The Lotto Matrix: NY Lottery Sales Stagnant, Intralot Out In Ohio, More

Welcome to this week’s “Lotto Matrix,” a weekly Friday compilation of the lottery industry’s most significant, interesting, or absurd happenings.

NY Lottery Numbers Holding Steady

The New York Lottery, which has partnered with the Mets for a “Swing 4 the Fences” promotion, is doing better than the Mets this spring, but not nearly as well as the Yankees. The latest lottery report shows sales of $772.2 million over the five weeks leading up to June 1, consistent with the sales figures recorded during the same timeframe last year.

A slight decrease of 2% was observed in the sales of instant win games, which are traditionally the most favored category among lottery players. Despite this minor dip, these games still generated $439.1 million, accounting for 57% of the total lottery sales.

The “Win 4” game, another staple of the lottery’s portfolio, has seen sales plateau at $91.1 million. The “Numbers” game witnessed a slight downturn, with sales falling by 2% to $85.5 million. This decline, although modest, indicates a shift in player preferences or possibly the impact of market dynamics on lottery sales.

Overall, the New York Lottery’s performance demonstrates a resilient, albeit stagnant, market presence, with instant win games continuing to be the cornerstone of its sales strategy. The minor fluctuations in specific game categories highlight the ever-changing nature of the lottery business and consumer behavior.

Ohio Drops Intralot

In the first major shift in its gaming operations, the Ohio Lottery has awarded a 10-year contract to International Game Technology (IGT) to manage the state’s video lottery terminals (VLTs), replacing the previous vendor, Greece-based Intralot. The deal, valued at approximately $47 million, entrusts IGT with the oversight of more than 10,000 VLTs across Ohio.

This transition marks the first time the Ohio Lottery has engaged in competitive bidding for its VLT contract since the machines were introduced over a decade ago. IGT, a London-based company, emerged victorious from a pool of bidders that included Intralot and M3 Technology Solutions. The new contract outlines responsibilities such as ensuring the use of approved software, monitoring user behavior, and guaranteeing that games meet the state’s payout requirements.

The Ohio Lottery’s move to IGT is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the management of the VLTs, which generated over $1.35 billion in profits in 2023.

In the U.S., IGT’s lottery systems are utilized by a number of states. The Connecticut Lottery Corporation has entrusted IGT with a 10-year facilities management contract, which includes the implementation of IGT’s Aurora central lottery management system.

Additionally, Washington’s Lottery has adopted IGT’s next-generation cashless lottery technology, positioning Washington as the seventh U.S. state to leverage IGT’s solutions. The company processes over 75% of U.S. lottery sales and all top five U.S. lotteries in terms of sales per capita rely on IGT’s central systems.

Long-Time Leader In Idaho Steps Down

Jeff Anderson, the director of both the Idaho Lottery and the State Liquor Division, announced his retirement Wednesday, ending a 17-year tenure.

Appointed in January 2007, Anderson’s leadership has been pivotal in the operational success of both agencies. Under his guidance, the Idaho Lottery has seen unprecedented growth, setting new dividend records 14 times and contributing $938 million to support public education and infrastructure.

His tenure also included the Idaho Lottery getting recognized as the highest-performing jurisdiction in the U.S. by lottery industry associations in 2014.

Anderson’s stewardship of the Idaho State Liquor Division resulted in record financial transfers totaling $1.2 billion, benefiting the state and its counties and cities. His initial “temporary” appointment in April 2010 evolved into a dedicated service that spanned over a decade. Anderson’s dual role was further extended under Gov. Brad Little’s administration in January 2019.

Anderson’s retirement is set for July 26, following the Idaho Lottery’s 35th anniversary.

Jackpot.com’s New Publishing Partnership

Online lottery courier Jackpot.com has announced a strategic partnership with Global Gaming Data, a prominent analytics firm.

The new platform, designed to integrate with digital publishers’ existing infrastructures, will enable those publishers to offer their readers the ability to purchase lottery tickets directly through their websites. This initiative not only promises to enhance user engagement by providing added convenience but also opens up a new revenue stream for publishers in the competitive digital space.

Digital publishers across the U.S. can easily integrate our lottery data widget into their online properties, giving their audiences access to up-to-date lottery results and information. Giving those audiences the ability to purchase lottery tickets is a win-win for consumers and our digital publisher clients.

— John Brier, Global Gaming Data’s Managing Partner

The synergy between Jackpot.com and Global Gaming Data aims to set a new standard for online lottery services, ensuring compliance with international gaming regulations and responsible gambling practices.

Instant Games Take Off In North Carolina

The North Carolina Education Lottery has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $1 billion in sales from digital instant games. It’s a huge achievement, given that the state only launched mobile scratch-offs last November.

The state has seen a quicker adoption rate of these digital offerings compared to other states, with a substantial portion of sales being attributed to the mobile app.

The success of the digital instant games, like the one that awarded $1 million on a $50 purchase as highlighted in the tweet above, has exceeded the lottery’s initial projections by nearly $100 million. The North Carolina Education Lottery’s record-breaking sales have also had a positive effect on education funding.

In addition, as of the end of May, the lottery reported sales exceeding $4.8 billion across all games, an increase of $857 million from the previous year. Scratch-off tickets remain a major component of the lottery’s sales, while digital instants now represent 19% of total sales.

Mississippi Lottery Exec Gets House Arrest

A former executive of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation has been sentenced to a term of house arrest following a guilty plea for embezzlement. Hope Bishop, who previously held the position of vice president of human resources, faced charges for illicitly granting herself unauthorized salary increases.

The case, which was brought to light by the state auditor’s office, concluded with Bishop receiving a sentence that includes five years of house arrest. This sentence is part of a larger 20-year custodial sentence, of which 15 years have been suspended, and will be followed by a probation period.

The state auditor, Shad White, expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of all parties involved in bringing the case to a resolution. As a result of the investigation, Bishop was served with a demand for repayment totaling $187,739 at the time of her arrest.

Best Of The Rest

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Lottery winner triumphs again in court: Minnesota lottery winner wins judgment over his charitable foundation’s money

Check the prize box and see you next week!