The Michigan Lottery’s IGT Contract Means These New Betting Terminals Are Coming Soon
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IGT Global Solutions has recently secured a contract extension with the Michigan Lottery on Tuesday.
In order to enhance customer experience and propel the ongoing growth of lottery sales, the lottery will receive new tools and technology through a 10-year contract, which will also cover support services. This overhaul aims to improve the overall lottery experience.
According to Jay Gendron, the Chief Operating Officer of IGT, as stated in a press release:
We are delighted to announce the continuation of our long-standing partnership with the Michigan Lottery, which has been ongoing since 1988. Being one of the most prosperous lotteries in the United States, the Michigan Lottery has consistently achieved remarkable sales and contributed significantly to the Michigan School Aid fund, its designated recipient. Moving forward, we are excited to offer cutting-edge technology that will support the Michigan Lottery in efficiently managing and expanding its operations, both presently and in the future.
The Michigan Lottery is getting an upgrade
IGT is set to equip the Michigan Lottery with cutting-edge tools that will bolster their lottery growth in the future. These tools, which form a part of IGT’s highly advanced Aurora™ platform, will include the revolutionary Aurora Navigator™.
In addition, IGT is dedicated to providing various business apps through its BizApps applications, aimed at assisting retailers in effectively managing their lottery offerings. Retailers can expect to find the following features:
- Performance Wizard
- Retailer Wizard
- Order Wizard
- Instant Tracking Wizard
Lottery players will soon start noticing a range of user-friendly terminals that have been introduced.
- There will be the replacement of the current lottery terminals with 11,500 brand new Retailer Pro terminals.
- The WinCheck™ ticket checkers have been designed to help players easily determine if they possess a winning ticket.
- There are 2,100 self-service lottery ticket machines called GameTouch™ which feature touch-screen technology.
IGT will maintain its provision of support services from its data center in Lansing, Michigan, while also offering backup data support services from its facility in Austin, Texas known as the Data Center of the Americas.
As part of the contract extension, in addition to handling the installation and maintenance of the new terminals and machines, IGT will also be responsible for monitoring and providing support.
- The upkeep of the communications network
- Retailer training
- Field merchandisers
- Marketing support
- Call center services
- The immediate storage and delivery of tickets.
Michigan Lottery continues to set records
Every fiscal year, running from October to September, the Michigan Lottery publishes its sales and revenue data.
The Michigan Lottery released its latest report, covering the period ending in September 2017, stating that…
- School Aid Fund contributions reached a staggering $924.1 million, setting a new record.
- The total sales reached an unprecedented milestone of $3.3 billion.
- Retailer commissions and incentives reached an impressive milestone, totaling a record-breaking $249.2 million.
- Instant ticket sales have surpassed $1.3 billion for three consecutive years.
- The net instant gaming wins from online game sales have reached $77.9 million, reflecting a significant increase of 62% compared to the previous year.
The Michigan Lottery’s primary goal is to “maximize net revenues to support state education programs,” and it is undeniably successful in achieving, if not surpassing, this objective.
Later this year, a forthcoming financial report will be unveiled, providing strong indications that the Lottery will maintain its unprecedented rate of growth.
The latest in Michigan sports betting news
Given the immense popularity of the Lottery among residents of Michigan, it is natural to ponder whether sports betting will emerge as the next major trend in the state.
According to Mary Kay Bean, a representative from the Michigan Gaming Control Board, there have been no inquiries made to the board regarding the opening of a sportsbook.
Bean explained to the Detroit News that, to the best of their understanding, the matter at hand would require attention from both the legislature and the governor’s office. Currently, they emphasized the need to assess any proposal in order to determine its compatibility with the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act.
State Representative Brandt Iden has been actively pushing for the approval of sports betting legislation since the beginning of this year. However, he encountered opposition from Tribal casinos, and unfortunately, the legislature did not make any significant progress before going on summer break.
In the upcoming autumn, he intends to propose fresh legislation and affirmed:
I firmly believe that ultimately, the board would prefer for the legislature to handle this matter. Our goal is to ensure that the appropriate legislation is introduced, which is both logical and effective. We are committed to taking the necessary time to carefully develop the legislation, collaborate with all involved parties, and ensure that it truly serves as a model for others to follow.
Michigan sports betting is currently in a state of uncertainty, and only time will tell what the future holds.
While sports betting is slowly making its way to Michigan, the Michigan Lottery has been successfully providing enjoyable games of chance to its audience for 46 years.
By extending the contract with IGT, the Michigan Lottery will receive continued support in fulfilling its mission, alongside delivering unmatched user experiences to its customers.
