IGT hosted its 13th annual International Instants Ticket Workshop in Lakeland, Florida, bringing together Instants Product Managers for face-to-face discussions. The event, the first since 2019, welcomed participants from 17 lotteries, including some North American customers. Discussions covered a range of topics, from inventory management and product innovation to price-point evolution. The workshop included a keynote presentation on the evolution of Florida’s instants program by Tony Kirkland, Sales Director of the Florida Lottery.
The North Carolina Education Lottery has introduced Digital Instants. The Digital Instants’ games, including Magic Winnings, Fortunes of Cleopatra, and Robo Cash, range in cost from $0.05 to $30 per round.
The Maryland Lottery iGaming report by The Innovation Group shared with the state’s General Assembly, provides insights into the potential impact of legal online casinos in Maryland. The report suggests tethering online licenses to brick-and-mortar casinos to address concerns of cannibalization. It notes a possible cannibalization rate of approximately 10%, translating to a loss of just over $200 million in casino revenue against a gain of $900 million in iGaming revenue. The report also indicates minimal effects on lottery revenue and forecasts potential annual tax revenue exceeding $900 million once the online casino market matures around 2029. The state’s 2024 legislative session is expected to discuss online casino gaming.
A Virginia judge’s dismissal of a case challenging the state’s skill game ban will lead to increased enforcement starting Wednesday. The American Gaming Association supports the decision, emphasizing the need to regulate gambling to eliminate illegal practices. The decision aims to remove predatory “skill” machines and encourage compliance with the ban.
Lottery.com Inc. has accused two founders, John Brier Jr. and Bin Tu, of using stolen trade secrets to solicit business for their new venture, Global Gaming Data LLC. The alleged proprietary information theft occurred months after Brier and Tu sued Lottery.com over unpaid millions. The secrets purportedly include software, business plans, and databases. Brier and Tu continue to operate TinBu, a lottery data firm they sold to Lottery.com in 2018.
Michigan Lottery is introducing a Lucky Dog promotion, allowing players to submit photos and bios of their dogs for a chance to be featured on a $1 instant game called Lucky Dog, set to launch in June 2024. The lottery will select 30 dogs, and submissions are open until December 8, with winners announced in the spring.
The Idaho Lottery’s Bucks for Books program granted a total of $50,000 to Idaho school libraries this year. Three schools, including Connor Academy, Fort Hall Elementary, and Ethel Boyes Elementary, recently received grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 to support the purchase of new books for their libraries. The grants aim to address budget constraints faced by many Idaho school libraries.