Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Report Record Sales for All Products in March

Increases Seen in Draw Games, Instant Tickets, Total Sales

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (April 9, 2018) -- The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery is reporting the best-ever March for prizes, ticket sales, total revenue, and retailer commissions in its history. Total sales were up more than $10 million (23 percent) over the same period last year, driven largely by instant ticket sales and the national draw games Powerball® and Mega Millions.®

Year to date, the Lottery is up 13.5 percent, or nearly $45 million, in total sales versus the same period last year – and is $6.5 million (including unclaimed prizes) over budget for proceeds this fiscal year.

March was additionally the highest Cash 4 sales month ever, the highest Fast Play sales month ever, and the highest Cash 3 sales month since March 2010. In total, March was the second-highest sales month ever for the lottery since it launched in 2009.

The full report was released to the Lottery Oversight Committee today, and it, and previous reports, are available to the public at the Lottery website: MyArkansasLottery.com/about/reports

“These are incredible numbers, and something that everyone here works hard at every day – so, the credit goes to lottery employees, to our nearly 2,000 retailers statewide, and to our players,” Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Director Bishop Woosley said. “Now, to date, the Arkansas lottery has helped raise $752 million for well over a quarter of a million in-state scholarships, and we’re proud of those numbers, too. In fact, with the scholarship deadline approaching in June, we encourage all interested Arkansas students to apply at Scholarships.ADHE.edu.”.”

About the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery

More than 92 cents of every dollar of Lottery revenue goes to prizes, scholarships, retailer commissions, and other expenses in Arkansas. Since Lottery sales started in 2009, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has provided more than $752 million for in-state college scholarships to Arkansas students, $2.5 billion+ in prizes to players, and more than $217 million in commissions to Lottery retailers.

Follow the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit MyArkansasLottery.com for more information on scholarships, winners, games, odds, promotions -- and to join The Club for free. To hear winning numbers, call the Winning Numbers Hotline at 501-682-IWON (4966). To get help with problem gambling, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

CONTACT:  Donna Bragg at 501-683-1866.

SOURCE: Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®) Names Johan Jonsson-Granberg Client Services Manager

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 9, 2018) – Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) is pleased to announce Johan Jonsson-Granberg has joined its European client services team as Client Services Manager. In his new capacity, Jonsson-Granberg will be responsible for delivering world-class customer service for GLI’s expanding portfolio of valued clients throughout Europe and around the world.

He will be based out of GLI’s London office.

“We are delighted to welcome Johan to GLI,” said James Illingworth, Director of European Client Services.

“Johan joins us during an exciting time of opportunity for GLI in Europe. With Sweden gearing up for new gaming legislation, Johan’s Swedish heritage and his understanding of the unique aspects of the Scandinavian market will help position GLI for continued growth. Johan’s excellent credentials in online gaming, as well as other fields, will assist us in expanding our client base and market share throughout the region.”

Immediately prior to joining GLI, Jonsson-Granberg was the content sales manager for Playtech, a leading supplier of innovative online gaming software, technology, and content solutions.

Johan Jonsson-Granberg

With more than seven years of online gaming experience, Jonsson-Granberg previously served as an account manager for iSoftBet, a major provider of online and mobile casino games and e-gaming products. 

About Gaming Laboratories International

Gaming Laboratories International, LLC delivers the highest quality land-based, lottery and iGaming testing and assessment services.

GLI’s laboratory locations are found on six continents, and the company holds U.S. and international accreditations for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, 17020, and 17065 standards for technical competence in the gaming, wagering and lottery industries.

GLI also holds ISTBQ certification. For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

CONTACT: Christie Eickelman, Vice President of Global Marketing, T: +1 (702) 914-2220 or E: c.eickelman@gaminglabs.com.

SOURCE: Gaming Laboratories International, LLC.

Kentucky Lottery Sales Began 29 Years Ago

Anniversary comes on the heels of near record-breaking sales in March

LOUISVILLE, KY (April 9, 2018) -- Twenty-nine years ago Wednesday (April 4, 1989), lottery tickets first went on sale in Kentucky. Nearly three decades later, the Kentucky Lottery Corporation (KLC) announced today the second-highest sales month in the history of the corporation.

