On May 13th, 2008, the Ohio Lottery is thinking of turning over some management control over some of its popular games like Pick Three and Four, Mega Millions and their upcoming keno game to an international organization that is predicted to save around $200 million for the Ohio Lottery in ten years. Lottery officials has given the go signal on a gaming contract with Intralot, a gaming company from Greece with an American base in Atlanta to replace GTECH Corporation from Rhode Island on June 2009.
GTECH has been managing the Ohio Lottery since 1985. It also finalized an initial contract to put keno games to bars and restaurants this coming summer in the state of Ohio. Intralot defeated GTECH and another gaming company, Scientific Games International of New York, for the contract to manage the Ohio Lottery's games and instant-ticket vending machines. Intralot offered the Ohio Lottery lower sales rates and saving on communication expenses and equipment, which is at $200 million over the next decade.
Ohio Lottery director Michael A. Dolan said that it was an orderly process and they have chosen Intralot because the company's offer is better compared with the other bidder. Lottery players will not notice any big difference, although Intralot will improve the communication capability of the lottery from telephone lines to satellites. On March 2007, the system of GTECH crashed during a historic Mega Millions jackpot and the company refunded a total of $50 thousand to the Ohio Lottery.
Dolan commented that with all things considered, GTECH has given outstanding service to the Ohio Lottery. Robert Vincent, the spokesperson of GTECH commented that company officials plan to review how the Ohio Lottery reviewed the capability of the three bidding companies. Vincent said that they are obviously disappointed with the development but said that they are proud of their accomplishments with the Ohio Lottery.
[02-06]
John M. Thorpe
