Lottery was responsible for much of the regions growth.
The Sports Lotterys
performance for the JanuaryMarch period was largely driven by growth in
sports betting sales, which were up by 36.2% quarter-on-quarter to CNY 22.7
billion. Numbers games also performed creditably, with sales up 5.5%
quarter-on-quarter to CNY 64 billion.
From January to March 2018, sales
increased in 26 provinces across China, most notably across the Hunan,
Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, and Jiangxi provinces.
Elsewhere in Asia Pacific, the Hong
Kong Jockey Club also fared well, with total sales for Q1 2018 up a decent 6%
on Q1 2017. In Australia, LotteryWest came close to matching its counterpart in
Hong Kong, enjoying a quarter-on-quarter increase in sales of 4.6%.
Europe: SAZKA Group shows the way
in Europe
Classified
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Contributing lotteries in Europe
were up a comparatively modest 3.7% for the first three months of 2018, as
against the first three months of 2017. Leading European lottery group SAZKA
Group may be pleased with performance of companies where it has significant
interests. The fully-owned Czech Republic subsidiary Sazka was the star
performer, reporting a stellar Q1-on-Q1 increase in sales of 29.8%. Its
excellent growth was driven by a combination of the growth of retail instants,
the high performance of Eurojackpot, and the contribution of e-instants, which
were only launched at the end of the comparable period (March 2017).
SAZKA Group also owns almost
one-third of Greeces OPAP and as such will be pleased that a 2% increase
in sales (5.1% increase in GGR) at the Greek national lottery for the Q1-on-Q1
period resulted in a healthy 20% profit hike. Revenues at OPAP increased thanks
to an increased contribution from VLTs and meaningful betting growth, while
profits were boosted by increased contribution of products with lower taxation
rates.
Hungarys
Szerencsejáték Zrt. enjoyed a buoyant 2017 and continued its run
of good form into 2018, with total sales up 6.2% for the period
JanuaryMarch 2018, as against the same timeframes in the previous year.
The Hungarian national lottery reported increased play across all game
categories, with particularly good results from its new instant tickets.
Polands Totalizator Sportowy
was the regions second-strongest performer during the quarter with total
sales up 12.5% for the first quarter of 2018, versus the corresponding period
in 2017.
Increased sales of KENO and scratch
cards had the biggest impact on growth, while the lottery also started
accepting non-cash payments and launched EuroJackpot at the tail end of 2017.
Counterpointing these developments, the Polish national lottery flagged the
possibility that a decrease in sales of the companys main Lotto product
may have resulted from cannibalization by EuroJackpot.
Elsewhere in the region,
Switzerlands Loterie Romande could be more than content with a Q1-on-Q1
increase in sales of 11.2%, while the UKs Camelot reported a healthy
Q1-on-Q1 growth in sales of 7.3%.
Looking forward
The WLA will continue to track the
progress of global lottery sales in future editions of the WLA QLSI. Once again
we thank all WLA member lotteries participating in this initiative, and look
forward to bringing you the second quarter 2018 results shortly.
Luca Esposito
WLA Executive Director.
The
Malta Gaming Authority Signs MoU with the Swedish Gambling
Authority
MALTA (March 5, 2019) -- The Malta
Gaming Authority (MGA) and the Spelinspektionen (the Swedish Gambling
Authority) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the
purposes of enhanced cooperation between the two authorities in furtherance of
the authorities public policy objectives and mutually common values. The
aim of this MoU is to facilitate on-going close communications between the two
authorities, and to support effective sharing of information on matters of
mutual interest and policy areas.
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Both authorities have also agreed to
provide the best possible operational assistance to one another, on a
continuous basis, in accordance with both their respective procedures and
regulatory policies.
The Director General of the Swedish
Gambling Authority, Camilla Rosenberg said that: Many of the companies
that have received a Swedish license also have technical equipment and a
license in Malta.
By opening the communication
channels between the authorities we become stronger in our supervisory
activities.
This is the beginning of a broad and
long-term cooperation, and our plan is to initiate corresponding collaborations
with more gambling authorities in Europe.