Fueled by two large jackpots in Mega Millions and Powerball – in addition to near historic Scratch-off ticket sales – Kentucky Lottery sales for March 2018 were $104.1 million. This is second only to January 2016, when $105.1 million in sales were realized during the run-up to the world record-breaking $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot.

March Scratch-off ticket sales were surpassed only by the first month of lottery sales in the state. Scratch-off sales for the month were $60.3 million. This is second only to April 1989 when lottery sales first began with $68.1 million in sales.

In addition, three products saw their highest sales month in history:

• Pick 3 ($13.9 million)
• Keno ($8.7 million)
• iLottery Instant Play games ($1.1 million)

Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Tom Delacenserie said key changes in marketing efforts and Scratch-off products helped contribute to the increased sales.

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“We’ve reconfigured our marketing efforts behind game-specific ads which help increase awareness of new tickets, and we’ve changed our prize structure to add better prizes that players enjoy,” said Delacenserie.

“Our retailers have also been hugely supportive in this effort. Around 90% of the new game launch tickets we shipped in March were on sale and ready for purchase within three days of being shipped. Combine this with the increased product awareness, and that’s how you set records,” Delacenserie said.

Delacenserie also pointed to new jackpot alert strategies which kicked in when both Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots were in excess of $400 million, and how increased media efforts also helped raise awareness of the games.

“It’s been a great effort by our staff to reach these levels, and we know at the end of the day our work helps send Kentucky kids to college here at home.

That’s an important cause which constantly drives us,” Delacenserie said.

The Kentucky Lottery has earned more than $5 billion for the Commonwealth since 1989. KLC dividends pay for college scholarships, grants and literacy programs.

Visit www.kheaa.com to find out more about grants and scholarships paid for by the KLC.

For More Information CONTACT: Chip Polston, Jennifer Cunningham or Sara Westerman, T: (502) 560-1675.

SOURCE: Kentucky Lottery Corporation.

Three Arkansas Players to Participate in BILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE™

Winners hail from Hope, Berryville, and Wooster

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (April 9, 2018) -- Vegas awaits Ruby Miller of Hope, Diana McNeil of Berryville and Jim Jolly of Wooster, as these three lucky Arkansas players are the state’s winners of trips to Las Vegas for the opportunity to participate in the BILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE™ with the chance win up to $1 billion!

These three Arkansas players were selected after they entered their non-winning WILLY WONKA GOLDEN TICKET™ into this promotional second-chance drawing. Each winner will receive airfare for two, a hotel room, and $1,000 spending money. Similar players from lottery states across the country will participate in the BILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE in Las Vegas on April 18th at the LINQ Hotel & Casino -- with one finalist having the chance to win a prize of up to $1 billion.

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“The WILLY WONKA GOLDEN TICKET has generated real excitement in the state, especially with three Arkansas players being represented in the BILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE,” Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Director Bishop Woosley said. “We hope one of our Arkansas players is up for the CHALLENGE!”

While Diana of Berryville has never been to Las Vegas, Ruby of Hope has a sister who lives in Las Vegas -- who Ruby hasn’t seen for 20 years.

“I’ve never won anything!,” she said. When Ruby found out she’d won, she said, “man, I got to hollering!” Meanwhile, Jim of Wooster said he’s won smaller amounts several times in the past, and entered “less than 20” lottery tickets in the drawing he won: “I’d forgotten all about it!,” Jim admitted.

About the WILLY WONKA GOLDEN TICKET™

The WILLY WONKA GOLDEN TICKET™ is a $10 instant Arkansas Scholarship Lottery game that launched in June 2017. More than $500,000 in cash prizes remains to be claimed on this ticket. Overall odds for this game are 1 in 2.98. (The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery is unable to determine how many winning tickets are lost or purchased but still remain unclaimed. Prizes remaining are updated daily.)

About the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery

More than 92 cents of every dollar of Lottery revenue goes to prizes, scholarships, retailer commissions, and other expenses in Arkansas. Since Lottery sales started in 2009, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has provided more than $752 million for in-state college scholarships to Arkansas students, $2.5 billion+ in prizes to players, and more than $217 million in commissions to Lottery retailers.

Follow the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit MyArkansasLottery.com for more information on scholarships, winners, games, odds, promotions -- and to join The Club for free. To hear winning numbers, call the Winning Numbers Hotline at 501-682-IWON (4966). To get help with problem gambling, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

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About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, extends the Studio’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world.  WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera. The division’s successful global themed entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi (opening 2018). With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and all related characters and elements © and ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s18).

