The PPLAP, the public lottery organization of the Mexican Federal Government, is to introduce a new online version of the popular Mexican scratch-card game Raspaditos within the next month. The Raspaditos game currently represents 3% of organization’s total revenues, and it is hoped that the move online will increase sales of the game by over 23% to reach a target of USD 20,4 million this year.

Topeka, Kansas – Recent computer blunders in the Kansas Lottery Pick 3 game could cost international gaming giant Gtech a contract to run the games at the four state-owned casinos. The Providence, R.I.-based firm manages state lottery and casino data systems for gambling jurisdictions worldwide, including Kansas. In April, the firm was tentatively awarded the state’s casino data systems contract.

On June 9, 2008, LotteryInsider published the following information on the privatization of the Milli Piyango, the Turkish national lottery: “The method of giving a ten-year license will be used in the privatization of the Turkey’s state-owned National Lottery (Milli Piyango) in line with „sharing of revenues,“ a statement issued in its official website said.
 English speaking website ‘Hürriyet’ reports that according to the privatization ruling, 20 percent of total revenues will be given to the National Lottery Authority…

Turkish government is planning to privatize the state-owned lottery Milli Piyango, with a ten year contract being granted to the winning bidder. The license will be awarded on a revenue sharing basis, with 20% of proceeds to go to the National Lottery Authority and the remaining 80% to go to the chosen operating company. The operating company will be responsible for the distribution of all prize money as well as contributions to the state institutions.

Fluxx AG’s strategic shift from German lottery agent to pan-European gaming operator has seen it report a 102 percent increase in first quarter revenues to USD 43.8 million. The Altenholz-based firm reported that this year-on-year growth was driven by the strong performance of its sports betting offerings with revenues of USD 23.5 million versus USD 11.7 million for the first quarter of last year.

New Zealand Lotteries has launched its new online sales channel, mylotto.co.nz, that will enable lottery players to purchase tickets through the Internet. The Chief Executive Todd McLeay of the company says the introduction of MyLotto is in response to strong customer demand for online sales of lottery products. “We decided to call our online sales channel ‘MyLotto’, as it symbolizes the direct and personal relationship with customers that can be offered via the Internet.

The New Zealand Lotteries online sales channel will be branded MyLotto and was originally expected to launch in March this year, according to documents released under the Official Information Act. New Zealand Lotteries has yet to confirm the actual launch date, after which players will be able to buy tickets for Lotto, Powerball, Strike, Keno and Big Wednesday draws online.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking to California’s lottery to solve the state’s budget crisis and wants to raise billions of dollars by selling bonds backed by future profits from the game. With the slump in the property market and an economy that is nearing recession, the governor revealed on Wednesday that state revenues had fallen USD 6bn, leaving California facing a projected deficit of USD 24.3bn.

Taiwan launched its first sports lottery with part of its proceeds being used to develop sports and improve the lives of the handicapped, officials said. „Initially, bettors can bet on international baseball, basketball and soccer games”, said Yang Jui-tung, VP of the Taipei Fubon Bank. The Taipei Fubon Bank won the rights last September to operate the lottery until 2013.

A „global lottery“ is among the innovations in financing for development that former French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy recently mentioned to the press. Given the widely acknowledged regressive nature of raising funds through lotteries, Inner City Press asked Douste-Blazy if a lottery was really the best or most innovative way to try to help the poor. „You mean, on the ethical plane?“ Douste-Blazy asked. Yes, that would be the question.

Madrid (Reuters) – Spanish police have arrested 87 Nigerians they say are linked to a scam which embezzled millions of dollars out of Americans and Europeans by sending letters saying the recipients had won the lottery. The fraudsters sent around 15,000 letters every day telling people they had won up to 3 million euros (USD 4.8 million) in the Spanish lottery, but asking winners to pay official costs to release their prize, police said on Thursday.

While the international gaming community talks about the multi-billion Gran Scala project, in 2008 two provinces of Spain – the Autonomous Community of Madrid and the Basque Country – will bear witness to the first licensed betting offices in the country preparing a sports betting revolution. Last month, developers received final approval to break ground on Gran Scala…