Thai Public Opposes PM's Plan to Acquire Liverpool FC
The Thai Prime Minister's unusual quest to acquire a stake in Liverpool football club--using money from a national lottery--looks increasingly likely to be scuttled by Thai public opposition.
Thaksin Shinawatra's scheme to raise £62 million to buy a 30 percent stake in the Premier League club was criticized as unconstitutional, and counter to the precepts of Buddhism, which bans gambling.
Chamlong Srimuang, the premier's former political mentor and a devout Buddhist, has joined the outcry, warning that the proposed lottery would "blind" Thais, and corrupt society.
"The lottery is open, official support for gambling," Chamlong, a popular former Bangkok governor, wrote in an open letter. "If the deal goes ahead, nothing will stop Thais' indulgence for gambling, and fewer and fewer people will value hard work because betting is easier."
Ontario Lottery Debuts New 6/49
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation launched the new, bigger and better LOTTO 6/49 last week in Toronto.
Senior representatives from OLGC were on hand for the announcement at the corporation's prize office, where the 25-member LOTTO 6/49 Marching Band helped celebrate the launch with added fanfare.
The changes were announced in November 2003 by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, which includes Canada's five regional lottery companies. The decision to revamp the Canada-wide LOTTO 6/49 game was made jointly by the five members of the ILC.
Responding to national consumer feedback, the new and improved LOTTO 6/49 features jackpots starting around $4 million and growing to $25 million during the year. A new prize category also provides a chance to win $5 by matching only two numbers plus the bonus number.
Scientific Games Opens Online Museum
Scientific Games Corporation has launched an Internet Scientific Games Lottery Museum honoring the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the first secure instant lottery ticket. The site features images of Scientific Games' instant tickets from 1974 to 2004, along with a short history of developments in each era.
Scientific Games is a key player in the lottery industry and is dedicated to the research, authentication, acquisition and preservation of historical records and memorabilia pertaining to the lottery.
More than 10,000 pieces, including tickets--manuscripts, books, pamphlets, advertisements, account records and personal letters--make up the Scientific Games Archive.
SGC Wins Bid in Puerto Rico
Officials with Scientific Games also announced last week that it was named the apparent winner of the online lottery contract for Puerto Rico.
The seven-year contract is estimated to be worth $66.7 million, subject to the negotiation of final terms and conditions.
"This is a very important strategic win for us at Scientific Games," Scientific Games Chairman and CEO Lorne Weil said. "Over the last few years, we have proven that we are the fastest growing participant in the online lottery industry and in the next few months we will be introducing games that we expect to increase sales in the industry."
Controversy at Irish Lottery
Ireland's Sunday Independent newspaper reported over the weekend the retirement of the sales and marketing director of the National Lottery Malachy Moynihan. According to the publication, a veil of silence has fallen over Moynihan's shock voluntary retirement.
A Sunday Independent investigation revealed last month that an outlet staffed by Moynihan's wife was among the highest earners of lottery commission in Ireland. The newspaper said Moynihan himself granted the license to the outlet.
The newspaper also reported that Ray Bates, the director of the National Lottery, admitted that a high proportion of the sales of the tickets processed at this outlet were sold abroad, an activity known in the lottery industry as "cross boarder" selling.
According to a statement issued by the Lottery Friday, the "cross boarder" selling has ceased.
Czech Republic Considering Changes to Lottery Law
Czech Republic news agency CTK reported this week that Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka is considering a change in the lottery law that would forbid betting firms from owning sports teams. The minister's comments follow a recent scandal of alleged bribery involving a first- league football game.
The minister said the present law does not address the question of property or employee relations between betting and sports, and in the future should be stricter.
The present law allows Synot to own both a football club and a betting company. Associated companies FC Synot and SynotTip may respectively hold licenses for a first-league football team and the right to take bets on sporting events.
Consequently, SynotTip made its profits from bets placed on first-league football matches, including those played by the team of Synot.