IGT Signs Three-Year Contract Extension to Provide its INTELLIGEN™ System to the Kansas Lottery

LONDON, U.K. (March 21, 2019) -- International Game Technology PLC ("IGT") (NYSE: IGT), announced that its subsidiary, IGT Global Solutions Corporation, has entered into a three-year extension agreement with the Kansas Lottery to continue providing IGT's INTELLIGEN™ central computer system and services to monitor electronic gaming machines throughout the state. This extension, part of the original central system services agreement awarded to IGT in 2008, is expected to begin on December 15, 2019 and run through December 14, 2022.

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. 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...

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"We have leveraged more than 20 years of development expertise and knowledge gathering with gaming central system customers throughout the world to produce the INTELLIGEN system to ensure it's equipped with the most advanced tools for our customers," said Jay Gendron, IGT Chief Operating Officer, North America Lottery. "IGT and the Kansas Lottery have built a strong partnership since this contract began more than 10 years ago, and we're pleased to be furthering this relationship by continuing to provide our advanced system to the nearly 5,000 electronic gaming machines in the state."

"IGT's INTELLIGEN system has helped the Kansas Lottery meet the objectives of operating our electronic gaming machines with the highest standards of integrity and security to benefit the state for the last 10 years," said Stephen Durrell, Kansas Lottery Acting Executive Director "We look forward to continuing our relationship over the next few years."

INTELLIGEN offers stable, secure, and command control capabilities uniquely tailored to video gaming environments. It was designed to support industry advancements and incorporates full support for the Gaming Standards Association's Game to System® (G2S) protocol. In addition to the video central system and related services, IGT provides instant ticket games and printing to the Kansas Lottery.

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 over 12,000 employees. For more information, please visit: www.igt.com.

IGT CONTACTS:

SOURCE: IGT.

BCLC Awards Pollard Banknote 10-Year Contract Extension

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (March 18, 2019) -- Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) (“Pollard Banknote”) is pleased to announce a significant ten-year extension to its instant ticket games and related services contract with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (“BCLC”). Under this agreement, which commenced on February 1, 2019, Pollard Banknote will continue to serve BCLC as a supplier of instant ticket games through December 31, 2028. 

This agreement extends the successful and more than 30-year relationship between Pollard Banknote and BCLC, during which time we have provided everything from game design and instant ticket production to marketing support and strategic planning services. Over the course of this partnership, Pollard Banknote has helped the lottery achieve steady sales growth, including a 33% increase in instant sales over the past five years, which well exceeds the Canadian average of 20% over the same period.

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BCLC is recognized for its innovative and progressive approach to instant ticket products, launching tickets featuring many of Pollard Banknote’s industry-leading innovations, including Scratch FX®, Jumbo Pop n’ Play™, PlayBook® Mini, pouched games, and various specialty inks. BCLC’s adoption of novel game concepts is well suited to their commitment to strengthen their core games and expand their product offerings to meet the expectations of their growing customer base. For example, the Lottery and Pollard Banknote are currently collaborating on a dynamic new Crossword ticket that will feature an integrated digital game play component to extend player excitement.

“BCLC is a long-valued customer and we are exceptionally proud of the strong partnership we have cultivated. We work hard to help BCLC delight its players with eye-catching and innovative products, and we are happy to see the results of these efforts pay off with consistent sales growth.” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote.

“This contract extension demonstrates the productive nature of our collaborative relationship, and we are excited for the opportunity to continue to work with BCLC for many more years to come.”

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.

CONTACT:

SOURCE: Pollard Banknote Limited.

Danske Licens Spil Becomes Newest Member of Danish Online Gambling Association

DENMARK (March 15, 2019) -- In connection with the drafting of a new code of conduct for gaming providers in Denmark, Danske Licens Plays enter the Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA).

DOGA's director, Morten Rønde, is pleased to announce that Danske Licens Spil has become part of the industry association.

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“The industry is going to meet an exciting and challenging time, where we have to implement a new code of conduct, and at the same time we have to establish an industry board for the entire gaming industry. At the same time, we are constantly faced with new legal requirements that require us to make major adjustments to our systems and marketing. The challenges we solve in the industry best together, and therefore we are very happy to welcome Danske Licens Spil in DOGA,” says Morten Rønde.

"As an important player in the Danish market, we will always seek cooperation and influence when the opportunity comes," says Niels Folmann, CEO of Danske Licens Spil.

“We have a stated ambition to contribute to a sustainable and responsible gaming market, and I hope that we, in DOGA, can strengthen this effort significantly.”