CONTACT:  Donna Bragg at 501-683-1866.

SOURCE: Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.

WyoLotto Transfers $1.4 Million to Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyoming (April 9, 2018) – On Thursday, April 5, WyoLottoTM transferred $1,405,492 to the State Treasurer’s Office, where the funds will be distributed to Wyoming’s cities, towns and counties. This is a record amount that the Wyoming Lottery has transferred to the state since launching in 2014.

These quarterly transfers are a critical part of the Wyoming Lottery’s mission. More than $7.9 million has been transferred to the State of Wyoming since launching in 2014. The first transfer was made in April 2016.

“This record transfer is a demonstration from our staff, partners and vendors that giving back as much as we can to the state is our number one priority. Thanks to paying off our start up loan early, we were able to start these transfers two years ago,” said Jon Clontz, WyoLotto CEO.

Clontz said he looks forward to the coming year as the team at WyoLotto gets to focus on growth and giving back now that the dust is settling on launching a startup. “We worked hard to establish our brand and become recognized by players, and we are happy we get to contribute to the communities that support us,” Clontz said.

Not only are Wyoming communities winning, but players and retailers are also winning. Since 2014, the Wyoming Lottery has seen more than 2.9 million WyoLotto players take home approximately $39.7 million in winnings.

There are nearly 450 WyoLotto retailers around the state.

Additionally, retailers have earned more than $6 million in commissions from August 2014-March 2018. Small businesses around the state have been able to see the benefits from a new revenue source that also drives additional traffic to those stores that used to go out of the state.

“We hope that every dollar we can give back to the state helps,” Clontz said.

Large jackpots, like the recent Mega MillionsⓇ witnessed last Friday with more than half a billion dollars up for grabs, hugely impacts sales forecasts on a positive note.

By state statute, at least 45% of net proceeds from lottery sales must go to the prize pool. In 2015 and 2016, approximately 55% each year went to the prize pool. This number rose to 57% in 2017. Prizes paid to winners have increased every year since inception of WyoLotto from 54% in 2015 to a projected 66% in 2018.

SOURCE: Wyoming Lottery.

Four New Florida Lottery Scratch-Off Games Offer Millions in Cash Prizes!

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (April 9, 2018) -- The Florida Lottery introduces four new Scratch-Off games today that offer more than $176 million in total cash prizes.

The games, 24 KARAT CASH, THE PRICE IS RIGHT, NEON 7’S, and $100 IN A FLASH, range in price from $1 to $10. All Lottery retailers are expected to have these new tickets in stock and available for purchase within 72 hours.

24 KARAT CASH offers four top prizes of $2 million! This $10 game also features more than 152,500 prizes from $100 to $10,000. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-3.57.

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The $5 game, THE PRICE IS RIGHT, gives players the chance to win up to 22 times on one ticket! The game features more than $59 million in prizes, including six top prizes of $1 million! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-4.19.

NEON 7’S offers players the chance to win up to $30,000 instantly! This $2 game features more than five million winning tickets, and overall odds of winning are one-in-4.41.

For just $1, players can win up to $3,000 with $100 IN A FLASH. This game features more than $2.4 million in $100 prizes!

The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-4.97.

Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery's portfolio of games, comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2016-17.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $33 billion to education and sending more than 775,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 98 percent of its revenue back into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Florida retailers and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $56.3 billion in prizes and made more than 2,000 people millionaires. For more information, please visit: www.flalottery.com.

CONTACT: Florida Lottery Communications, T: (850) 487-7727.

SOURCE: Florida Lottery (www.flalottery.com).

Missouri Lottery Honored for Accounting Excellence

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (April 5, 2018) -- For the 18th consecutive year, the Missouri Lottery has received the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The Lottery’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for FY17 was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada.

“We are honored to accept the GFOA award again this year, and we are proud of our track record for clearly communicating the Missouri Lottery’s financial story,” said May Scheve Reardon, executive director for the Lottery. “We’re here to provide funds for public education, so it’s important that we are transparent in how we operate. Our chief financial officer, Judy Martin, and her staff work hard to make sure our CAFR fully communicates our finances in order to meet those expectations.”