The MGAs Chief Executive
Officer, Heathcliff Farrugia, also expressed his satisfaction on this agreement
whereby he stated that: The MGA is always actively seeking to foster
relationships with fellow authorities and other international regulatory bodies
as we firmly believe that such relationships are key to reaching our
objectives, especially in the area of remote gaming which is fundamentally
cross-border in nature.
This MoU, signed with the Swedish
Gambling Authority, is an important step towards achieving both our respective
regulatory goals in vital areas of mutual interest, especially since the MGA
and the Swedish Gambling Authority share a significant number of operators
licensed by both regulators. We are eager to start this mutually beneficial
journey with our Swedish counterpart.
The MoU came into force as of the 4
of March 2019.
SOURCE: Malta Gaming
Authority.
Kentucky Lottery Sees Best Scratch-Off Sales Day in Nearly 30
Year History
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (March 1, 2019)
-- The launch of a new $30 Scratch-off the first time this price point
has ever been offered in Kentucky has led to a record-breaking sales
day.
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The new $30 Break Fort
Knox ticket went on sale Friday February 22nd. Based largely on interest
in this new game, the lottery realized Scratch-off sales that day of $8.77
million.
This shatters the previous record of
$5.1 million, set on the very first day of modern lottery sales in Kentucky
April 4, 1989.
This is a great way to kick
off our 30th anniversary well be officially celebrating in
April, said Tom Delacenserie, president and CEO of the Kentucky
Lottery.
To not only break but
shatter our one-day Scratch-off sales record is a huge achievement, and a
testament to the hard work of our retailers and staff. The more tickets we
sell, the more kids we send to college. Thats a great net result of this
momentous occasion.
The $30 game offers four top prizes
of $3 million, one of which was claimed just three days after Break Fort
Knox went on sale.
The game also offers more than 70
prizes of $100,000, and 600 prizes of $10,000.
CONTACT: Chip Polston | Sr. VP of
Communications, PR and Social Responsibility, Phone: +1 502 560-1675.
SOURCE: Kentucky Lottery.
Arizona Lottery Gives Away $1 Million to Players Throughout
March
Arizona Lottery Hosts
Million Dollar Madness, Introduces New Arizona Millionaires Club
Scratchers® ticket
PHOENIX, Arizona (March 1, 2019)
The Arizona Lottery is looking at nothing but net in March, joining in
on the fun this month with the Million Dollar Madness second chance promotion
and the new Arizona Millionaires Club Scratchers® ticket.
Arizona Millionaires Club is a
$30 ticket with 12 top prizes of $1 million, giving more players than ever
before the chance to make their millionaire dreams come true with a single
ticket!
In addition, starting March 1, the
Arizona Lottery will give players another million as part of the Million Dollar
Madness second chance promotion. Each week throughout March, one lucky player
will win $250,000, giving promotion participants four chances to win!
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Heres how it works:
Lottery players can enter eligible non-winning $10, $20 or $30 Scratchers
tickets into the Million Dollar Madness promotion by visiting AZplayersclub.com
or by scanning their tickets using the Arizona Lottery Player Rewards mobile
app. Non-winning $10 tickets will receive ten entries into the promotion, $20
tickets will receive twenty entries and $30 tickets will receive thirty
entries.
March is an exciting month and
the Arizona Lottery is proud to add to our players excitement with this
new ticket and promotion, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery Gregg
Edgar said. While playing Arizona Millionaires Club, along with
their favorite Scratchers games, Million Dollar Madness will elevate their
experience by giving them the chance to win a quarter million dollars every
week!
Thirteen different $10, $20 and $30
Scratchers tickets are eligible for the promotion.
Players can purchase Scratchers
tickets, including the new Arizona Millionaires Club ticket, at all
3,000+ Arizona Lottery retail locations. For a full schedule of entry deadlines
and draw dates for the Million Dollar Madness promotion please visit,
ArizonaLottery.com.
Scratchers® is a registered
service mark of the California Lottery.
About Arizona Lottery
Since 1981, the Arizona Lottery and
its retail partners have generated more than $4 billion in net funding in
support of programs that help to improve the quality of life for the people of
Arizona. Proceeds from Lottery ticket sales more than $4 million per
week fund programs in education, economic development, environmental
conservation and health and human services. The mission is to support Arizona
programs for the public benefit by maximizing net revenue in a responsible
manner. Learn more at ArizonaLottery.com.
