By Nikolina Gabelica, Head of Lottery, EveryMatrix
The lottery and gaming industries are experiencing transformative changes, requiring operators to evaluate their technological infrastructure carefully. For many lotteries, these decisions are made even more challenging by long and rigorous tender processes, often spanning several months or years. These processes aim to ensure compliance, transparency, and stakeholder value while demanding operators present clear, comprehensive, and future-proof solutions.
Choosing between a Turnkey solution or a Best of Breed approach is among the most critical factors in achieving long-term success. Lotteries must weigh the operational simplicity and speed-to-market offered by Turnkey systems against the customization and innovation enabled by Best of Breed models—all while meeting the stringent requirements of tendering processes. These decisions become even more complex in markets with active iGaming operators, whether licensed or not. At EveryMatrix, we understand these challenges and offer solutions that cater to the unique needs of our partners in the lottery sector.
Understanding Turnkey Solutions
Turnkey solutions provide a comprehensive, ready-to-deploy system that combines essential components such as platforms, player account management, games, payments, and marketing tools into a unified offering. These solutions are particularly beneficial for:
- Speed-to-Market: Rapid deployment helps operators launch in new markets or expand digital operations efficiently
- Regulatory Compliance: Turnkey systems are pre-packaged to ensure adherence to local laws and standards
- Simplified Operations: A single vendor handles integration, maintenance, and upgrades, reducing complexity for the operator
EveryMatrix’s Turnkey Solutions exemplifies these benefits by integrating products like CasinoEngine, OddsMatrix, and GamMatrix into a cohesive framework. For example, our work with the Malta National Lottery leveraged our Turnkey capabilities to launch a comprehensive online lottery platform, bridging legacy systems with cutting-edge iGaming solutions.
Understanding Best of Breed Solutions
The Best of Breed approach allows operators to select specialized components from different vendors, creating a customized solution tailored to their unique requirements. This approach is ideal for:
- Customization: Tailoring an offering to reflect the brand’s identity and player preferences
- Innovation: Leveraging cutting-edge tools to stay competitive in dynamic markets
- Operational Control: Enhancing autonomy over systems and processes, enabling greater innovation and adaptability
EveryMatrix supports this model with its modular and API-driven product suite. For instance, CasinoEngine, the largest content aggregator in the industry, connects over 30,000+ games and 470 jackpots from 170+ providers via a single API. Operators such as Veikkaus (Finland’s state lottery) and Norsk Tipping (Norway’s state lottery) use Best of Breed solutions to create tailored experiences while maintaining full control over their content strategies.
Hungarian State Lottery: A Turnkey Success Story
An example of a full Turnkey implementation is our collaboration with Szerencsejáték Zrt., Hungarian State Lottery. As Hungary’s leading online sports betting operator, SZRT aimed to transform its TippmixPro digital offering to deliver a superior experience to players.
Following a competitive tender process, EveryMatrix delivered a comprehensive Turnkey solution, including:
- A custom-built front-end designed to meet SZRT’s specific requirements
- The GamMatrix PAM adapted to Hungary’s regulatory framework and integrated with national systems for self-exclusion and KYC verification
- Responsible gambling tools, such as session time counters, loss/profit tracking, and self-exclusion functionalities
This partnership underscores the scalability and efficiency of Turnkey solutions, combining strict compliance with robust technology to address the demands of regulated markets.
Key Considerations for Selection
When deciding between Turnkey and Best of Breed, operators should assess:
- Business Objectives: Is rapid deployment more critical, or is long-term differentiation the priority?
- Technical Resources: Is there in-house expertise to manage complex integrations?
- Regulatory Landscape: Are fully compliant, all-in-one systems better suited to the market’s requirements?
- Procurement Dynamics: How will the length and complexity of tender processes impact timelines and technology decisions?
- Cost Efficiency: While Turnkey lowers upfront costs, Best of Breed often delivers higher ROI through tailored solutions.
EveryMatrix: Bridging the Gap
At EveryMatrix, we provide the flexibility to navigate both models. Our modular, API-driven architecture allows operators to start with a Turnkey setup and evolve into a Best of Breed model as their needs grow. Here’s how:
- Turnkey Foundations: Launch with an end-to-end platform combining products like GamMatrix, CasinoEngine, OddsMatrix, and our MoneyMatrix payments solution, supported by a responsive front-end built on our flexible APIs.
- Scalable Evolution: As markets mature, integrate third-party systems or selectively adopt EveryMatrix tools such as BonusEngine and JackpotEngine for cross-vertical gamification and Jackpots or PartnerMatrix, a one-stop shop iGaming affiliate management solution complete with real-time data intelligence capabilities.
This flexibility is especially valuable for lotteries balancing traditional products with digital innovation in competitive iGaming markets.
The choice between Turnkey and Best of Breed is not binary. With the right technology partner, operators can leverage the strengths of both models, adapting their approach to evolving market demands. At EveryMatrix, we provide the tools, expertise, and flexibility to support our clients at every stage of their journey. EveryMatrix for Every Lottery.