The GFOA is a major professional association serving approximately 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government finance professionals. The association is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Washington, D.C.

About the Missouri Lottery (MOLottery.com)

In 1984, more than 70 percent of Missouri voters approved a lottery. Currently, the Lottery is the sixth-largest source of state income. Since sales started in 1986, the Missouri Lottery has generated more than $5.9 billion for the state and public education, and annual Lottery proceeds make up approximately 4 percent of the state’s funding for public education. Lottery players have won more than $13.1 billion in prizes, and retailers have earned more than $1.3 billion in commissions. Each year, the Lottery generates more than $286 million for vital education programs, including A+ scholarships. When you play the Missouri Lottery, you Play It Forward!

Follow the Missouri Lottery on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MOLottery), Twitter (www.twitter.com/MissouriLottery) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/MissouriLotteryOfficial).

SOURCE: Missouri Lottery.

CT Lottery Interim President and CEO Awarded Responsible Gambling Award by Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling

Chelsea Turner Accepts Responsible Gambling Industry Award

ROCKY HILL, CT/April 5, 2018 – Chelsea Turner, Interim President and CEO of the CT Lottery, was awarded the Responsible Gambling Award by the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. 

The award was presented on March 20, 2018 at the 2018 Conference on Gambling Problems in Massachusetts.

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The annual award is presented to an individual or organization that demonstrates an exemplary effort in implementing or promoting a responsible gambling program within the industry.

The award recognizes industry operators that have gone the extra mile to provide information on problem gambling for both their customers and employees.

The recipient not only meets, but goes above and beyond the criteria by requiring that all facility employees participate in the responsible gambling program and understands their role in providing assistance to persons in need.

“Chelsea is not only a colleague, but a true leader as an Industry Operator, continuously setting high standards for her exceptional work in the responsible and problem gambling world,” said Marlene Warner, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling.

“She has tirelessly advocated to introduce new and innovative programs, like GameSense, and to train and educate lottery staff about problem and responsible gambling.”

Chelsea Turner awarded the Responsible Gambling Award

“I am very proud to accept this award and want to thank all our CT Lottery staff, especially the Corporate Responsibility team,” Turner said.  “This award exemplifies our commitment to reaching the highest industry standards of responsible gambling and corporate social responsibility.”

The CT Lottery recently supported the Problem Gambling Awareness Month by partnering with the National Council on Problem Gambling.  Every day this past March, CT Lottery displayed responsible gambling messages through various mediums, distributed resources and strategies to players and facilitated training to retailers and staff.

Since 1996, the Lottery has provided $33,823,000 to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Chronic Gamblers Treatment and Rehabilitation Fund.  In fiscal year 2018, the CT Lottery contributed $2.3 million to the fund.  The Lottery also contributes resources above and beyond this statutory requirement.

About CT Lottery Corporation:

Lottery sales benefit Connecticut's residents in valuable ways.  In fiscal year 2017, players won more than $756.3 million in prize money and retailers earned $68 million in commissions.  At the same time, the CT Lottery provided $330 million to support the valuable services and programs funded by the state’s General Fund including public health, libraries, public safety, education and more.  Since the Lottery began in 1972, our contributions to the General Fund have exceeded $9.4 billion.

The CT Lottery reminds the public that purchasers must be 18 or older.  If you gamble, use your GameSense.  For information about the CT Lottery, stop by any CT Lottery retailer, visit CTLOTTERY.ORG, join us on Facebook (facebook.com/CTLottery), Instagram (Instagram.com/ctlottery), Twitter (twitter.com/ctlottery), or call (860) 713-2700.

SOURCE: CT Lottery Corporation.

Sales of Lottery Scratch Tickets In Iowa Set New Overall Monthly Record

March 2018 Saw The Iowa Lottery’s Highest Monthly Sales Ever For Scratch Games

CLIVE, Iowa (April 5, 2018) -- Sales of lottery instant-scratch tickets in Iowa set an all-time monthly record in March, helped by the release of a game with oversized, double-sided tickets.

The Iowa Lottery’s scratch-game sales totaled nearly $24 million in March, an increase of more than $900,000 from the lottery’s previous monthly sales record for that product set a year earlier. That previous record, of $23.04 million, was hit in March 2017.