CONTACT: John Turner Gilliland,
(480) 921-4438 desk or (602) 702-2758 cell, Email:
jgilliland@azlottery.gov.
SOURCE: Arizona Lottery.
Grand
Jury Hands Down Indictments Concerning Lottery Ticket Cashing
Activity
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (February 28,
2019) -- A grand jury in Louisville has handed down indictments against three
individuals charged with influencing the winning of a lottery prize through
coercion, fraud, deception or tampering with lottery equipment or materials,
and a separate charge of providing false information to a lottery
investigator.
The first charge is a class B felony
carrying a possible sentence between ten and 20 years, while the second charge
is a class D felony carrying a one to five year sentence.
The Kentucky Lotterys security
department launched an Integrity Testing Program to determine if store clerks
were following procedures for cashing winning tickets.
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During the investigation, undercover
Lottery security personnel presented clerks with tickets that would scan at the
terminal as $18,000 winners.
When the tickets were
presented, security personnel told the clerks he or she didnt know if any
of the tickets were winners, said the KLCs Senior Vice
President of Security Bill Hickerson. It was up to the clerks to scan
the tickets to see if they were indeed winners.
During this phase of the operation,
Lottery security personnel went to 60 retailers in Louisville between February
and July 2018. Some of the retailers were selected based on previous customer
complaints or prior cashing activity, while others were randomly selected.
Special tickets were produced by the
Lotterys instant ticket provider (Scientific Games) for the operation.
Internal alerts were received when someone attempted to cash them.
The results of the Integrity Testing
Program were provided to the Commonwealths Attorneys Office.
Their staff presented two cases
today against three defendants to the Jefferson County Grand Jury, and
indictments were returned on:
- Indrias Joseph, in conjunction with tickets
presented at River Road Shell, 3002 River Road in Louisville.
- Jinalben Savadara, in conjunction with tickets
presented at Five Points Food Mart, 4548 Taylorsville Rd in Louisville.
- Divyang M. Vyas, also in conjunction with tickets
presented at Five Points Food Mart, 4548 Taylorsville Rd in Louisville.
Vadara and Vyas were indicted
together, under the same case number. Their case will proceed in Division 13 of
Jefferson Circuit Court. They will be arraigned on Monday at 3:30 p.m.
Josephs case will proceed in Division 7 of Jefferson Circuit Court. He
will be arraigned on Monday at 11:30 a.m.
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The Kentucky Revised
Statutes governing the lottery specify what shall be the appropriate penalties
if those persons accused of undermining the integrity of the Kentucky Lottery.
In the spring of 2018, the Kentucky Lottery Corporations security
department met with prosecutors from our office to discuss this investigation.
The indictments returned today by the Jefferson County Grand Jury are the
result of the hard work of those investigators and prosecutors, said
Commonwealths Attorney Thomas B. Wine.
Store clerks who do not
follow Kentucky Lottery policies, cheat not only individual winners and the
Kentucky Lottery but the people of the Commonwealth as well.
While Im disappointed
in the actions of these individuals, I continue to believe the overwhelming
majority of our retailers and their clerks are honest in their dealings with
our players, said KLC President and CEO Tom Delacenserie.
There is a low-tech way and
a high-tech way for players to always protect themselves whenever they have a
winning ticket, he said.
When at a retailer, players
should always sign the back of any tickets before they hand them over to be
checked. Also, there are scanners at nearly all of our retail locations which
allow you to scan a ticket to see if its a winner without ever having to
hand it over to anyone, he said.
In addition, the Kentucky Lottery
smartphone app allows plays to scan tickets with their phones to see if a prize
has been won.
Players are encouraged to contact
the Kentucky Lotterys security department through their Fraud Watch
program if they feel they may have not been properly paid a prize.
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Information can be submitted by
phone at (502) 560-1813 or via email at klcfraudwatch@kylottery.com.
We have the ability through
our computer systems to quickly look at any single transaction. This allows us
to investigate any activity on a ticket to determine what happened at the
terminal during a transaction, said Hickerson.
Delacenserie said the Integrity
Testing Program will continue with some modifications.
As it takes a while for
these cases to make their way through the legal system, were taking steps
to enforce consequences on retailers who keep winning tickets much more
immediately, he said.
