Lottery provider Scientific Games Corporation recently converted an integrated lottery gaming system for instant and draw games for the Maine State Lottery and extended its contract with the Delaware Lottery.
In Maine, the system conversion was completed ahead of schedule in June, without interruption of the lottery’s gaming systems, as part of a six-year agreement. Scientific Games was the Maine State Lottery’s instant game provider in 1975 and installed the state’s first central gaming system in 1985.
The new system features Sciplay interactive technology that enables an internet-based player subscription program and V.I.P website, plus the Cooperative Services Program that integrates lottery instant game design and production, marketing services, warehouse management, inventory control and retail distribution. Scientific Games also installed a new communications network, a full suite of draw-based game systems and a variety of new lottery equipment in nearly 1,300 retail locations.
Gregory Mineo, director, Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, said, “Through collaboration and careful planning with our longtime partner, Scientific Games, the technology conversion was a success and the Maine State Lottery is poised and well-positioned for continued growth. With the new retailer equipment, the player subscription program and the instant product category management services provided through the CSP program, we can focus on driving maximum sales and profits for the state of Maine.”
Pat McHugh, president, North America Lottery Systems for Scientific Games, added, “We are proud to continue our collaboration with the Maine State Lottery. In the more than three decades that we have been their trusted partner, the lottery’s revenue has experienced continued growth.” In fiscal year 2013, the Maine State Lottery had total sales of more than $230 million, including over $166 million in instant game sales.
Additionally, the Delaware Lottery extended its contract with Scientific Games for three more years, effective February 1, 2015. Scientific Games has served the Delaware Lottery since 1976. Under the contract extension, Scientific Games will continue to provide the Delaware Lottery with instant lottery games and continue its Cooperative Services Program for instant game design, marketing services, warehouse management, and inventory control and retail distribution.
Delaware Lottery Director Vernon Kirk said the contract extension is “a great tool to maximize the state’s lottery market on its way to fulfill its mission of returning maximum contributions to the state of Delaware’s general fund.”
John Schulz, Scientific Games senior vice president, Instant Products, noted, “We are honored to continue to provide Delaware players with an entertaining instant product portfolio and to continuing partnering with the Delaware Lottery on a CSP program, which has been in place in the state since 1999. Our collaboration to ensure the right instant games are on sale at the right time with the right retailers has resulted in a 6.8 percent increase in their instant product category in fiscal year 2014 and 24 percent increase over last four fiscal years. We look forward to three more successful years.”
Also in lottery news, the supplier China Vanguard Group announced a cooperative agreement with the Guizhou Province Sports Lottery Administration Centre. CVG will provide interactive self-service solutions, including self-operated and franchise stores in Guizhou province, as well as lottery solutions, sales distribution and related services. The provincial administration will pay CVG a percentage of total sales.
CVG’s lottery-related products are seen and played in 19 regions and provinces throughout mainland China. A CVG official said the Guizhou agreement offers “huge market potential and is in line with the group’s recent development direction.”
