48 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • MARCH/APRIL 2025 PULSE results. Strong demand in our charitable gaming operations led to increased profit contributions in 2024.” “Significant investment in our CatalystTM iLottery Gaming Platform and eInstant game content continued throughout 2024, culminating in August with the official awarding of a contract to provide the iLottery solution for the Kansas Lottery. The Kansas Lottery has been a very important, long-time customer of Pollard Banknote and we have worked together providing technology services including our loyalty solution and other products successfully during that time. After a thorough and ambitious implementation period, the iLottery platform successfully went live on February 13, 2025, becoming the fastest implementation of a full iLottery program in U.S. history.” Kansas Lottery launches Pollard Banknote-powered iLottery The Kansas Lottery has successful launched its iLottery program, powered by the Pollard Catalyst™ Gaming Platform, Pollard Banknote’s cloudnative, modular, and API‐first iLottery solution. The leadership and strong partnership of the Kansas Lottery, combined with Pollard Banknote’s deep iLottery expertise, enabled today’s launch to come only ten months after initial scoping, making this the fastest implementation of a full iLottery program in U.S. history. The iLottery solution builds on the Lottery’s existing PlayOn® Loyalty Program, Pollard Banknote’s proprietary loyalty solution. Existing PlayOn® members can easily join in the fun by upgrading their existing loyalty accounts. The Lottery launched PlayOn® in 2017, enabling players to earn points by submitting their retail tickets and completing other activities. Points can be redeemed for chances to win cash, experiential prizes, or free plays. In addition to the features mentioned above, the turnkey iLottery solution includes a complete Player Account Management system that provides the functionality required for registration, age and identity verification, wallet transactions, and responsible gaming features. Geolocation services are provided through Pollard Banknote’s proprietary GeoLocs™ technology. Pollard Banknote is additionally providing a suite of business services including marketing, draw operations, risk management, and a player support center. There are an estimated 85,000 unregulated skill games in Pennsylvania - legislators think they should be regulated and taxed Mississippi Sweeps Away Sweepstakes, Mobile Betting Delays Enactment Mississippi is likely to ban online sweeps Mississippi has become the first state in the country to pass legislation to prohibit sweepstakes platforms that critics say are nothing more than cleverly designed online casinos tailored to sidestep gaming laws. The bill, however, has a final hurdle to clear before reaching Gov. Tate Reeves’ (R) desk. A person found guilty of running an illegal internet betting business would face a fine of up to $100K and 10 years in prison. SB2510 says “any online, interactive, or computerized version” of “race books, online sports pools, and online sweepstakes casino-style games” would qualify as an unregulated, illegal gambling enterprise. The SB2510 provisions go on to say that “internet sweepstakes cafes” and “online sweepstakes casinos” constitute illegal gambling. Perhaps no issue is more detrimental to the highly regulated gaming industry than the emergence of online sweeps. The unregulated websites have popped up across the country and target players by billing their businesses as social, free-to-play sites. Once a player’s free allotment of coins runs dry, customers can purchase a secondary currency, commonly called “sweeps tokens,” that can be gambled with to win real money. Along with Mississippi, legislation to outlaw online sweepstakes that offer slots, table games, and other forms of traditional gambling is active in numerous states, including Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, and New York. New York Senate committee advances bill to ban sweepstakes gaming California Lawsuit sues Online Sweepstakes Site of Operating Illegally Based on Internet Cafe Law Mississippi, Maryland move forward with sweepstakes casino bans Nevada bill would increase penalties for sweepstakes, illegal online gambling providers Connecticut and Maryland file bills to prohibit sweepstake casinos Online Gambling Sites Linked to Fentanyl Money Laundering Michigan Gaming Control Board issues cease-and-desist letters to nine unlicensed online casinos The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has taken swift action against nine online casinos, issuing cease-and-desist letters for violations of state gaming laws. The affected websites offer a range of casino-style games, such as slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps, as well as betting services for sporting events and horse races. Unregulated Online Gambling on the Rise The growth of unlicensed online casinos has been a growing concern nationwide. A 2022 report from the American Gaming Association (AGA) estimated that Americans wagered over $510 billion annually with illegal and unregulated operators, including online casinos and sportsbooks. This unregulated market not only undermines consumer protections but also results in substantial tax revenue losses for state and local governments. The AGA's report highlights that illegal gambling operators contribute to an estimated $13.3 billion in lost tax revenue annually. One method these platforms use to evade regulatory scrutiny is by operating under the guise of sweepstakes, which allows them to circumvent traditional gaming laws. However, many of these sites lack proper consumer protections, oversight, and responsible gambling measures, making them a risky choice for players and underscoring the importance of state-regulated gambling to ensure consumer safety. Loto-Québec maintains its momentum and posts strong results From April 1 to December 30, 2024, the figures show total revenues of $2.238B (+$127.0M or 6.0%) and a net income of $1.132B (+$55.8M or 5.2%). Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC), an organization of private operators comprised of Betway, Bet99, DraftKings, Entain, Flutter, Games Global and Rush Street Interactive pushes hard to Cut Back Loto-Québec Monopoly Bill to bring online gaming to Arkansas filed in legislature Two of the largest Canadian lotteries are looking to hire a technology firm to develop a shared online sports betting platform. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) will have separate contracts for the supplier, which will produce a multi-purpose betting platform for both. The crown corporations – which are the only licensed gambling providers in their respective provinces – envision a platform which will cover trading and liability management services. Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, Wyoming, Massachusetts and New York introduce online gaming bills
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