Intralot has extended its long-running relationship with the Washington D.C. city lottery, as well as officially signing a contract confirming it as the lottery sports betting technology provider.
The new contract will see Intralot continue to supply the DC lottery with its LOTO gaming and ticket management system for a further five years, continuing a relationship that has been in place for almost a decade.
It will also supply its technology its Photon terminals, WinStations, new peripheral devices, and related services to support traditional and online lottery sales.
The most eye-catching element of the contract is the deal for Intralot to deploy its Orion mobile and retail sports betting platform for the lottery. This is to be rolled out early next year.
Intralot was selected as the lottery’s sports betting provider – a deal that is expected to see it net $215m over the length of the contract – without a bidding process. This proved highly controversial, with Councilmember David Grosso attacking the decision to bypass a procurement process as “a giveaway”.
However, supporters of the contract, including councilmember Jack Evans said that a lengthy procurement process would see the city lose money to neighbouring states should they pass sports betting legislation.
“Intralot has been a valued partner of the DC Lottery for the last nine and a half years, helping to transfer more than $500 million since 2010 to the District to fund vital public programs and initiatives,” DC Lottery executive director Beth Bresnahan said.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Intralot to introduce exciting new games and innovative gaming platforms to generate additional revenue for the District’s important causes”.
Byron Boothe, interim chief executive of Intralot’s US subsidiary, added: “We have been DC Lottery’s partner since 2010. Being chosen to continue offering leading technical and marketing solutions to the DC Lottery is rewarding and motivating, as it recognizes our commitment to delivering significant value to our partner.
|We look forward to exceeding expectations and offering even more exciting new entertainment options while increasing returns in a socially responsible way for the Lottery, the District, and its citizens.”
Intralot has secured a series of lottery deals in North America in the past year, as part of its efforts to pursue growth opportunities in the US market. The company has already extended deals in New Hampshire, Wyoming and New Mexico, and signed a new agreement in Illinois, while it already holds a contract with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation in Canada.
Washington DC’s sports betting regulations passed into law on May 9 this year, with the DC Lottery’s offering the only mobile betting product allowed across most of the city.
There will be a number of delegated facilities, such as the city’s major sports arenas, that will be be permitted to to offer their own mobile wagering services within a two-block exclusivity zone, paying a 10% gross revenue tax.