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Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich said that the lottery continues to concentrate on the mix of games it has in the field, and likes to try new innovations, like the double-sided “Colossal Crossword” game that debuted March 5. A scratch game was the first product introduced by the Iowa Lottery back when it started in 1985, and scratch tickets have traditionally been the lottery’s leading sales category.

 “We know that our players look for variety and new options in our games just like they do with other items they choose to buy,” Rich said. “Part of the fun for us is investigating new ideas about what we think will appeal to players, and then releasing the resulting products to see if our predictions will hold true. It’s all part of our mission to provide entertainment to the public while raising proceeds for the vital state programs that benefit all Iowans.”   

The lottery’s top three months for scratch-ticket sales have all been in March, from 2016 to 2018:

• March 2018:   $23.96 million
• March 2017:   $23.04 million
• March 2016:   $22.75 million

“We’ve theorized that maybe there’s a spring-fever phenomenon that gets all of us out and about more in March after the long winter, and that could be reflected in our numbers,” Rich said.

Since the Iowa Lottery’s start in 1985, its players have won more than $4.1 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.8 billion for state causes.

Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for Iowa veterans and their families through the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund; help for a variety of significant projects through the state General Fund; and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.

SOURCE: Iowa Lottery.

iSoftBet’s Latest Game, Legend of Loki, to Intrigue Players Everywhere

Players take on the mysterious, shape shifting Norse god Loki in supplier’s latest blockbuster slot

LONDON, United Kingdom (April 5, 2018) -- Casino content provider iSoftBet is pleased to announce the release of Legend of Loki, its latest blockbuster game.

Legend of Loki draws on the mysteries of Norse mythology to produce a video slot that is both intriguing and captivating, while offering dynamic gameplay mechanics and a distinctive 5-reel layout.

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Legend tells us Loki is the wily trickster god of Norse mythology. By nature, he is helpful, benevolent even …. yet with a cheeky, mischievous side. And that certainly shows through in this 20-line game.

Ever the entertainer, Loki has the power to unleash a barrage of exciting features, including Wild Strikes, Stacked Respins and Storm Showers – plus a Free Spins round with a unique sticky symbol.

At the start of any normal spin, Loki can summon his sceptre and add a random number of Sticky Wilds to the reels for that spin. Three or more Scatter symbols will reward players with 10 Free Spins, while the special sticky symbol can deliver multiple wins.

Legend of Loki proves that even the greyest storm clouds really can have a silver lining: The Storm Shower feature can strike after any losing spin and turn random positions into the same symbol to help boost a player’s winnings.

In addition, matching symbols on reel one will trigger a sticky respin series, which continues as long as more of the same symbols appear.

Michael Probert, Head of Business Development at iSoftBet, said “While we know that our players appreciate technical quality, we know that an element of mystery adds real excitement to a game. So, we paired our signature audio-visual excellence and unique mechanics with the Norse Legend of Loki to produce a game that we know will keep players on the edge of their seats.”

Developed using iSoftBet’s Pulse platform, Legend of Loki is HTML5-native, ready to deploy today across desktop and mobile, with a demo available from the iSoftBet website.

The game’s RTP is 96.23%, with a hit rate of 27.54%. Free spins trigger approximately once every 170 spins and Wild Strikes every 115 spins. Storm Showers rain down every 199 spins and Stacked Respins every 89.

For more information about Legend of Loki or any other game in the iSoftBet portfolio, contact sales@isoftbet.com.

SOURCE: iSoftBet.

ARJEL Review of the 2017 Authorized Online Game Market

PARIS, France (April 8, 2018) -- The ARJEL has just made public the figures of the approved market online for the year 2017. The light last year is confirmed and for the first time since 2010, the three segments - sports betting, horse betting and poker - recorded a rise in activity with positive results on both the bets, the gross product of the games and the number of players accounts assets.

On the entire online market, there are 9.2 billion euros in bets and entry fees an increase of 9%, 962 million euros of gross product of the games is an increase of 18% and a 13% increase in active player accounts.

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These results are encouraging: they testify to the dynamism of the approved operators and account of the determined action of the regulator: it is his responsibility to support this market and fight the illegal offer because it is the most protective for the player.

However, the disparities between the three markets remain very present.

