The Florida Lottery recently signed a 13-year, 7 million contract with IGT Global Solutions. The contract covers the systems used to sell tickets for games such as Powerball and Mega Millions. The lottery recently posted billion in annual sales.
The contract will nearly triple the number of automated ticket machines that sell tickets for both scratch-off and online games from 2,000 to 5,500.
The contract also calls for a new smartphone application allowing players to check their tickets and enter second-chance sweepstakes.
Lottery officials said the cost of the contract is tied to increased sales projections. The noted the amount paid to IGT will decrease if sales fall. Officials estimated that the new contract will bring in more revenue. About $1.7 billion in lottery profits will be directed to education this year.
Florida currently has a contract with Gtech, which merged with International Game Technology and changed its name. IGT Global Solutions is a subsidiary. According to state records, the current contract which began in 2005 is worth $387 million. IGT beat out one other company for the contract.
IGT is represented by lobbyists including Bill Rubin, a long-time friend of Governor Rick Scott, and Brian Ballard, a Republican fundraiser and lobbyist currently serving as Florida finance chairman for Donald Trump.
State Senator Rob Bradley cautioned, “If there are portions of the agreement that result in expansion of the lottery, that’s a cause of concern.
This is a government sponsored enterprise. We have an extra obligation to make sure we are not preying on individuals addicted to gaming. We have to make sure we are not focusing on populations who can’t afford to be spending their hard earned dollars on gaming.”
