Gaming giants build on existing business relationships
London-based International Game Technology and Las Vegas-headquartered Scientific Games Corporation have each inked multi-year supplier deals with the Nebraska and Massachusetts lotteries, respectively.
On November 16, International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Global Solutions Corporation (IGT), had agreed to a seven-year “base contract” with the Nebraska Lottery. With built-in extensions, the contract could run up to 13 years. Although already in business together since 1994, the new deal makes IGT the primary vendor for the Nebraska Lottery’s instants, draw-based games, and related services.
Global end-to-end gaming company IGT won the contract—which runs until June 30, 2028, and includes provisions for three two-year extensions—as a preferred bidder under the procurement process rules of Nebraska.
The multichannel gaming giant will also deliver its terminal equipment to around 1,200 retailer locations across the Cornhusker State.
help evolve, manage, and grow the Nebraska Lottery’s sales now and in the years ahead”
IGT COO of lottery Jay Gendron said his firm would deliver solutions that would “provide the flexibility to help evolve, manage, and grow the Nebraska Lottery’s sales now and in the years ahead”.
Looking east
Over on the Eastern Seaboard, Nevada-based Scientific Games Corporation (SG) secured a new five-year contract with the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission (MSLC), also on November 16.
In a tweet, the gambling and lottery products and services provider said the deal meant it would furnish the Massachusetts State Lottery with instant and digital games:
Under the terms of the deal, SG’s new contract with the MSLC, which allows for a two-year extension, includes consumer digital services. In a news release, SG said this contract extension will “engage players through exciting second chance game features and help the Lottery protect and grow revenues for the Commonwealth.”
SG’s senior VP of lottery instant products, John Schultz, said that for many years, the Massachusetts Lottery has been the world’s “highest performing instant game lottery.” He said that it set the benchmark for lotteries across the globe.
“Our 2 chance and digital services are second to none, and we look forward to further expanding Scientific Games’ services to player engagement in online/mobile channels in Massachusetts,” Schultz added.
Eyes on digital growth
SG produces 96% of the Massachusetts Lottery’s instant games. It reported that in fiscal year 2020, SG products made $3b out of the lottery’s $3.6bn in total retail sales for instant games. SG also said that for fiscal year 2021 (which began July 1, 2020), it has helped grow instant game sales for the Massachusetts Lottery by 11.3%, or $99.7m.
Chief marketing officer for MSLC, Ed Farley, said the combined expertise of SG and his lottery body had created “great instant game entertainment that has generated strong revenues to benefit programs in the Commonwealth.”
He also reinforced the lottery’s vision to expand player engagement via digital.
Nebraska Lottery Director Brian Rockey echoed his Massachusetts counterpart in praising the “professionalism, expertise, services and solutions” IGT has provided his organization for over 25 years. Rockey said IGT has helped the lottery “maximize its contributions” to education, the Nebraska State Fair, the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, and the environment.
Also with an eye to the future, Rockey added in a news release that the lottery “looked forward to the products, technology, and concepts” IGT will introduce in the years to come.
