News Brief: Michigan Walmart Expansion, Starburst Awards, Debit Card Legislation
Neo Group Ltd., formerly NeoGames S.A., has been acquired by Aristocrat Leisure Limited in a cash transaction valued at approximately $1.2 billion. The acquisition aims to enhance iLottery, iGaming, and online sports betting offerings. Neo's CEO, Moti Malul, expressed excitement about joining forces with Aristocrat. The transaction was completed on May 15, 2023.
South Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill to allow debit card payments for lottery tickets, aiming to increase participation. The proposal faces debate in the Senate, with concerns about fees and maintaining cash transactions. Lottery officials support the initiative to stay competitive, but some lawmakers oppose it due to financial oversight and potential risks.
The Michigan Lottery is extending its presence by placing self-serve kiosks in 19 Walmart stores across the state. The kiosks will be installed from this month through June, although specific store locations have not been disclosed.
The Colorado Lottery honored 13 projects with Starburst Awards. This year’s Colorado Lottery Starburst Awards recognize 13 projects, representing nearly $9 million, for their excellence in the use of Lottery funds. The diverse projects were chosen from across the state, based on the creativity of the project, economic and social impact on the community, and the goals achieved.
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The Illinois Lottery is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Stéphane Pallez will lead Fran?aise des Jeux (FDJ) for another four years after being reappointed by the board with a 94.2% approval rate. Under her leadership, FDJ has focused on digital transformation, with online turnover tripling since 2019 to now represent 13% of total activity. Recent acquisitions, including the Irish lottery and ZEturf, contributed to improved financial results, with a 6.5% increase in turnover to 2.62 billion euros and a 38% rise in net profit to 425 million euros in 2023. FDJ's public purchase offer for the Swedish Kindred aims to expand its presence in Europe and venture into online casino gaming.
BCLC is launching a new digital sports betting system, replacing its retail offering, Sports Action, on May 26. Players will use a mobile app and self-service terminals in-store, with QR code scanning for bet slips. BCLC encourages online betting during the transition, with lottery products temporarily unavailable from May 25 to 26 for system upgrades.
Scientific Games and Totalizator Sportowy have extended their partnership to continue offering instant scratch games in Poland, with sales growing by 39% in the past three years. Totalizator Sportowy aims to responsibly grow this category to support Polish sport and culture. The collaboration, spanning over 20 years, highlights the trusted relationship between the two companies. Scientific Games, a leader in lottery games and technology globally, looks forward to driving further growth through innovation.
Scientific Games has partnered with Bulgaria-based 7777 gaming, adding them as the ninth iLottery studio partner in the SG Content Hub Partner Program. The collaboration aims to provide lottery operators worldwide with access to a variety of top-quality content. 7777 gaming focuses on creating unique games that undergo rigorous testing and comply with regulations in multiple jurisdictions. Scientific Games aims to offer a diverse range of digital lottery content to its customers through the SG Content Hub Partner Program.