GTech Corp., the Rhode Island-based online gaming firm that provides technology for online gambling, announced on October 5, Thursday, that it has signed a $78 million contract with Trinidad and Tobago's National Lottery Control Board despite the Prime Minister's plan to phase out internet betting.
The five-year contract will run through September 2011 citing that GTech will provide the NLCB with about 800 computer terminals and 400 handheld lottery devices for online gambling and provide the lottery with 250 keno monitors and 400 express lottery ticket terminals.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning said on Wednesday, that the government was moving to phase out online gambling, discontinue its national lottery and ban slot machines in the Caribbean country. He said his actions were prompted by his concerns that betting encouraged vice and damaged families.
GTech, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lottomatica, has provided equipment and services to the NLCB since 1994.
Over the past five years, dozens of casinos have opened in oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago even though it relies less on gambling and tourism than other islands.
The Prime Ministers decision to ban slot machines has made local casino owners angry saying that they feel the government is moving to close down the industry that employs about 6,000 peoples.
Thursday, November 09 , 2006
Louis Blechdom