• sports bets confirm their pre-eminence with a record amount of bets - 2,510 millions of euros-, 2 million active players accounts against 1.6 million in 2016. In 2018, the prospect of the football world cup in particular portends new margins of progress.
• Online horse betting activity starts again after four consecutive years of decline. AT the origin of this reversal of the trend, the effects of a renewal of the offer of gambling and the increase in the return rate punters eagerly awaited by the turfists. The growth of the number of active player accounts that followed - 523,000 against 484,000 in 2016, an increase of 7% confirms the validity of these measures.
• as for poker, the turnaround was all the more expected as the numbers were down, cash game, since 2011. Even if it remains modest, the growth is back: € 3,601 million compared to € 3,556 million last year a 1% increase in cash games and a 9% increase in entry fees for tournaments. As with horse betting, the diversification of supply and the mobilization of new liquidity were decisive factors. The arrival of the European tables of poker should help consolidate and amplify this thrill.

As a result, a relative fragility remains, which will be lifted only through structural reforms and in particular, the change of tax base. The current regime taxes operators on while they return a significant share to players in the form of earnings. A plate on the PBJ1 would give a boost to this business sector by aligning it with its European partners. In 2017, the amount of compulsory deductions reached 439 million euros, ie 13% increase for public finances compared to 2016.

Finally, if the regulator welcomes the dynamism found of the approved online market, it is his responsibility to at the same time, ensure that the protection of players' health is not affected.

The product "gambling online" must remain recreational and the ARJEL monitors particularly the evolution of the expenses of the players: in 2017, the amount of the average expenditure on the three online gambling segments is € 343 per year compared to € 328 in 2016. An increase of small scale therefore, which should be followed carefully. An action plan on this point will be presented in the coming weeks.

SOURCE: ARJEL press release.

Re-Regulation of the Swedish Gambling Market – Licence System to be Introduced

SWEDEN (April 5, 2018) -- The Government today adopted the Bill ‘A re-regulated gambling market’. The proposal will mean introducing a new gambling act and a licence system.

"Unregulated gambling has taken over and gambling is used in criminal activities. It is 14 years since the first of a line of gambling inquiries was appointed. It is now time for us to move from words to action and regain control of the Swedish gambling market," says Minister for Public Administration Ardalan Shekarabi.

The gambling act now being proposed will mean that anyone operating in the Swedish gambling market must have an authorised licence and that operators without a licence will be shut out.

There must be stronger consumer protection in place for gambling, and the negative effects of gambling must be limited. A new offence, gambling fraud, will be introduced and a special cooperation council will be established to tackle match fixing.

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The gambling market will be divided up into sectors: a competitive sector, primarily including online gambling and betting; a sector reserved for non-profit purposes, primarily including lotteries and bingo; and a sector reserved for the central government, primarily including state-owned casinos and gambling on token machines.

Gambling subject to licensing will be taxed at 18 per cent. Gambling for non-profit purposes will continue to be tax exempt. Winnings will be taxed when players win money on unlicensed gambling websites.

"We are reinforcing the Swedish Gambling Authority, granting it more and sharper tools. Unlicensed operators will be shut out of the market and licence-holders must conduct their activities in accordance with the law. Today we are also instructing the Swedish Agency for Public Management to follow up the reform to quickly make any amendments to the act if the goals of the reform are not achieved," says Mr Shekarabi.

Further proposals in the Bill:

• Licensed operators must have a comprehensive duty to protect gamblers from excessive gambling.
• Strict requirements for moderation in marketing gambling will apply.
• Gamblers must be able to bar themselves from all gambling, and bonuses will not be permitted at any time other than the first gambling occasion.
• The possibility of blocking payment transactions between gamblers and unlicensed gambling operators will be introduced to ensure unlicensed operators are shut out of the market.
• The Swedish Gambling Authority will also be able to order internet service providers to set up warning messages for websites offering unlicensed gambling.
• Promoting gambling without a licence, for example through advertising, will be criminalised.

It is proposed that the new regulations enter into force on 1 January 2019.

CONTACT: Matilda Glas, Press Secretary to Minister for Public Administration Ardalan Shekarabi, Phone (switchboard) +46 8 405 10 00, Mobile +46 (0)70-3670364.

SOURCE:  Lotteriinspektionen.