For further information, please CONTACT:  Morten Rønde, T: +45 20887210, E: morten.ronde@doga.dk

Who is Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA)?

DOGA's members are gaming providers licensed to offer bets and online casino games in Denmark.

Members are: Bet365, Betsson, Betfair, Bethard, Danish License Games, Kindred Group (Unibet), Leovegas, Mr Green, Stars Group (Pokerstars), Spillehallen.dk and Tivoli Casino.

SOURCE: Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA).

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®) Gives Back to Local Community with Donation to Preferred Behavioral Health Group of Lakewood, N.J.

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (March 15, 2019) – Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®) has contributed $30,000 to help fund the transformation of the Preferred Behavioral Health Group (PBHG) facility, located next to GLI’s world headquarters campus in Lakewood, N.J.

“Giving back is built into GLI’s culture, and we strive to impact and support the health, welfare and educational needs of the local communities where we live and work. We are proud to support PBHG in its mission to meet the needs of local families in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, on behalf of all of our employees,” declared James Maida, President and CEO of GLI.

“We are extremely grateful to GLI for their generous contribution towards the renovation and expansion of our facility that will augment the advancement and quality of our services,” said Mary Pat Angelini, CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group. “Their support enables us to continue to provide services to over 30,000 children, teens, adults, and seniors through more than 70 comprehensive programs. It’s with GLI’s generous donation that we can continue this important work.”

Preferred Behavioral Health Group is a non-profit organization that has served the community for over 40 years. PBHG provides mental health and substance abuse education, prevention, support, and treatment. Its mission is to deliver quality and compassionate behavioral health services to individual and families all the time. For more information, visit: www.preferredbehavioral.org.

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

Goal: Georgia Lottery and Atlanta United Offer New Game

ATLANTA, Georgia (March 19, 2019) -- The Georgia Lottery Corp. and Atlanta United FC have teamed up to offer Georgia Lottery players a fun, new instant game called the Atlanta United Collector’s Edition Scratcher.

Atlanta United Collector’s Edition is a $2 instant game with a top prize of $30,000 and many other great prizes. Tickets go on sale at Georgia Lottery retailers statewide Tuesday.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Atlanta United to offer our players this exciting game,” Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin said.

“Each ticket purchased provides Georgia Lottery players a special opportunity to cheer on The Five Stripes and also invest in Georgia’s students. As with all of our games, proceeds generated will benefit HOPE and Pre-K.”

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The launch of the Atlanta United Collector’s Edition game is the Georgia Lottery’s first collaboration with Atlanta United, as well as a continuation of its long-standing partnership with AMB Sports and Entertainment.

“We’re happy to continue our partnership with Georgia Lottery with the debut of the Atlanta United Collector’s Edition Scratcher,” said Tim Zulawski, AMB Sports and Entertainment Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. “Consistent with all Georgia Lottery games, proceeds generated will benefit educational programs across the state, aligning with one our company’s core values to give back to the community. We’re proud to have Georgia Lottery as an official partner since our club’s launch.”

For more information about the Atlanta United Collector’s Edition instant game, please visit www.galottery.com.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $20.5 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.8 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.6 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

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

Find Media Relations online at: www.twitter.com/GALotteryPRpros.

CONTACT: Nia Roberts, Communications Coordinator, Georgia Lottery Corp., (404) 215-5062 office, (404) 272-4686 cell, E: nroberts@galottery.org.

SOURCE: Georgia Lottery Corp.

Pennsylvania Lottery Marks 47th Anniversary of First Drawing

Middletown, Pennsylvania (March 15, 2019) -- Today the Pennsylvania Lottery is celebrating the 47th anniversary of its first drawing, which took place on March 15, 1972. Since then, the Lottery has paid more than $50 billion in prizes and generated more than $29 billion to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

“The Pennsylvania Lottery is proud to have spent the last 47 years playing a vital role in helping generate funds for our older residents,” said Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “We are hard at work to ensure that the Lottery continues to fund the essential senior programs that help older Pennsylvanians lead healthier lives.”

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The Pennsylvania Lottery’s first game was a 50-cent ticket with weekly drawings, the first of which was held on March 15, 1972. The game offered a $50,000 top prize and periodic drawings for $1 million prizes. The first $1 game, Lucky 7, went on sale in November of that year and also featured a weekly drawing.

