Scientific Games Corporation has launched its lottery retail solutions for instant game purchases in Kentucky checkout lines with SCiQ InLane technology.
Through a partnership with the Kentucky Lottery, grocery retailer Kroger and branded payments program Blackhawk Network, shoppers at Lexington, Kentucky area Kroger stores can now purchase scratch games with other items in one convenient transaction at checkouts.
Currently, instant games are a nearly $60bn consumer product category in the US, with grocery stores representing approximately $11bn (18.5%) of total instant game retail sales.
Scientific Games has partnered with Kroger and Blackhawk Network to help modernise the lottery retail experience at grocery stores and big-box retailers, and help drive maximum proceeds for lottery beneficiary programs. The long-term initiative with SCiQ InLane is expanding to other Kroger markets.
Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville said: “All of us at the Kentucky Lottery are excited to be chosen as the first state to test this new system, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it performs in the marketplace. The Kentucky Lottery is one of the Top 20 lotteries in the world for instant game per capita sales.”
SCiQ InLane is the first solution that securely integrates with the retailer’s point-of-sale system to sell lottery instant games via technology from payments partner Blackhawk Network. The technology features automated instant game dispensing under the retail checkout counter with a high-visibility, dynamic menu display of the games on sale. The system provides real-time data analytics to the retailer and the lottery.
Jarrod Cummins, Director of Prepaid Services for Kroger, added: “Consumer data is a critical element to better serve our customers. The SCiQ solution provides us with the data needed to better serve our lottery players.
“Through our partnership with Scientific Games and long-standing relationship with Blackhawk Network, Kroger is delighted to be the first grocery store partner for checkout line lottery sales in the US and we look to expand this effort to additional states.”
SCiQ InLane is an intelligent system that automatically tracks every unit of instant product sold in real-time. Previously not available to retailers, this level of category management allows greater visibility into sales performance and available inventory. It also automates the retailer’s shift accounting reconciliation process and significantly reduces labour costs.
Richard Gotlieb, VP of Lottery and Sports Betting at Blackhawk Network, commented: “Blackhawk is committed to bringing greater convenience to new and existing consumers purchasing instant lottery games.
“Partnering with Scientific Games, Kroger and the Kentucky Lottery to support this innovative in-lane solution is yet another option that enables our retail partners to drive incremental sales and offer greater convenience to their customers.”
Michael Martin, VP Retail Solutions for Scientific Games, said: “The convenience offered by the SCiQ InLane solution is a game-changer for consumers who are focused on getting in and out of the grocery store quickly for many reasons, including COVID-19 concerns. SCiQ InLane offers unparalleled product security and the ability to engage light and lapsed players who don’t visit lottery self-service machines in the store.”
Earlier this month, Kentucky Lottery announced it passed $1bn in annual sales in the FY2021, 73 days ahead of when the milestone was passed last year.
