Scientific Games Advances Innovation, Expands WAVE Terminal Family to Power Faster, Smarter Lottery Retail
May 07, 2026
New Clerk-Operated Terminals Designed to Improve Checkout Speed, Efficiency and Player Experience
ATLANTA – May 7, 2026 – Scientific Games expands its flagship line of clerk-operated WAVE terminals with three new models designed to help lotteries and retailers meet the demands of today’s fast-moving retail environment and rising consumer expectations for speed and convenience. Engineered to address the needs of modern retail, the company’s new WAVE Ultra, WAVE Optim and WAVE Contour build on two decades of lottery technology leadership to deliver smooth, dependable transactions, greater transaction visibility, faster service and more engaging player interactions at the check-out counter.
As retail continues to shift toward frictionless, outcome-driven experiences, speed and convenience have become critical. Research cited by PYMNTS.com highlights growing demand for seamless transactions from discovery to fulfillment, while Marketsource’s What Retail Consumers Really Want report, citing Forbes data, notes 50% of all retail customers won’t wait more than three minutes in a store. In lottery retail, where queue time directly impacts sales, efficient checkout experiences are more important than ever.
“Every second at the counter matters,” said Joe Fulton, VP, Retail Products for Scientific Games. “Retailers need technology that reduces friction, speeds up transactions and keeps players engaged. By expanding our WAVE terminal family, we’re helping lotteries deliver faster service, improve operational efficiency and create a better overall retail experience.”
With more than 230,000 units shipped globally, WAVE terminals are recognized across the lottery industry for their ergonomic design, flexible footprints and powerful, reliable performance. The expanded WAVE family delivers capabilities tailored to a range of retail environments and modernization strategies:
- WAVE Ultra – delivers the highest volume of precise playslip processing in the smallest footprint for a full-function lottery terminal, powered by an industry-leading mechanical document scanner. Accelerates clerk workflow and shortens wait times for players—creating a noticeably faster, more seamless purchase moment.
- WAVE Optim – takes a future-focused, simplified approach, removing the traditional document scanner to support moving toward paperless play and reduced mechanical components. The streamlined design has fewer moving parts to manage, and benefits players with a smooth, digital-first interaction that mirrors their expectations in modern retail.
- WAVE Contour – offers camera-based document scanning and a 300-degree scan field. This expanded scan visibility gives players a clearer view of every ticket they present, enhancing transparency, reinforcing confidence in each transaction and strengthening security at the counter.
Market momentum for Scientific Games’ WAVE retail terminals continues to grow. In the past 18 months, four North American lotteries—the Minnesota Lottery, Ohio Lottery, New Mexico Lottery and Loto-Québec—have selected WAVE solutions from the family of clerk-operated terminals. Most recently, WAVE terminals launched as part of major technology upgrades for the New Mexico Lottery, North Dakota Lottery, Lotto New Zealand and The National Lottery in the UK with partner Allwyn UK.
Scientific Games is the world's largest lottery games provider and the fastest-growing lottery systems provider, delivering retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries.
PHOTO CAPTION: Joe Fulton, VP, Retail Products (left) and Greg Sirmans, Director, Product Management (right) for Scientific Games were part of the team that developed the company’s three new WAVE lottery retailer terminals.
WAVE™ Ultra, WAVE™ Optim and WAVE™ Contour™ are trademarks of Scientific Games, LLC. © 2026 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
About Scientific Games
Scientific Games is a global leader in retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services that drive profits for government-sponsored lottery and sports betting programs. From enterprise gaming platforms to exciting entertainment experiences and trailblazing retail and digital solutions, we elevate play every day. We are industry pioneers in instant games, data analytics, retail solutions and iLottery. Built on a foundation of trusted partnerships since 1973, Scientific Games combines relentless innovation, performance and unwavering security to responsibly propel the industry forward. For more information, visit scientificgames.com
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