The Lottery’s first televised Millionaire Drawing was conducted in March 1975. The first scratch-off game (“Instant Lottery”) was introduced two months later. Nightly televised drawing shows came along on March 1, 1977, with the debut of The Daily Number, the first of the Lottery’s numbers games. Today, the game is named PICK 3.

The Lottery has come a long way since its debut. Last fiscal year the Lottery sold a record of more than $4.2 billion in games, from which it paid a record of more than $2.7 billion in prizes. It also generated more than $1 billion to benefit older Pennsylvanians for the seventh consecutive year, and it’s on track to do so again this fiscal year.

“We’re grateful for the support of our players, business partners and the entire Lottery team,” said Svitko, who also noted the Lottery has paid approximately $4.7 billion in retailer commissions in its history. “We’re working every day to build a strong foundation for the future and develop new, innovative products that will help us remain competitive in a rapidly-changing business environment.”

The Lottery took a big step forward last year with the launch of PA iLottery, online games that offer players the chance to play from a computer, tablet or mobile device. More than 98,000 unique players have registered for iLottery since its launch last May.

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The Lottery also continues to recruit retailers to offer Keno, a popular draw game, and Xpress Sports, fast-paced virtual games that simulate a sporting event. Both games were launched last year.

Traditional draw games, scratch-offs and Fast Play games also continue to be the core of the Lottery’s business at its more than 9,600 retail locations throughout Pennsylvania.

“Lottery games sold at retail remain the foundation of our business,” Svitko added. “But we are doing everything we can to launch new products that will appeal to our players and help us fulfill our mission to responsibly generate funds for older Pennsylvanians.”

Find a full timeline of Lottery highlights online at our History page at palottery.com. The website offers details on dozens of games, chances of winning, winning numbers, and how to claim a prize.

About Us:

The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed more than $29 billion to fund property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance, and local services including senior centers and meals.

Players must be 18 or older. Do not give lottery games to children. Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help with a compulsive gambling problem.

Visit palottery.com for winning numbers, rules, chances of winning, and to join the VIP Players Club for second chances to win. Install our official mobile app, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @PALottery.

SOURCE: The Pennsylvania Lottery.

Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz Increases Sales in The Anniversary Year

• Annual turnover is around 380 million euros
• More than 181 million euros in profits
• Around 124 million euros for the common good

RHINELAND-PALATINATE, Germany (March 15, 2019) -- The Koblenz-based gambling company LOTTO Rheinland-Pfalz celebrated its 70th birthday last year - and gave itself a 4.7% increase in sales Percent. Total revenue increased from € 363 million in the previous year to € 379.8 million. The main reason for the plus is above all the lottery Eurojackpot.

"We are happy and proud that last year we not only celebrated the 70th anniversary of our company, but also significantly increased our sales," says Rhineland-Palatinian Lotto Managing Director Jürgen Häfner: "In a still challenging environment In the market environment, we have once again proven that we have innovative and sustainable game offerings in our portfolio that continue to appeal to our customers."

The big winner among the games was once again last year the European lottery Euro Jackpot, which is offered in 17 other countries except in Germany. Four times the jackpot rose to the highest level of 90 million euros and stayed there for a few weeks each. In this way, Eurojackpot, with an increase of more than 61 percent compared to the previous year alone in Rhineland-Palatinate, could achieve a total stake of around 80 million euros.

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But LOTTO 6aus49 is still the biggest source of revenue for Lotto Rhein-land-Pfalz. Although the product lost about six percent compared to the previous year, nevertheless, it has the largest stake in gambling with approximately 167 million euros. "We are proud to say that last year LOTTO 6aus49 was once again the great classic gaming offer in Germany," says Managing Director Jürgen Häfner. At the same time, however, he points out that it is precisely the most popular gaming offer that needs to be watched in particular. "We have innovative ideas for this at the level of the German Lotto and Totoblock (DLTB)."

The social lottery GlücksSpirale has also been a constant in the range of games offered by Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz for many years. Last year, it brought in 13.5 million euros in stakes, a significant part of which was paid directly to the beneficiaries, the so-called beneficiaries. Therefore, not only the game participants were the winners, but also many public welfare organizations in Rhein-land-Pfalz.

From the proceeds of the lotteries GlücksSpirale, Sieger-Chance and BINGO flowed! a total of around 4.5 million euros directly to numerous beneficiaries. In addition to representatives from sports (German Olympic Sports Confederation, German Sports Aid, Landessportbund Rhineland-Palatinate and Sporthilfe Rheinland-Pfalz Foundation), these are the Federal Working Group for the Independent Welfare, the German Foundation for Monument Protection, the Nature and Environment Foundation Rhineland-Palatinate and the Landesmusikrat Rheinland-Pfalz. In the lottery BINGO! In addition to the Nature and Environment Foundation, the Development Country Network (ELAN) benefits.

