Lawmakers in North Carolina are discussing legalizing video lottery terminals (VLTs). Video poker was banned in the state over 15 years ago, but there have been ongoing debates about its legalization for nearly a decade. The plan now includes the potential legalization of 34,000 Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) under the supervision of the NC lottery commission. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Harry Warren, highlights that a portion of the state’s revenue would support HBCUs and offer free community college. The matter is now part of closed-door budget negotiations.
The Delaware Lottery is currently finalizing an exclusive contract with a vendor to provide online poker and casino gaming for the next five to ten years. The process is ongoing, with no updates yet on the request for proposal (RFP) issued in January. The Lottery aims to have a primary vendor live by November 1, 2023. The choice will be between retaining 888 Holdings for ten more years or switching to Rush Street Interactive (RSI). The decision may depend on the Lottery’s priorities, including the availability of online poker when the platform launches in November.
New Mexico Lottery released a Dungeons and Dragons ticket and ad inspired ad, watch above!
A Maryland report by the Department of Legislative Services, Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability suggests six recommendations to improve responsible gaming measures in the state.
Read the report here.
State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg announced today that the Massachusetts State Lottery produced an estimated $1.176 billion in net profit for the Commonwealth during the 2023 fiscal year that began July 1, 2022 and ended June 30, 2023. This is the highest net profit total in the Lottery’s 51-year history, surpassing the previous record of $1.112 billion set in the 2021 fiscal year.
Allwyn, the new National Lottery licensee, will contact retailers to transfer their agreements from Camelot to Allwyn before February 1, 2024. The deadline for the transfer process is December 18, 2023. The changes in the agreement are due to legal updates and Fourth National Lottery Licence requirements. Retailers will receive a ‘Welcome to Allwyn’ pack in the New Year with more information, including new National Lottery games. Commission levels and payment terms will remain unchanged, and lease fees for some retailers will be removed. Site surveys will continue until September.
Jackpocket, a US-based lottery, has teamed up with Circle K convenience stores to launch in Massachusetts. Players can use the app to play various games, including Powerball, Mega Millions, and others offered by Jackpocket. The app allows customers to purchase tickets from licensed lottery retailers like Circle K. If players win, they can claim their prize either through Jackpocket or directly from the Massachusetts Lottery. The company’s expansion includes its recent debut in Nebraska in June.
Axel Weber, Head of Public Affairs & Corporate Communications at WestLotto, a German Lottery, supports UK’s recommendations to restrict loot boxes to over-18s and wants similar guidelines adopted in Germany. WestLotto aims to protect children from gambling-like elements in games. The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) welcomed Ukie’s loot box rules, and Weber hopes to use the UK’s approach to encourage Germany to address loot boxes in gaming and protect minors.
La Française des Jeux (FDJ) invites project applications to become a partner of its Corporate Foundation for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Projects focused on inclusion and education of young, vulnerable, and disabled people are of interest. Eligible organizations can receive a minimum grant of €1m until 2026, aiming to leave a positive impact on the territories affected by the Games. The application process has four phases, with the final jury auditing project structures. FDJ has allocated a budget of €25m to its Corporate Foundation to support equal opportunities in society over the next five years. The operator has been increasing its focus on social responsibility policies and partnerships.
Ryan Mindell, the deputy executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission, received a 2023 Powers Award during the NASPL annual seminar in Denver, Colorado. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the lottery industry. Mindell has been instrumental in modernizing the North American lottery market, particularly with the development of a universal API. He has also achieved various accomplishments, including improvements to the Texas scratch ticket portfolio and the addition of Monday drawings for Powerball and Lotto Texas.
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