The New York Lottery and McCann New York conducted a campaign asking New Yorkers to share their wildest fantasies if they won the lottery. They then brought these dreams to life using AI-generated images created by Shutterstock’s AI Image Generator. The process involved multiple iterations and feedback to create the perfect image for each dream. This socially-driven campaign, a first of its kind for McCann New York and the New York Lottery, targeted current and potential lottery players. The campaign showcased a variety of imaginative dreams, ranging from a skatepark in Brooklyn to a bookshelf-made dream home, demonstrating that no dream is too big or too small.
IGT signed an eight-year contract with the Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) to deploy its iLottery gaming system. This technology will enable the CLC to sell Keno and draw-based lottery games for the first time via a new website and mobile app developed by IGT. The contract is expected to run through May 2031 and includes four years of possible extension options. The iLottery gaming system is anticipated to launch in the late fall of 2023.
The Ohio Lottery and Marcus Thomas have launched a new song on FM radio as part of the Gamify Life strategy. The song, titled ‘Hey This Song is a Game,’ aims to support the Jackpot Jingle game and engage listeners in a unique way. Starting from June 5, listeners who hear the song on select stations can use Siri, Google, and Shazam to search for the song name. Upon finding the song, they will receive a link to the Ohio Lottery website and have a chance to win $500.
Loto-Québec, the provincial lottery operator, has recently disclosed its remarkable fiscal year 2022-2023 results, showcasing a significant revenue surge of 35.2%, amounting to CA$2.9 billion. The operator’s net income skyrocketed by 40% compared to the previous fiscal year, reaching CA$1.6 billion. The casino and gaming hall sector experienced unprecedented growth, generating revenues of CA$1.1 billion, a remarkable increase of CA$444 million. Loto-Québec’s gaming platform, offering lottery, casino titles, and sports betting, generated revenues of CA$403.9 million, with a notable 3.3% increase. While lottery revenues slightly decreased by 1.1% to CA$996.1 million, the casino and gaming hall sector achieved its best year ever with a remarkable 67.6% increase, totaling CA$1.101 billion.
This comes on the heels of Flutter, DraftKings, and other prominent private players in the betting and gaming industry’s announcement to establish the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC). This collaborative initiative aims to create a regulated iGaming market in Quebec, taking inspiration from the model implemented in Ontario.
Traditionally dependent on offline sales, Nederlandse Loterij now sees more lottery tickets sold through websites and apps. It has faced challenges with its reach and conversion rates due to recent changes in the privacy ecosystem, like the move towards a cookieless internet and fewer signals via traditional measurement solutions like the Meta pixel. Its marketing agency, Mindshare, implemented Meta’s cookie-less Conversions API (CAPI), as CAPI can send consumer data without being affected by consumer consents. To evaluate the performance of CAPI, Mindshare conducted A-B tests on sales campaigns for several of Nederlandse Loterij’s game brands on Meta technologies. The results showed that it drove a 33% higher conversion rate on Meta technologies.
La Française des Jeux (FDJ), presented new technologies at a recent conference that it is currently exploring: haptic technology, phygital games, and blockchain. The company continues its mission of “exploring the ecosystem and new uses of Web3” with a new title: Ultimate Numbers. (Web3 is an idea for a new iteration of the World Wide Web incorporating concepts such as decentralization, blockchain technologies, and token-based economics.) Based on digital cards in the form of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), it will allow players to participate in weekly leagues to be ranked and earn NFT rewards. However, Ultimate Numbers can only be launched when the French Parliament has completed the legislative framing works, which are in progress. In addition, the FDJ brand offers experiences in the metaverse “The Sandbox.” Several quests will be available to locate “golden clovers” and win rewards.
The Virginia Lottery is launching a new draw game called Pick 5 with FIREBALL. Players can choose five numbers from 0-9 and aim to match the winning numbers. A perfect match of all five numbers can lead to winning up to $50,000.
WSB-TV Channel 2 will air a special, prime-time program on Thursday, June 29th, marking the 30th anniversary of the Georgia Lottery. The Family 2 Family special will delve into the history of the lottery and its impact on education in the state. Guests will include former and current CEOs of the Georgia Lottery and past hosts of lottery drawings. The program will feature stories of lottery winners and retailers, showcasing iconic television ads. Hosted by WSB-TV anchors Jorge Estevez and Linda Stouffer, the half-hour special promises to celebrate the Georgia Lottery’s success.
To reconnect with the Finnish people and remind them of their long-standing relationship with Lotto, the creative house SEK and Veikkaus, the Finnish government-owned betting agency, have launched a campaign that embraces Finnish culture and emotions. The campaign aims to reflect the love and importance of Lotto in Finland. It incorporates films and print media that depict quintessential Finnish moments and values, emphasizing minimal expressions and storytelling without dialogue. The campaign aligns with Finland’s reputation as the happiest country in the world, where expressing oneself subtly is valued. By tapping into the nation’s identity and evoking tender emotions, the campaign hopes to reignite interest and remind people of the unique significance of Lotto in Finnish culture.
The Austrian Lotteries, a national lottery operator, has decided to implement a new age restriction policy. Starting from July 10, participation in all of its games will be limited to individuals aged 18 and above. This marks an increase from the previous age limit of 16 that had been in place for a long time.
IGT and Scientific Games, along with local partner SAGA Consultoria e Representações Comerciais e Empresariais S/A, have formed a consortium to operate an instants and passive lottery in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This consortium will introduce new instant and passive games to the southeastern state, where lottery games are currently the only legal form of gaming available, with only Keno and a national draw game offered. Under the terms of the 20-year agreement, the consortium will have an exclusive license for lottery operations in Minas Gerais. The agreement also includes an option for a 20-year renewal.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed a bill into law that legalizes sports betting off tribal lands, allowing for the creation of up to 12 commercial online sportsbooks. House Bill 347, which was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly on June 6, imposes a $1 million licensing fee for a five-year term on the online sportsbooks. A renewal of the license will require an additional $1 million payment. Under the new law, online sportsbooks will share 18% of their gross income with the state and can offer betting on both professional and college sports, as well as on horse racing. The North Carolina Education Lottery Commission will oversee the licensing process and regulate operations. Online sportsbooks are allowed to begin operations starting from January 8, 2024.