"This social commitment is clearly distinguishing the Rhineland-Palatinate Lotto from the illegal providers from the internet," emphasizes Jürgen Häfner.

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"It is also pleasing that the year-end lottery New Year's Million offered only in Rhineland-Palatinate with a top prize of € 1 million was also successful in the second attempt," Jürgen Häfner looks back. All 250,000 lots of the limited lottery have been sold.

Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz was also able to continue the positive trend in the online area in 2018. Nearly 23 million euros in stakes were generated via the website www.lotto-rlp.de , an increase of around 20 percent compared to the previous year. However, compared to sales in the 930 LOTTO points of sale this is still expandable. Overall, the total number of internet missions amounts to just over six percent of total deployments.

"Our biggest sales pillar is still the LOTTO collection points," says Jürgen Häfner, who rightly points out that LOTTO Rheinland-Pfalz is the largest chain store in the country and thus represented in every fourth local community. "With the reception centers, we are also making an enormous contribution to strengthening rural areas."

Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz's customers in particular can look forward to a total profit distribution of over 181 million euros. "We are delighted that in the past year a total of 58 players have won sums of € 100,000 and more," says the Lotto Managing Director. Eleven of them even won a million euros and more. Six of them came from the Rhineland, four from the Palatinate and one from Rheinhessen.

Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz was again able to make an enormous contribution to the common good in 2018: For example, around 124 million euros in taxes and duties were paid to the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Häfner proudly states: "Our company is still a big taxpayer in our state and thus makes an immense contribution to the common good."

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Together with the Lotto Foundation, Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz gathered under the umbrella of the initiative "Kinderglück" also in 2018 for children who are not on the sunny side of life. Under the motto "giving children a smile" almost 136,000 euros came together to help reduce child poverty in Rhineland-Palatinate.

For the year 2019, LOTTO Rheinland-Pfalz has made a lot of plans again. "We will tackle the task assigned to us by the leading block partner in the German Lotto and Totoblock with all the forces available to us and strive to set new national accents," says Jürgen Häfner, who also hopes that important events will take place in the new year positive course for the future political conditions on the gambling market.

Jürgen Häfner concludes: "In 2019, the company's 181 employees, the eight regional directorates and the approximately 5,200 employees at the roughly 930 reception offices will do their utmost to strengthen the state-owned and secure gambling offering in Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition, we want to do justice to the company's social responsibility for the common good as a partner of sport, a promoter of culture, and a supporter of social initiatives and environmental projects."

SOURCE: Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz press release.

Danish Gaming Industry Lands Agreement on Code of Conduct

DENMARK (March 15, 2019) -- An overall gaming industry can now present a code of conduct for the industry that limits the amount of marketing of games and reduces the risk of gambling addiction

After lengthy discussions, a joint Danish gaming industry today has presented a code of conduct for the industry's marketing of games. The Code of Conduct was a call to the industry in the political gaming agreement from June 2018, which included intends to limit gambling addiction and ensure responsibility in marketing, including in relation to marketing towards children.

The industry has taken up the challenge positively and has used the opportunity in the Code of Conduct to set limits and tools that go beyond the requirements already imposed by lawmakers and authorities to thereby increase consumer protection and help ensure that games do not evolve from entertainment to game addiction.

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The Code of Conduct, which comes into force on July 1, should be considered as a benchmark and set of minimum industry requirements. The individual gaming provider can go further than the code prescribes.

However, the gaming industry has already chosen to go further than was required by the parties behind the political settlement. In addition to preparing clear frameworks for game advertising content, the agreement must also ensure that the amount of advertising is reduced and that restrictions are placed on which contexts they occur in. The gaming industry will therefore work to conclude an agreement with the TV stations that must ensure that the number of game advertising is diminishing and that game advertising is not even up against television commercials that animate for quick borrowing or the like.

The gambling industry further intends to establish an industry board to deal with complaints about gambling vendors' violations of the code of conduct. 

The contracting parties behind the Code of Conduct are CEGO A / S , the  Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA), Danish Automotive Association , the  Danish Casino Association ,  Danish Lottery Games A / S ,  Klasselotteriet A / S , the  Agricultural Lottery , Royal Casino and the Varelotteriet. However, the parties to the agreement will work intensively to ensure the connection of all gaming providers on the Danish market

The Code of Conduct in its full text can be seen here.