These tests continue to be
performed, as we want players to be confident their experience at a retailer
will be a positive one. As the operation is an ongoing security
measure, no additional details will be released at this time.
About Kentucky Lottery
The Kentucky Lottery has earned over
$5.3 billion for the Commonwealth since 1989. KLC dividends pay for
college scholarships, grants and education programs.
Visit kheaa.com to find out more
about grants and scholarships paid for by the KLC.
For More Information CONTACT: Chip
Polston, T: (502) 523-6067.
SOURCE: The Kentucky Lottery.
AGTech
Subsidiary Wins Two China Sports Lottery Hardware Tenders
HONG KONG, SAR (March 6, 2019) --
AGTech Holdings Limited (AGTech or the Company, HKEX
stock code:08279) is delighted to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary,
AGTech GOT Technology Co., Ltd (AGTech GOT) has won 2019s
first two lottery hardware tenders to supply lottery terminals to China sports
lottery, provides sports lottery terminals for Tianjin, and new android sports
lottery terminals for Hainan, respectively.
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John Sun, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of AGTech said: We are pleased that our hardware
divisions continued dedication to the China lottery industry is
reaffirmed with the winning of the years first two lottery hardware
tenders, as AGTech GOT always puts the user experience of lottery shopkeepers
and customers in the first place.
We will continue to strive
for excellence in safety, compliance and innovation in the production and
research and development of lottery hardware, further contributing to the
healthy development of the Chinese lottery market as a whole.
About AGTech Holdings
Limited:
AGTech was incorporated in Bermuda
and its shares are listed on the GEM (Stock Code: 08279). AGTech is an
integrated technology and services company engaged in the lottery and mobile
games and entertainment market with a focus on China and selected international
markets. A member of the Alibaba Group with around 400 employees, AGTech is the
exclusive lottery platform of Alibaba Group and Ant Financial Group.
AGTechs businesses are broadly divided into two categories:
- Lottery (including hardware, games and systems,
provision of distribution and ancillary services); and
- Games and Entertainment.
AGTech is a Gold Contributor of the
World Lottery Association (WLA), an associate member of the Asia Pacific
Lottery Association (APLA), and an official partner of the International Mind
Sports Association (IMSA).
For more information, please visit:
www.agtech.com.
SOURCE: AGTech.
Denmark, Finland, France and Norway to Launch Joint Digital
Operation This Year
BASEL, Switzerland (February 28,
2019) -- The chief executive officer of Lotteries Entertainment Innovation
Alliance Morten Eriksen gives us an update on the ventures progress.
In October last year Danske Lotteri
Spil, Française des Jeux, Norsk Tipping, and Veikkaus established a
joint venture called Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance (LEIA).
Its stated aim is to create a
joint company to share resources in order to build a wider and efficient
digital gaming offer. In an industry not renowned for its technical
innovation, with many lotteries still in the early stages of digitizing their
land-based retail offerings, it is a significant announcement.
However, the initial announcement
was scant on detail and there has not been any news from the joint venture
since it was announced. So we spoke to its chief executive officer Morten
Eriksen to catch up on LEIAs progress.
Digital foundations
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The joint ventures
shareholders Danske Lotteri Spil, Française des Jeux, Norsk
Tipping, and Veikkaus have fairly advanced digital offerings. Danske
Spil, Norsk Tipping, and Veikkaus have websites featuring casino games, bingo,
sports betting, and more traditional lottery products.
FDJ is more limited by French
regulations but it also has a significant sports betting and lottery website.
Furthermore, as part of its FDJ 2020 strategic plan, the company has invested
EUR 400m (of a EUR 500m total) to accelerate the groups digital
transformation, including EUR 100m during 2018.
FDJ is reaping the results with
digital player stakes increasing by 46 per cent to EUR 2.4bn during 2018,
according to its annual report. Fifteen per cent of customer stakes now come
through the digital channel, well on the way to reaching its target of 20 per
cent by 2020.
While the four founders are relative
trailblazers in the digital lottery space, none are immune to the challenges
posed by private betting operators and lottery betting operators such as
Lottoland.
They watch the digital lottery
market growing and feel that their own digital efforts are not addressing it
fully. Private operators are going through an unprecedented period of content
expansion, loading hundreds of new games every month.
