Lotto NZ has partnered with Scientific Games (SG), naming the Atlanta-based firm the systems technology provider of the New Zealand National Lottery.
The seven-year agreement will see SG replace Tab NZ’s core gaming system and online gaming system with fully integrated technology, encompassing a retail system and point-of-sale tech, digital lottery platform and digital content aggregation hub.
Central to the partnership is SG’s Symphony gaming system, which will be used to support the Lotto NZ draw-based games engine and communications across the operator’s retail network and 1,200 Contour point-of-sale terminals and wireless ticket checkers.
Chris Lyman, CEO for Lotto NZ, said: Scientific Games’ commitment to providing engaging, socially responsible and leading gaming technology, with the customer firmly at its centre, was a great match for Lotto New Zealand’s values and the future focus of our business. We’re confident of a collaborative and successful partnership in the years to come, and we are excited about getting started.”
“As we prepare for responsible future growth, it’s important that we appeal to a broad base of New Zealanders by delivering innovative and entertaining digital games that are simple to use, safe and fun.
“We chose Scientific Games as a technology partner based on the company’s strong understanding of our goals, its range of integrated products and services that will help us reach our goals and its five decades of industry knowledge and experience.”
On the digital side of Lotto NZ’s business, SG’s lottery platform and SG Content Hub content aggregator will support the lottery with online games, including draw-based and eInstant titles. These games will include SG-produced releases, as well as those from other global games studios.
This marks the debut deal for SG’s Content Hub, which was released just last week, developed by the company to drive game development and portfolio management for iLottery firms.
SG has been a provider of scratchcard games to Lotto NZ for 30 years, and the latest expansion of the duo’s partnership has terms for a renewal of up to 12 years.
As with other state-backed lotteries, Lotto NZ channels 100% of its profits towards funding of community groups and organisations via the NZ Lottery Grants Board, with more than NZ$5.5bn (€3bn) returned to good causes since 1987.
Michael Conforti, President, International for Scientific Games, remarked: “Lotto New Zealand is a recognized leader in the global lottery industry, and we are committed to a technology implementation that will responsibly drive its business to the next level for the benefit of all New Zealanders. We are dedicated to helping Lotto New Zealand meet its goal of maximising returns to New Zealand communities.”