For further information, please CONTACT:  Morten Rønde, T: +45 20887210, E: morten.ronde@doga.dk

Who is Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA)?

DOGA's members are gaming providers licensed to offer bets and online casino games in Denmark.

Members are: Bet365, Betsson, Betfair, Bethard, Danish License Games, Kindred Group (Unibet), Leovegas, Mr Green, Stars Group (Pokerstars), Spillehallen.dk and Tivoli Casino.

SOURCE: Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA).

Illinois Lottery Launches 2019 ‘MS Project’ Instant Game

By Leslie

ILLINOIS (March 14, 2019) -- The Illinois Lottery, in partnership with the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society and the Illinois Department of Public Health, has launched the newest version of The MS Project instant game. Proceeds from the ticket fund research aimed at finding a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS).

This is the 12th edition of The MS Project instant ticket. It costs $3 and offers three top prizes of $50,000. Since 2008, the ticket has raised nearly $9.5 million to benefit MS research state-wide.

“The Illinois Lottery is proud to partner again with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society in the fight against multiple sclerosis,” Illinois Lottery Acting Director Harold Mays said. “Many Illinois residents struggle every day with the side effects of multiple sclerosis, and players who buy an MS Project ticket are helping provide support to find a cure.”

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“A new National MS Society-funded study has recently confirmed that the prevalence of MS in the U.S. is nearly 1 million people, which is more than twice as many as the previously reported number,” said Sarah Rodriguez, president of the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society. “The Illinois Lottery-funded research projects are more crucial than ever, with twice as many people needing solutions to the complexities of this disease. Illinois is becoming a national leader in the ground-breaking research aimed at stopping disease progression, restoring what’s been lost and, ultimately, ending MS forever.”

All profits for The MS Project instant game go to the Illinois Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund, which awards grants to organizations conducting MS research in Illinois. All grants are reviewed and approved by the National MS Society’s Research Programs Advisory Committee, a panel that includes 75 leading scientists, physicians and other professionals from virtually every field related to MS.

“Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and unpredictable disease,” Illinois Department of Public Health Acting Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said. “Funding for MS research provides critical support for researchers, to help better understand this complex disease and make advances in treatment, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for this often-debilitating disease.”

The MS Project ticket is available at nearly 8,000 Illinois Lottery retailers throughout the state and is one of five special cause instant games offered by the Illinois Lottery. Other specialty games contribute funding for Illinois veterans, the fight against breast cancer, assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS and Special Olympics training programs across Illinois.

Since 2006, when the first specialty cause instant game was introduced, the Illinois Lottery has transferred more than $46 million for causes players have supported through their ticket purchases.

How to play

Match any of YOUR NUMBERS to any of the WINNING NUMBERS, win prize shown for that number. Get a "GOLD BAR" symbol, win that prize automatically. Get a "2X" symbol, win DOUBLE the prize shown for that symbol.

Additional Information

• Price Point: $3
• Overall Odds: 3.45 to 1
• Category: Specialty
• Play Style: Key Number Match - Doubler
• Launch Date: March 7, 2019
• Game Number: 7300

For more information on The MS Project, visit illinoislottery.com.

LOTTO Hessen Celebrates 70 years and the Second Best Year in the Company's History

• 610 millionaires,
• €11 billion in profit,
• €5 billion euros for the common good
• 2018 record sales of €656.8 million
• Never higher payout than 2018
• Now four Hesse players among the ten highest German Lotto winners

WIESBADEN, Hesse, Germany (March 14,2019) -- Round birthday and record sales - LOTTO Hessen has to celebrate a double reason: Firstly, the Hessian state lottery company on today 14 March 70 years old, on the other was in the past calendar year the second best year in the company's history.

More sales has been reached in the past 70 years only in 2007 (674.3 million Euro).

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However, this was due to a disproportionately high contribution of commercial attributed to game brokers. To correct this effect, LOTTO Hessen looks 2018 even back to the most successful year in its history: the sales could compared to 2017 (EUR 622.2 million), they increased by 5.6 percent to EUR 656.8 million become.

A total of 73.1 million tickets went in 2018, 2.6 percent more than 2017. This was announced by LOTTO Hessen GmbH at today's annual press conference in Wiesbaden.

In addition, LOTTO Hessen claimed the top position in the statistical per capita turnover (106.3 euros) among the German State lottery companies; the Saarland is due to the inserts from Luxembourg not included here.

