Web surfers in Ireland will soon be able to play that country’s national lottery online, and Rhode Island-based Uwin! Corporation will be making it possible.
UWin!, a subsidiary of GTECH Corporation, has signed a deal to provide its proprietary Internet lottery gaming system to An Post National Lottery Company for the Irish National Lottery.
The company’s gaming system will supply the Irish National Lottery with a core of lottery games based on traditional instant tickets, plus a new multi-player version of instant games. It will also provide an e-commerce service that will enable players to purchase games online. Play will be restricted to players within Ireland using UWin!'s proprietary GateKeeper network.
"Just as we pioneered the lottery industry's transition to secure online systems, we will now set the standard for the industry's expansion into the age of the Internet," GTECH Chairman and CEO William Y. O'Connor explained. "The Internet is changing the world as we know it, creating remarkable challenges and tremendous opportunities for innovative businesses like GTECH. Many of our international customers are poised to consider Internet applications, and UWin! provides them with a total gaming solution for secure, reliable and entertaining play.
"Being successful on the Internet will require meeting the expectations of a generation that has grown up in an increasingly interactive environment. The instant lottery product lends itself perfectly to this medium, and we're pleased to be working with An Post and the Irish National Lottery--two long time innovators in instant ticket products."
UWin! will provide both the central gaming system and software as well as accounting and retail software. The company will thus become an agent of the National Lottery Company on the Internet. Plus, it will provide non-gaming and community features, such as games for fun, chat rooms and news.
The company’s agreement with An Post, which requires final approval from Ireland's Finance Ministry, is scheduled to expire in March 2000.
For more information on Uwin! and GTECH, visit http://www.gtech.com.