National Lottery Initiates Cell Phone Alerts
The United Kingdom's Wireless Information Network, a mobile services supplier, is launching a new billing service that will allow players of the National Lottery to receive game information on their cell phones.
The text alerts will at first only be available to Vodafone and BT Cellnet users. There will be a 25 pence charge per message. Players can call the number listed on the lottery's Web site to register for the service. Camelot's interactive director, Richard Hurd-Wood, said the lottery is always looking for ways to keep its players in the know.
"The solution offered by wireless technology will enable us to enhance the service we offer to our players," he said.
International Lottery for Maryland?
Lottery officials in Maryland are pushing state leaders for permission to join the International Lottery Alliance's multi-jurisdictional lottery plan. The program offers large jackpots that entice more people to play the game, the lottery officials said.
"The main goal we have is, if something else arrives that is in our interest, we want to jump on it,” said Buddy Roogow, the Maryland lottery director.
A bill proposing the state's participation in the international lottery has been approved by the state's Senate Finance Committee and is waiting on a final vote by the entire legislature before it can move to the House of Delegates. The international game could bring Maryland about $30 million in revenue by its second year, analysts said.
Chinese President Hails Idea of Sports Lottery
A sports lottery may be in the works for China. The president of the Republic of China, Chen Shiu-bian, said the government should study the possibility of a sports lottery that could raise money for physical education development.
Chen's statement was made at the 12th Asian Archery Championship in Hong Kong in mid-December. The Chinese team won five gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
A sports lottery could raise funds for sponsoring international sports events and the establishment of better training systems for athletes, Chen said.
GTECH Contract Extensions: Kentucky, New Mexico
Lottery services company GTECH announced a continuation of its relationship with the Kentucky Lottery Corporation in late January. The two entities signed a five-year extension of their present contract, under which GTECH provides the Kentucky lottery with on-line products and services.
The new agreement will require GTECH to, among other things, install and maintain 175 GVT Extra terminals, which offer basic online lottery functions to retailers who may not other wise qualify to sell lottery tickets due to their lower sales volumes.
GTECH will also provide other services to the Kentucky lottery, including system hardware maintenance, telecommunications management and marketing support. The Rhode Island-based company has worked with the Kentucky lottery since 1989; since then the state lottery has generated more than $1.6 billion in revenue.
GTECH also recently extended its contract with the New Mexico Lottery Authority. The five-year extension will begin Nov. 20, 2003. The NMLA's profits go toward the Lottery Success Scholarship program, which pays college tuition for thousands of eligible students.
Scientific Games and Florida Lengthen Agreement
Scientific Games Corp. and the Florida Lottery are also prolonging a contract; the agreement is for instant ticket and cooperative services. The extension is the first available lengthening of the organizations' 1997 agreement. It is worth about $32 million during its two-year duration. Scientific Games has worked with the Florida Lottery since 1988.
New Ticket Game in Taiwan
The Taipei Bank in Taiwan is preparing to launch a new scratch ticket game, reports the China Post. The bank is to issue 10 million tickets for the game, which is named "Cash Carnival." Along with scratch and online lottery tickets, the bank offers traditional drawings including Chinese Lunar New Year, Hot Money, Lucky Star and The Year of the Horse.
Interlott Granted D.C. Lottery Contract
Interlott Technologies is the winner of a contract with the Washington, D.C. Lottery for the lease of up to 150 Instant Ticket Vending Machines. The D.C. Lottery placed an initial order for 86 machines, deliverable during the first quarter of 2002. The machines will be placed in grocery and convenience stores.
New Lotto in Ontario
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is launching a new game: the Big Ticket Lottery. Tickets went on sale Feb. 4 at Ontario stores and cost CA $25 each. The lottery's prizes include a Lincoln Navigator, Jaguar XKR convertible, vacations to French Polynesia and South Africa and CA $2 million, which will be awarded April 18.
Alan Berdowski, senior vice president of the OLGC's lottery division, said the odds for the $2 million top prize are one in one million. The OLGC is responsible for province-wide lottery games, charity and aboriginal casinos, racetrack slot machines and commercial casinos. According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act of 1999, lottery profits benefit provincial hospitals, sports, cultural activities and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
California Lottery Flub Results in Free Game
An error on the part of the California Lottery is giving the state's residents a chance to enter a special drawing for free that will give away $1 million in prizes.
Lottery officials said months ago that tickets for several lottery games had been sold since 1996 even though the prizes had already been given away. California residents can enter the make-up prize giveaway by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the lottery office in Sacramento before March 18.
Two hundred and forty prizes ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 will be awarded from the lottery's administrative budget.
Lawsuit Challenges Expanded Gambling in New York
Two state legislators and the president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce have filed a lawsuit to overturn a New York law that allows the state's admission in a multi-state lottery, electronic slot machines at certain racetracks and the opening of six Native American casinos.
Joseph Dalton, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce president, state Sen. Frank Padavan and state Assemblyman William Parment said they are challenging the law's provisions as well as the process used to enact it.
Last year the state's legislators and Gov. George Pataki agreed on a budget that would greatly expand gambling in New York to make up for the financial impact of the Sept. 11 attacks.