Fleurry Madness Championship Showdown: The Grand Finale!
The Championship round is drawing to a close, and voting ends TODAY, Wednesday, September 27th, at 11:30 pm EST! This is your last chance to make a difference, to have a say, and to be a part of the defining moment! So don’t wait, don’t hesitate, VOTE NOW!
The White House is advising federal agencies to prepare for a potential government shutdown, with no signs of progress in funding negotiations. Gov. Katie Hobbs of Arizona has pledged to use Arizona Lottery revenue to keep the Grand Canyon National Park open if such an event occured.
The National Confederation of Tobacconists in France has been fined 750,000 euros by the Competition Authority for boycotting the validation of games offered by Française des Jeux (FDJ). The boycott actions, initiated and organized by the Confederation of Tobacconists, were relayed at the local level by regional federations and union chambers of tobacconists. This boycott took place from August 23 to September 27, 2016, and it aimed to obstruct the opening of alternative distribution points for games of chance, particularly those in partnership with FDJ and the company Réseau Fleuri, which allowed florists to sell games alongside floral arrangements. The Competition Authority found these actions to be a violation of fair competition and considered them particularly serious.
Norway’s gambling regulator, Lotteritilsynet, will monitor nine banks to ensure they comply with the country’s ban on processing payments for unlicensed online gambling operators. Banks are prohibited from facilitating transactions for unlicensed operators under Norway’s gambling laws. While the regulator hasn’t identified specific banks or indicated past breaches, it’s now monitoring their adherence to this ban. Banks have been given three weeks to provide information about the internal measures they’ve implemented to halt transactions to unlicensed gambling websites. Norway has a monopoly gambling market, with only state-controlled Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto allowed to offer gambling products. However, several major operators have targeted the market, claiming EU law covers their operations. Lotteritilsynet has warned operators like Betsson, bet365, ComeOn, and Kindred’s subsidiaries to exit the Norwegian market by 2024, or their websites could face blocks. The regulator can instruct banks to block transactions to and from specific accounts and companies. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has called for Norway to abandon its monopoly system, pointing out that Finland plans to open a regulated gambling market by 2025.
The Florida Lottery is introducing a comical ad campaign featuring the Sun as its newest spokesperson. In the ad, the Sun is seen relaxing in a hot tub, taking a break from its celestial duties. The campaign, created by agency PPK, highlights the Florida Lottery’s wide range of games and emphasizes that there’s always “More Fun Under the Sun” in Florida. The ad will run across various media channels, including broadcast TV, online video, social media, and radio, with digital and outdoor ads continuing the campaign’s messaging.
View the TV ad here.
The Michigan Lottery has investigated several customer complaints, including instances where winning tickets were already cashed by someone else, partially scratched tickets were sold as losers, and retailers demanded a share of the proceeds for cashing winning tickets. While such complaints are relatively rare, the lottery has taken action, including fines and suspensions for retailers and, in some cases, criminal charges. The lottery encourages players not to post pictures of their winning tickets on social media to avoid such issues, as well as the importance of signing lottery tickets after purchase and keeping them safe.
The Colorado Lottery is introducing a third weekly drawing on Mondays for the Colorado Lotto+ starting on September 25.
The Massachusetts Lottery plans to make changes to its Megabucks Doubler game in an effort to revive player interest. The changes include doubling the ticket price to $2, doubling lower-tier prize amounts, improving odds for players, adding a third weekly drawing, and changing the game’s name back to simply “Megabucks.” The jackpot for Megabucks Doubler has not been won in a year, and the game has been struggling to attract players due to its low odds of winning. The changes are expected to take effect in November and aim to make the game more appealing to players by offering bigger prizes and better chances of winning.
Loto-Québec has launched a new scratch ticket called “VOTRE SCÈNE DE CRIME” (your crime scene) that offers a thrilling mystery experience and a chance to win a $15,000 top prize. The ticket costs $3, and the odds of winning a prize are approximately 1 in 3.4, with the odds of winning the grand prize at 1 in 666,667. The payout rate is 64%, and the game was launched on September 25, 2023. Players scratch boxes in a specific sequence to uncover clues and suspects, and if they match certain criteria, they win prizes. Prize structures and odds of winning vary, with prizes ranging from $3 to $15,000.
The Idaho Lottery has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek bids from package delivery companies interested in providing services to its approximately 1,200 retail locations across the state. This contract is expected to last for five years, starting on December 22, 2023, with the possibility of two two-year extensions at the Lottery’s discretion. The deadline for qualified package delivery respondents to submit their written proposals is 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on October 20, 2023. The RFP and further details can be found on the Idaho Lottery’s website. The Lottery has historically sourced its delivery services from qualified vendors in Idaho, and this contract is seen as a way to create economic opportunities within the state.
Link to complete RFP here.
Lotto is commemorating its 45th anniversary with various celebratory events and promotions. In addition to offering unique jackpot amounts during draws, Lotto has played a significant role in Belgian history by contributing to the country’s achievements. The National Lottery has provided crucial financial support through sponsorships and grants, making a substantial social impact in Belgium. To honor Lotto’s role during this milestone year, mortierbrigade has created a film using archive footage from key Belgian moments influenced by Lotto’s contributions. The film reflects on the past 45 years and imagines what Belgium might have been like without Lotto players. This project was a collaborative effort between the National Lottery and productionbrigade, with audio production by Sonhouse. The film will be available on television and online. You can see the film above.
EveryMatrix has achieved certification from the World Lottery Association (WLA) for Safer Gambling, becoming the first iGaming supplier to attain this recognition. This certification follows a rigorous audit process, showcasing EveryMatrix’s commitment to responsible gaming practices. The company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy includes a robust Safer Gambling strategy to ensure all employees and clients have the necessary tools and knowledge to operate ethically and responsibly. EveryMatrix aims to become an industry leader in safer gambling and player protection, aligning with WLA’s principles for responsible gaming.