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State lotteries turn to new tech company to modernize games

The new partnerships mean advanced systems and better player experiences in Ohio and North Dakota.

The North Dakota Lottery, Ohio Lottery, and Scientific Games logos on a white backgorund.
Todd Betzold

Two states are upping the ante when it comes to keeping state lotteries on the cutting edge. Scientific Games has announced new partnerships with the state lotteries in Ohio and North Dakota to revamp their lottery systems.

These new partnerships will bring players more seamless experiences while also supporting vital state programs. From retail upgrades to mobile innovations, the changes will aim to redefine the way people play — and win.

New lottery gaming system technology partner in Ohio

Scientific Games recently announced they were selected by the Ohio Lottery to become the new lottery gaming system technology partner. With the partnership, the tech company said they are looking forward to responsibly driving the Ohio Lottery’s future growth and sustainability.

Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games, said:

On behalf of all the Scientific Games teams who have been hard at work developing a responsible, sustainable growth plan for the Ohio Lottery with our newest, performance-driven technology, we are celebrating this award. We look forward to working with the Ohio Lottery to bring new products and technology which will ultimately help support education funding in Ohio.

What changes will be made in Ohio?

Scientific Games will be bringing fresh technology to the Ohio Lottery. This will include a new central gaming system and tools to help analyze and grow the business. Their modern point-of-sale terminals and digital displays will help enhance the experience at lottery retailers across the state.

The lottery will also offer self-service machines, which will have more games and make it easier for players to join in on all the fun. These machines will also be offered at new retail and restaurant locations. Scientific Games will also be providing a team of experts to support the state lottery with game development, technology, and facilities management. 

The company has already been providing scratch-off games to the lottery for over 23 years now. Since 2019, this partnership has driven success with advanced sales strategies, logistics, and analytics. Because of these efforts, the Ohio Lottery ranks among the top 20 worldwide for instant game sales per capita.

New technology contract in North Dakota

Scientific Games announced they were also selected in North Dakota to power retail and digital sales, awarding the global lottery company with a new six-year contract with a two-year extension option. The company has successfully executed almost 40 lottery system implementations and conversions since 2016.

Lance Gaebe, Director of the North Dakota Lottery, stated:

Our goal was to modernize our technology so that our players can enjoy fluid experiences between retail and digital. We also wanted to work with the tech partner that gave us the best technical solution for the North Dakota Lottery to responsibly grow sales and contributions to our state programs in the coming years.

Not a new partnership in North Dakota

This new contract is the third time North Dakota has chosen Scientific Games as its system vendor. They have been partners for 20 years now, starting in 2004 when the state’s first Powerball tickets were sold. They also helped launch the state’s iLottery program in 2014 and mobile app in 2018.

Currently, they are proving the lottery with an online/mobile draw game purchase program, as well as a players club where members can earn points and redeem rewards through an online store.

The company will be bringing a new and improved gaming system to North Dakota. This will include their advanced technology, which combines everything the lottery needs in one place for online games, rewards, and more. The upgrades will include easy-to-use self-service machines, which have won awards for their design at retailers throughout the state.

The upgrades will also feature tools to help players manage their accounts, enjoy better rewards, and have a fun, ungraded experience both online and on their phones. These updates are all being put in place to make sure playing games and earning prizes is easier and more enjoyable for everyone in the state.

The partnership definitely seems to be working, as the North Dakota Lottery has seen 33% sales growth in the past 10 years, including an increase of 36% in iLottery sales from fiscal year 2022 to 2023.

Enjoy playing the Ohio and North Dakota Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.

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