Furthermore, they are expanding with
gamified content that far outstrips anything that is provided by the
lotteries current providers.
One of the joint ventures
founding principles was to take the fight to unregulated operators. This will
require significant investment and the founders strongly believe that by
pooling resources they can foster the innovation needed to differentiate
themselves from unregulated operators.
That does not mean they will abandon
their own research and development projects but if the costs and risks can be
shared, and the knowledge pooled then the outcome should prove that four heads
are better than one.
If the reasons for LEIAs
foundation are manifold, then its main aim is reassuringly elemental.
LEIA is a tool to help each of
the four shareholder lotteries to strengthen their market position in their
respective home markets, says chief executive Eriksen.
Pooling resources
Since October, Eriksen has been busy
building the infrastructure needed to get the company off the ground. It has
been established as a legal entity and Norway was chosen as the legal
jurisdiction where the company would be incorporated. Eriksen has recruited a
small amount of devoted employees to join him in the headquarters he shares
with Norsk Tipping in the Norwegian town of Hamar, about 100km North of
Oslo.
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We have employed a small team
covering 360 degrees of what we need to cover. We have commercial, marketing,
technical people and myself, says Eriksen.
In addition, each of the
shareholders supports LEIA with part-time employees on an ad hoc basis. LEIA
positions are advertised at all four companies. In future, LEIA may well
recruit from the general population if it has requirements that its parent
companies cannot fulfil.
FDJ has been building the technical
platform that will host the four lotteries games. The process of
integrating those games has started with the initial focus on instant
games.
That is the common denominator
of the four lotteries that we start with, says Eriksen.
By using the existing game
portfolios of the four partners, each lottery will immediately gain access to a
broader library of games.
Looking further down the road
we will contract external studios or content aggregators and connect them to
the platform, explains Eriksen. One of the ambitions is to have a
broad library of content that the lotteries can use.
The big ambition
While the initial focus is instant
scratchcards, Eriksen and his colleagues are building a roadmap for the
development of the product. This will be the key to the projects success.
The plan is to branch out into other lottery products, which will be able to
exploit the pooled liquidity that the four nations can bring to the
project.
The obvious comparison is with the
Euromillions draw set up by the UK, France and Spain in 2004 (and later joined
by the lotteries of Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, and
Switzerland) and Eurojackpot, which was launched in 2012 by Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and
Poland.
Those projects were game changers
for the nations involved but Eriksen says the local lottery market remains
restricted due to lotteries monopolistic structure. Neither Euromillions
nor Eurojackpot offer a pan-European online jackpot. That is the gap in the
market that operators such as Lottoland have jumped into and it is the gap that
LEIA hopes to fill.
In future, other lotteries might be
invited to join the LEIA venture but right now Eriksen says the focus is on
getting the founding shareholders live on the platform, which he expects to
launch before the end of 2019.
After that, we could take in
other lotteries to the platform, he says.
The pan-European online jackpot is
the ultimate aim but Eriksen is careful to take one step at a time. This is
just a start-up operation, albeit one with mighty shareholders.
SOURCE: World Lottery
Association.
First-of-its-Kind Joint Research Paper Reveals US Gambling
Companies Donated $367m to Charity in 2017
American Gaming
Association Releases Comprehensive Industry Responsibility
Report
Landmark Research Done in
Partnership with U.S. Chamber Foundation is Among the First-Ever Comprehensive
Analyses of An Industrys Community Impact
WASHINGTON , D.C. (February 28,
2019) -- The American Gaming Association (AGA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Foundation (USCCF) Corporate Citizenship Center today announced the release of
first-of-its-kind research analyzing the scope of the U.S. casino gaming
industrys community impact and commitment to communities, employees and
customers.
Key findings from the report
include:
- Gaming industry respondents reported $367 million
in charitable giving last year;
- Ninety-three percent have comprehensive recycling
and energy efficiency programs, 50% higher than the overall private sector;
- Sixty-nine percent have an institutionalized
diversity and inclusion hiring effort;
- Gaming industry employees contribute more than
422,000 volunteer hours per year, nearly five-times more hours per employee
than technology industry employees; and
- One-hundred percent of AGA member companies
surveyed have a responsible gaming policy.