Creative Sports Lottery Marketing Campaign by AGTech

Concludes With Millions of Alipay Customers Participating and Top Lottery Prize Won

Successfully Raises Brand Awareness and Attracts New Breed of Customers

• Fully Illustrating the Power of Combining Online and Offline Resources
• Integrating China Sports Lottery with Alibaba's Ecosystem to Elevate the Lottery Experience

HONG KONG, SAR (April 10, 2018) - AGTech Holdings Limited ("AGTech" or the "Company", HKEX stock code: 08279), China's leading integrated lottery, games and entertainment technology company, is pleased to announce that since the launch of its unique marketing and promotional campaign for China Sports Lottery on 9 March 2018 across 31 provinces nationwide, millions of Alipay users have participated in the innovative promotion to win China Sports Lottery's signature instant scratch lottery tickets, "Ding Gua Gua", with one lucky participant winning the top lottery prize of RMB1million on 9 April.

By implementing this nationwide innovative online-offline promotional model while leveraging Alipay's enormous presence and user base, AGTech effectively increased China Sports Lottery's brand exposure and helped elevate its brand with a new breed of online customers. Our strategic marketing campaign generated over a billion impressions across China's most popular online media channels, reaching both lottery and non-lottery customers from across the country. In addition, the campaign strategically placed China Sport Lottery's household brand across multiple touchpoints in the ubiquitous mobile Alipay, fully immersing lottery into Alipay users' everyday life. These efforts ultimately drove hundreds of thousands of online customers to China Sports Lottery's vast land-based network around the country to experience lottery in person, demonstrating the power of driving online traffic to offline engagement, and notably generating above average engagement and conversion rates when compared with other typical online marketing campaigns. Of note, one lucky participant from Shandong Province won a RMB20 instant scratch lottery ticket after using Alipay to pay for his take-away food ordered via Ele.me, leading to his RMB1million lottery win after redeeming the lottery ticket at a neighborhood Sports Lottery retail store.

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Importantly, this campaign successfully attracted a new breed of customers to experience lottery, thanks to the diversified user base of Alipay. Of the millions of Alipay customers who participated, the Company found that the campaign attracted a higher percentage of females, higher income and younger customers compared to traditional lottery customers, truly demonstrating the campaign's effectiveness in expanding the access and appeal of lottery as a whole to a new breed of customers, ultimately creating new growth drivers for the sales of sports lottery to further advance welfare and social causes.

Lastly, the campaign also enhanced users' engagement by leveraging and integrating Alibaba's powerful e-commerce resources, providing participants with various attractive coupons and discounts from merchants ranging from Tmall coupons, Youku subscriptions, Taobao Waimai coupons, Fliggy traveling coupons and other third party merchants. Over the past month, more than RMB34 million worth of coupons and discounts have been claimed through AGTech's proprietary digital engagement platform, further enhancing customers' experience with the lottery while bringing additional traffic to Alibaba's merchants and enhancing the users' loyalty.

John Sun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AGTech, said, "We are pleased that the market has responded enthusiastically to this partnership among China Sports Lottery, AGTech and Alipay. Extensive user engagement and encouraging conversion rates demonstrate AGTech's ability to promote true innovation and help usher in a new direction of growth in the lottery industry, as we continue to leverage our position as a leader in lottery while combining our deep industry experiences with the enormous resources of Alibaba Group, our parent company. In the future, we will continue to focus on the sustainable and healthy development of the lottery industry and continuously explore new models of operation and promotion, ultimately helping to expand the lottery market and contributing to the welfare of the country as a whole."

About AGTech Holdings Limited

AGTech was incorporated in Bermuda and its Shares are listed on GEM (Stock Code: 8279). AGTech is an integrated technology and services company engaged in the lottery and mobile games and entertainment market with a focus on China and select international markets. A member of the Alibaba Group with around 400 employees, AGTech is the exclusive lottery platform of Alibaba Group and Ant Financial Group.

AGTech's businesses are broadly divided into two categories:

• Lottery (including games and systems, hardware and distribution); and
• Games and Entertainment.

AGTech is a Gold Contributor of the World Lottery Association (WLA), an associate member of the Asia Pacific Lottery Association (APLA), an official organiser and operator of the competition card games Guan Dan and Two-on-One poker in China, and an official partner of the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA).

For more information, please visit www.agtech.com.

SOURCE: AGTech.