Throughout the Christmas season, Lottery Daily will be revisiting some of the biggest stories of the lottery business world from the past year. This edition will be looking at stories from April, May and June.
April
National Lottery launches £600m direct impact fund for UK charities
National Lottery operator Camelot Group announced that it would further support UK charities operating through lockdown hardships by rolling out a £600m impact fund.
Camelot would direct immediate funds to charities that have been impacted hardest by COVID-19 circumstances and further aimed to support organisations supporting the most vulnerable UK communities during the crisis period.
Funding was made available to charitable organisations working in community support, disabilities, education, heritage, environment and sports.
Full story here
Scientific Games scoops 10-year Iowa Lottery contract
Scientific Games was awarded a new 10-year contract for the Iowa Lottery, for the introduction of a new statewide gaming system and to operate 2,400 retail points of sale – with the option for a further five-year extension
The Iowa Lottery Authority Board voted unanimously to award SG the contract and begin negotiations immediately. The new gaming system is expected to be unveiled in the summer of 2021, upgrading the lottery’s existing system, installed in 2011.
Full story here
May
IGT secures long-term deal with Sazka
International Game Technology (IGT) confirmed it had secured a long-term lottery technology agreement with Czech gambling conglomerate Sazka Group.
As part of the partnership, IGT would provide technology products and services via an upgraded lottery central system, as well as its lottery terminals, digital lottery platform and associated content and services.
Full story here
Lottery revenue ‘lower’ as Scientific Games post Q1 financials
Scientific Games Corporation posted its Q1 financials for the period ended March 31, 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic taking its inevitable toll on the headline figures. First quarter revenue, reported the firm, decreased 13% to $725m versus $837m year-on-year.
Updating investors, SG confirmed that gaming revenue had been negatively impacted by the temporary closures of casino operations in jurisdictions globally, while lottery revenue was described as lower as the prior year included significant equipment sales.
Full story here
June
Sazka Group cites unprecedented conditions in Q1 trading update
Citing novel Coronavirus impacts across its European network, Czech gambling and lottery conglomerate Sazka Group saw its consolidated Q1 revenues decline by 11% to €405m (Q1 2019: €458m).
In an overview of Q1 performance, the group cited trading under unprecedented circumstances, in which subsidiaries OPAP Greece, Casinos Austria and Lotto Italia were forced to suspend their entire retail presence since mid-March.
COVID-19 disruptions meant Sazka’s revenue capacity was limited to its digital assets and POS networks in Czech Rep (SazkaBet) and Austria (Tipp3) which have remained without interruption.
Full story here
FDJ suffers 60% drop in stakes during lockdown
In a financial update on the impact of COVID-19 on its performance, La Française des Jeux (FDJ), France’s leading gaming operator, unveiled a 60% drop in stakes as a result of the lockdown.
In addition to the drop in stakes, the French operator also revealed that throughout the lockdown period it experienced a reduction of €200m in revenue as well as having its EBITDA impacted by €100m.
Full story here