Iowa Lottery installs new terminals at 2400 retail locations

The Iowa Lottery has installed new lottery terminal machines in 2,400 of its retail locations in the state to upgrade the technology available to players
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The Iowa Lottery has installed new lottery terminal machines in 2,400 of its retail locations in the state to upgrade the technology available to players.

As reported by Radio Iowa, the terminals are based on a new operating system, allowing major upgrades to the technology to improve the user experience.

Mary Neubauer, a spokesperson for the Iowa Lottery, told Radio Iowa: “This is a huge project the lottery only takes on about once a decade — because it involves replacing all of the equipment that the lottery has in the field. So, all the lottery terminals, all the self-checkers, the lighted jackpot signs, and then the central communications backbone that links them all in real-time.”

Last year, the lottery signed a 10-year agreement with Scientific Games to implement the system, originally due to be installed in the summer of 2021. The Iowa Lottery Authority Board voted unanimously to award SG the contract for the improvements.

At the time of the agreement, Scientific Games’ Lottery CEO Pat McHugh commented: “Scientific Games appreciates the trust the Iowa Lottery has placed in our company and our technology to continue supporting programs that help make Iowa a great place to live.

“We are also very proud that the hard work of our teams and ability to successfully align with lotteries’ business plans continues to position Scientific Games as the fastest growing lottery systems provider in North America.”

Improvements to the terminals include a new advanced gaming system, central communications network, retailer terminals, and player self-service kiosks on top of the new operating system. 

Neubauer added: “The lottery terminals are a little bit faster than the old ones. The tickets that are printed have a higher resolution — so everything is easier to read on the tickets.”