The Ohio Lottery is in the midst of a substantial technology upgrade, the first major revamp of its gaming system in nearly 20 years.
As with the last tech upgrade in 2008, the project is being undertaken by Scientific Games, which has been a technology partner of the Ohio Lottery for three decades.
The upgrade got underway earlier this month, with Ohio lottery retailers being issued new equipment and digital advertising displays, starting with new self-serve kiosks.
“Technology has changed immensely since the Lottery’s last gaming conversion in 2008, so we are proud to be able to upgrade the experience of playing the Ohio Lottery for our players and our retailer network,” said Ohio Lottery Director, Michelle Gillcrist.
The lottery aims to give its customers what it calls a “more modern playing experience”.
This includes streamlined purchasing, flexible payment options, ADA responsive touchscreens, and new Keno shows.
However, the lottery expects the project to take some time, stating that the upgrade will take several months to complete. The process will see 12,000 retail terminals and 9,000 self-service kiosks replaced.
Initially, new self-service kiosks installed prior to spring 2027 will sell scratchcards and only accept cash as a payment method.
This is a temporary solution while the replacements are ongoing, and customers will still be able to use the full range of payment options for over-the-counter purchases.
“We expect there will be minor disruptions as this is a complicated technology-driven process, but we have prepared carefully for the transformation with Scientific Games,” said Gillcrist.
“We are confident that once complete, our players will get the full experience of a system that is state-of-the-art and will continue to support our contribution to the education fund.”
Scientific Games is no stranger to conducting retail upgrades.
The company’s activities also extend far beyond US borders, with the firm having completed a huge upgrade to the UK National Lottery, in partnership with lottery operator Allwyn, last summer.
