Weather and Chariot in Talks
U.K.-based paper the Independent has hinted that fellow U.K. charity lottery The Weather Lottery is considering a bid for fellow lottery organizer Chariot. After disappointing ticket sales this year dashed Chariot's hope of competing with the National Lottery, the company was put on the auction block, receiving a number of proposals. Weather is thought to be interested in some of Chariot's assets and is unlikely to table an offer for the entire group, the paper reported. Weather has expressed interest in Chariot's database of players, which it may use to procure more players in hopes of strengthening its financial performance.
OPAP, Intralot to Take over Pame Stimhima
Greek lottery operator OPAP S.A. and Intralot, through its fully owned subsidiary Betting Company S.A., have formed a joint venture to operate and provide risk management for the Pame Stihima sports betting operation in Greece. The takeover is set to begin on Jan.29, 2007. Betting on football was prohibited in Greece until July 2006. Several football and basketball clubs that participate in Greek leagues are now allowed to be included in fixed-odds sports games coupons. Any Greek football league game is available for sports betting in combination with at least two games of foreign leagues. OPAP will supply the staff and technological infrastructure for the new agreement.
Record Online Sales for UK National Lottery
The U.K. National Lottery Web site experienced record rates of sale on Nov. 17 as the EuroMillions jackpot reached £123 million ($239.4 million). In the final hour, sales through the site climaxed at £500,000 ($973,967) per hour--an average of £140 per second. Interactive sales for the day were 56 percent higher than the sales peak at the time of the largest EuroMillions jackpot of £125 million ($243.3 million) in February 2006, when sales peaked at £319,000 ($621,427) an hour.
Legality of Thai Lottery under Question
Thailand's Council of State ruled in November that the government's two- and three-digit lotteries ran counter to the Government Lottery Office Act (GLO) of 1974 and suspended the games for one month pending legal amendments to the Act. The suspension was to affect the Dec. 1 and Dec. 16 draws. Justice Permanent Secretary Charan Phakdithanakul called on the government to take a clear stance on the lotteries. He suggested the draw take place on the 20th day of each month instead of the first because most people are paid at the end of the month. Thailand's Cabinet passed a draft amendment to the GLO to resume operation of the lotteries on Tuesday, and it will be considered on Dec. 13.
Indian Lottery Debuts
India's Kerala Sports Super Bumper lottery was formally launched at a glittering ceremony on Nov. 17. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said the difficulties in providing adequate budgetary support for sports had prompted the government to launch the venture. He said all the proceeds from the lottery would be earmarked for the overall development of sports and games in the state, and this was the first in a series of six lotteries aimed at raising sufficient funds for various social causes. For the price of 100 Rupees (about US$2.21) a ticket, the winner of the lottery would get 20 million Rupees as prize money. The draw will take place in Kozhikode on Jan. 26, 2007. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will make the ceremonial first sale.
Sci Games to Acquire Games Media
New York-based lottery solutions provider Scientific Games announced in November that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase U.K.-based digital content specialist Games Media Ltd. and related companies. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but Scientific Games said that it expected to close the deal before the end of 2006.
Forecast Calls for Increase in Spanish I-lotto Sales
Market research agency Ventura24 said on Nov. 29 that Spanish I-lotto sales will increase by 50 percent from 75,000 to 150,000 this year. The figure was released as part of the group's "2006 Christmas Lottery" survey, which attributes the rise in sales to a wider offering of numbers as well as diminished concern regarding online purchase security. The survey also revealed that 60 percent of the respondents wait until December to buy their tickets.
Wireless Lottery Provider Sues Dutch Government
Investors in European Wireless Lottery Holdings (EWLH) have filed a 100 million-euro lawsuit against the Dutch state for not allowing an SMS lottery game the company developed in conjunction with Staats Loterij (the State Lottery). In development since 2001, the "Sevens" lottery was blocked in 2003 by the Dutch state secretary of Financial Affairs on the basis that the game did fit in the aim of the Dutch state to prevent gambling addiction. A judge ordered in April 2005 that the claim against the state was to be calculated, taking development costs and expected revenue numbers into account. The 100 million-euro figure was reached by accountancy firm Deloitte.