The research revealed that a
majority of companies are committed to responsibility as an integral part of
their strategic goals and that the overall success of the gaming industry
depends on how well companies can support the communities they serve. The
gaming industry outpaces most private sector industries in its commitment to
diverting waste from landfill and instituting green building and water
conservation programs. The full research is available here.
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Above all else, the gaming
industrys highest priority is to promote responsibility in all that we
do, from being constructive partners in the communities where we operate,
providing exceptional career opportunities to industry employees and ensuring
all patrons have the tools they need to engage in our offerings in a
responsible manner, said Bill Miller, president and chief executive
officer of the American Gaming Association.
Todays report shows
that the gaming industry is making good on our promise to be responsible
community partners, contributing economically and socially to communities
across the country.
While corporate social
responsibility (CSR) reports continue to become standard practice among
American businesses, it is rare to see the collective impact of an entire
sector, said Carolyn Cawley, president of the U.S. Chamber
Foundation. Were proud to work with AGA to release this
groundbreaking research that illustrates the gaming industrys positive
efforts in the communities they serve.
Methodology: The Chamber
Foundation analyzed the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of AGA
members, including a variety of company types and sizes, through quantitative
and qualitative research. In the third quarter of 2018, USCCF and AGA surveyed
and interviewed 15 AGA member respondents on the scale and scope of their
corporate social responsibilities. Those companies represent 168 casino
properties, 235,000 U.S. employees and $33 billion in total revenue.
About AGA: The American
Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261
billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA
members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and
other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the
AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino
gamings modern appeal and vast economic contributions.
About the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce Foundation: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated
to strengthening Americas long-term competitiveness. We educate the
public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how
business positively impacts communities, and emerging issues and creative
solutions that will shape the future. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the
worlds largest business federation representing the interests of more
than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state
and local chambers and industry associations.
CONTACT: Caroline Ponseti, T: (202)
552-2675.
SOURCE: The American Gaming
Association.
Registration for APLA/WLA Seminar 15 - 18 April 2019 in Danang,
Vietnam is Now Open!
Dear friends of APLA
We are pleased to announce that the
Registration for the 2019 APLA/WLA Seminar is now open!
The details for this event are as
follows:
- Date: 15 18 April 2019 (Business Program on
16 17 April)
- Venue: Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa,
Danang, Vietnam
- Theme: Lotteries in the digital world -
Disintermediation, Disruption or Transformation
This Seminar is being hosted and
organized by both Singapore Pools Private Limited and Vietnam Lottery
(Vietlott). You can expect a very exciting business program line up and an
interesting experiential social program specially recommended by Vietlott.
A renowned industry leader Mr. Tim
Kobe (Founder of Eight Inc,), who is popularly known as the visionary behind
Apples iconic stores has been specially invited to be our Keynote
Speaker. To quote an article, Kobe believes that studying the humanities
can help build empathy. A lack of empathy often goes hand-in-hand with a lack
of awareness about the human experience that a particular piece of technology
creates, which will restrict its widespread adoption, thus preventing true
innovation. Tech companies and products, even entire countries, Kobe said, need
to be designed with human experience in mind.
Various Industry experts will also
present on how we can captivate and reach out to the Digital Natives via
channels that are pervasive to them.
Panelists comprising of
representatives from WLA and APLA will also present on how digitalization have
brought forth both opportunities and challenges to the Lottery industry.
We hope you will take home nuggets
of knowledge and updates and embark onto your own Organisations
transformational journey if you have not already started.
The Networking day will take us to
Ba Na Hills, an area founded by the French colonials at 1919 and only lately,
investors have transformed this whole place which is now referred to as the
climate pearl of Vietnam. It's located 1487m above the ground and
boasts of chiller weather and fresh air.
Check out the
ebrochure and also keep checking the APLA website for more
announcements (www.asiapacific-lotteries.com).
Do hurry and register and as they
say, Early Bird catches the worm
..
N.B. It is important to note that
for the Hotel booking link, you can only book for nights from 15th to 18th
April. If you need to arrive before 15th or stay past 18th, you will need to
email to the hotel to request the room booking extension, the special room
rates are valid from 12th to 21st April.
See you all in Danang.
Regards
Beh Swan Swan
APLA Secretariat Administrator
www.asiapacific-lotteries.com
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