Your Scratchers Design Tournament update is here, and it’s Fleurry Madness, indeed! Hold onto your seats, because the Sweet 16 has officially tipped off, and the excitement is off the charts!
Here are your current leaders in each bracket:
- North Bracket Leaders: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
- South Bracket Leaders: West Virginia and North Carolina
- Midwest Bracket Leaders: BCLC and South Dakota
- West Bracket Leaders: Ohio and Arizona
Can Maine, Maryland, Oklahoma, D.C., WCLC, Minnesota, Montana, and Colorado stage major comebacks to seize the lead? Competition is fierce, and the clock is ticking! Voting for the Sweet 16 round ends Wednesday, September 6, at 11:30 p.m. EST. Don’t miss the action–cast your votes and cheer on your favorites!
Virginia’s Secretary of the Commonwealth, Kay Coles James, has resigned from her position. Virginia Lottery Executive Director Kelly Gee has been appointed as her successor by Governor Glenn Youngkin, effective Friday.
The Virginia Lottery has achieved record-breaking revenue, reaching $4.6 billion in sales for fiscal year 2023, with profits hitting a record $867 million. This marks a nearly 10% increase from the previous fiscal year.
Connecticut Lottery Corp. inaugurated its Wallingford headquarters and claims center at 15 Sterling Drive, operating from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
The XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, is set to open a sportsbook powered by the Connecticut Lottery Corp in September, coinciding with the start of the 2022-23 NFL season. This initiative follows the state’s gaming compacts with its tribal nations, allowing for expanded gambling activities.
Starting in February next year, Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) will prohibit the use of athletes, celebrities, cartoon characters, entertainers, social media influencers, and role models in online gaming marketing to prevent potential appeal to minors.
Camelot is introducing a ‘Super September’ for National Lottery retailers, featuring three major Lotto and EuroMillions draws. It kicks off with a £20 million ‘Must Be Won’ Lotto draw on September 2, followed by a EuroMillions 10 UK Millionaires Guaranteed draw on September 15, and an estimated £110 million EuroMillions Super Jackpot draw on September 29.
The Mississippi Lottery is releasing three new scratch-off games: Diamond$ and Dollar$ ($5 ticket with up to $100,000 prize), Cruisin’ the Coast II ($5 ticket with up to $50,000 prize), and Double Match ($2 ticket with up to $20,000 prize).
Starting on September 5, Michigan Lottery is introducing the Colossal Cashword instant game, offering players a chance to win prizes ranging from $30 to $2 million, with over $104 million in total prizes. This marks the first time Cashword is available on a $30 ticket.
The New Hampshire Lottery achieved a record-breaking fiscal year 2023 with $603 million in sales, marking a 12% increase from the previous year.
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) collaborated with Deloitte on a social purpose study exploring how businesses can incorporate social purpose into their operations. The report, “How Risk and Internal Audit Operate in Social Purpose Companies,” offers seven recommendations, including integrating purpose into decision-making frameworks and enhancing the advisory role of risk and internal audit. BCLC will hold a webinar on September 13 to discuss the report’s key findings.
The New Mexico Lottery has announced that it has raised $1 billion for New Mexico education through Lottery ticket sales. Fiscal Year 2023 was a record year, with the highest total sales and a record return of $50.5 million to the scholarship fund.
Read the complete article here.
During the YQM Country Festival in Dieppe, N.B., two Bet99 banners drew attention, though the site can’t legally operate in Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) is highlighting the issue of illegal gaming operators in the region, emphasizing that these operators don’t contribute to regional initiatives like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. An estimated $170 million leaves the Atlantic provinces due to these illegal sites. ALC aims to educate the public about the illegality and consequences of such activities.
Kevin O’Toole, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), has urged state lawmakers to make a decision on skill gaming machines, which currently operate in a legislative grey area. O’Toole emphasized that the uncertainty is not in the state’s or consumers’ best interests. These machines have caused controversy as they divert revenue from regulated and taxed operations. O’Toole called for either legalization and regulation or an outright ban, with PGCB having jurisdiction if they are legalized.
Scientific Games has extended its partnership with the Ohio Lottery for two more years, focusing on Scratch-Off Games management and SCiQ retail technology. This collaboration has led to four consecutive years of growth, with Scratch-Off revenues surpassing $2.3 billion in fiscal year 2023. Over 800 Ohio Lottery retailers have adopted the SCiQ retail ecosystem, improving inventory management, security, and sales analytics. Similar partnerships are utilized by over 20 lotteries globally.
Read the complete article here.
International Game Technology (IGT) has signed a contract with EULOTO UAB, the operator providing lottery services in Lithuania, to deploy its cloud-based remote game server (RGS) and offer at least 12 eInstant games each year. IGT’s RGS will be integrated with Euloto’s iLottery system, giving the operator access to a variety of eInstant content, including popular licensed content and progressive jackpot games. This partnership aims to provide Lithuanian players with a modern and high-quality iLottery experience.
Read the complete article here.
Atlas Experiences, LLC, is integrating its Lucky Pik digital game show into the Maryland Lottery’s 50th Anniversary Cash Bash and the Florida Lottery’s Free Ride and Fuel for Life Bonus Play promotions. Lucky Pik’s versatile technology enhances player engagement with animations and sound effects, offering second-chance opportunities in Maryland with prizes up to $5 million and improving promotions in Florida. Atlas Experiences aims to assist lotteries and gaming companies in boosting consumer engagement and achieving business goals using Lucky Pik’s capabilities.
Read the complete article here.