2018 was also the year with the highest ever paid winnings: 382.3 million euros were available in cash or by bank transfer for Hessen Tipper.

"Never in our history have we made the Hessians so happy", explained Dr Heinz-Georg Sundermann, Managing Director LOTTO Hessen.

Read/download the complete report.

LOTTO Hessen: Since 1949 partner of luck.

Presentation: Annual Press Conference 2019

SOURCE: LOTTO Hessen.

The Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority Says Legislative Amendments Will Help Protect Vulnerable Players

STOREHAGEN, Norway (March 15, 2019) -- We are well pleased that the Government is proposing a legislative amendment that can stop gambling advertising from abroad. Together with DNS notification, this will have a good effect and help protect vulnerable players in Norway. It is the director of the Lottery and Foundation Supervision, Gunn Merete Paulsen.

Gaming advertising that gets straight towards Norwegian customers today is intense and this has been a problem for a long time.

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Paulsen refers to a report from 2014 where an expert group rented by the Gaming Authority suggested measures to stop this uncontrolled stream of advertising right into the TV stoves of Norwegian citizens.

The Storting Report "All to Win - A Responsible and Active Money Gaming Policy" also gave the same recommendation, nor the Storting to join in 2017.

That the Government has today sent a proposal for changing the broadcasting law on hearing, where this has been taken into account, is positive.

“Lotteritilsynet's social mission given by the Storting is to protect vulnerable players by ensuring that lottery and money games are offered in safe and responsible forms. This has been difficult, all the time it has been an EU directive that has been used to send gaming advertisements which, according to Norwegian law, are prohibited via other countries. Legislative amendments will help to stop this. When the Ministry also asks us to sort out DNS alerts, it will further help to better protect Norwegian citizens and particularly vulnerable groups. We know that 6 out of 10 Norwegians are uncertain of what is law and not of gambling, and this will make it clear. With this, players will be able to make informed choices.”

“It is a fact that it is too easy to play games that are not allowed in Norway. It would have been possible to block, but DNS notification is also a good tool. That means players who go to websites with illegal games are informed that the offer is illegal. This will limit the clearance of unregulated players, as we know that many people struggle to know what money games are allowed and not. The warning will make a positive contribution to the fact that fewer play foreign money games outside our control,” says Gunn Merete Paulsen, director of the Lottery and Foundation Supervision Authority.

The proposal for a legislative amendment has a deadline of 17 June this year.

Read the entire hearing proposal and the press release to the Ministry of Culture.

SOURCE: Lotteritilsynets.

DGOJ Release Public Information on the Guidelines for the Drafting and Content of the General Clauses of Gaming Contracts Subject to State Licensing

SPAIN (March 18, 2019) -- The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) drafted a document with guidelines for the contracts of operators wishing to apply for an online gambling license in Spain.

The document is in the consultation phase for those interested to make their contributions.

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The DGOJl prepared the document, which, together with its corresponding explanatory memorandum, aims to serve as guidelines for identifying the principles that should govern the drafting of the clauses of the gaming contracts established between participants and gaming operators subject to state licensing, in order to to facilitate to the operators the writing of said contracts, ensuring the protection of the rights of the participants linked to gaming operators, as well as strengthening the legal security of all the participants in the game environment.

Through the guide, which facilitates the drafting of contracts by the operators, the public information period of the reference project is initiated so that the DGOJ can gather diverse ideas and opinions that allow completing and improving the document prepared on that subject.

In order to facilitate the submission of contributions, as well as the analysis thereof, a questionnaire has been designed that is composed of a list of questions grouped according to the different principles proposed, not being necessary to respond in all of them.

The questions refer to the conformity or not of the participant with the inclusion of a certain statement in the guide, as well as a voluntary justification of the opinion expressed.

This questionnaire is made up of 3 tabs:

• Information.
• Identification and Consent.
• Clause of the contracts.

In case it is considered appropriate to share information in another format, it can be sent together with the questionnaire for analysis.

The participants will give their express consent so that the DGOJ can, after analysing all the answers presented, disseminate the conclusions drawn without revealing the identity of the participants. In the event that there is a restriction on the answers presented, the one that is confidential must be identified, in order not to disclose said contents.

Contributions will be sent to the email address: dgoj.sggestion@hacienda.gob.es, the deadline for receiving them is April 12, 2018.

SOURCE: Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego | El Diario del Juego.

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 Apple’s 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 Organisation’s 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