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First Mobile-Enabled Lottery Card™ Debuts in Ohio
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The Lottery Card from Linq3 and Blackhawk Network gives consumers a new, digital lottery experience; available in Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Giant Eagle and Kroger stores statewide
CLEVELAND, Aug. 20, 2018 — The new mobile-enabled Lottery Card, now available in select grocery and retail stores statewide, allows Ohio consumers to buy and play Powerball® and Mega Millions® in a new, convenient and fun way. Ohio is among the first states to debut this digital lottery option, which allows players to enter these draw games on their phones. The Lottery Card is now available for purchase by adults 18 or older and can be found in checkout lanes and on gift card racks in Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Giant Eagle and Kroger stores statewide. This unique way to play lottery will become available in additional states later this year, subject to applicable state lottery approval.
Perfect for lottery enthusiasts and gift card lovers alike, the Lottery Card pairs a fun, digital way to play the lottery with the convenience of a gift card. The product is a major innovation in lottery and gift cards, and shoppers will love it for gifting and self-use. Lottery Cards are currently available for both Powerball and Mega Millions, and cost $10 for five plays and $20 for 10 plays. Consumers are charged the cost of their chosen Lottery Card plus $0.89 for Mobile Play Benefits.
To play, consumers simply purchase the Lottery Card at their favorite Buehler’s, Giant Eagle or Kroger location. When ready to enter the next lottery drawing, the player texts in the Lottery Card’s unique code to a specified number, provides their name and confirms their location to complete a one-time card enrollment. The player then receives a picture message with the quick pick numbers, draw date and other transaction information. Winners are notified via text and picture message and most winnings are paid automatically via PayPal1. After enrolling, players can use their Lottery Card to play again and again by presenting it at checkout. More details regarding this new way to play, including where to buy the Lottery Card, are available at playatthecheckout.com.
The Lottery Card is the result of a collaboration between Linq3 and Blackhawk Network (Blackhawk). Linq3 is an innovation and technology company that designs, builds and markets state-of-the-art solutions that make it easier and more fun to play the lottery. Blackhawk is a global financial technology company and leader in connecting brands and people through branded value solutions, including gift cards.
“Lottery players, like all consumers, want convenience and a great user experience. The Lottery Card provides both. It’s a product designed to fit with consumers’ increasingly busy and digital lifestyles,” said Tom Spiegel, Linq3 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
An additional benefit of the Lottery Card is the opportunity for consumers to gift it, providing recipients the excitement of playing and the chance to win big. Based on independently-conducted research, 44 percent of consumers surveyed are interested in receiving a gift card to play the lottery, while 43 percent would be interested in giving a lottery gift card.2
According to the National Retail Federation, for the eleventh year in a row, gift cards have been the most popular items on holiday wish lists in America.3 The addition of the Lottery Card to checkout and gift card racks will provide consumers with a new gift card option for the five gift-giving holidays―and retailers with a new way to capitalize on the spikes in lottery sales that occur when jackpots are high.
“We are proud to pair Linq3’s innovative technology with our robust retail network to bring the Lottery Card to market in Ohio,” said David Tate, Blackhawk Network Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “The Lottery Card represents an innovation in both the gift card and lottery industries, and is a great gift option for those accustomed to living a more digitally-enabled lifestyle.”
Between 2007 and 2016, the Ohio Lottery contributed more than $8.04 billion to the state’s education system, including more than $1.06 billion in 2016 alone.4
About Linq3:
Linq3 Technologies, Inc. is a U.S.-based innovation and technology company focused on transforming the lottery industry. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Linq3 designs, builds and markets state-of-the-art solutions for modern lottery gameplay. Linq3 holds regulatory approvals and state licenses that allow it to generate and distribute lottery tickets through a proprietary technology platform. This platform uses existing point of sale (POS) devices at major retailers across the United States. For more information, please visit linq3.com and playatthecheckout.com.
About Blackhawk Network :
Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. is a global financial technology company and a leader in connecting brands and people through branded value solutions. Blackhawk platforms and solutions enable the management of stored value products, promotions and rewards programs in retail, ecommerce, financial services and mobile wallets. Blackhawk’s Hawk Commerce division offers technology solutions to businesses and direct to consumers. The Hawk Incentives division offers enterprise, SMB and reseller partners an array of platforms and branded value products to incent and reward consumers, employees and sales channels. Headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif., Blackhawk operates in 26 countries.
For more information, please visit BlackhawkNetwork.com, CashStar.com, HawkCommerce.com, HawkIncentives.com .
1 Jackpot prizes of $600 or more must be collected at a lottery office.
2 The findings are part of an Internet-based survey conducted independently by Leger on behalf of Blackhawk Network in March 2018. The sample size included 3,030 American respondents ages 18+.
3 NRF Holiday Spending Survey is a survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics on behalf of the National Retail Federation in October 2017. The sample size included 7,349 consumers.
4 History of Payments to Education, 2007‒2016, was published by the Ohio Lottery in 2016.
CONTACT:
Erin Dolin
[email protected]
303-204-4819
Source: Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.
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Bacta pledge support for Safer Gambling Week as industry drives awareness campaign
Bacta is at the forefront of initiatives to encourage responsible gambling with the leading trade association for the land-based low-stake sector joining the Betting and Gaming Council, the Lotteries Council and the Bingo Association as organisers and supporters of the 2024 edition of Safer Gambling Week (SGW) which runs 18th – 24th November.
With a core objective of encouraging people to talk and take action to gamble responsibly, the initiative which is running for its eighth year, will feature what the official SGW web site refers to as a ‘blitz’ of safer gambling messages online and in land-based venues in order to spark a nationwide conversation about responsible gambling and the safeguards that have been put in place by the regulated industry.
George McGregor Bacta’s Executive Director (Government Relations) believes the initiative continues to make a significant contribution to the industry’s endeavours to reduce further the incidence of problem gambling. He stated: “The first point to make is that Safer Gambling Week draws attention to what Bacta members are practicing every week and every day of the year. This commitment and culture is something that every Bacta member should be extremely proud of.
“The consumer-facing Safer Gambling website poses a series of questions to consider and outlines how to use safer gambling tools such as setting time and deposit limits and how to self-exclude from gambling.”
He added: “As an awareness raising initiative Safer Gambling Week has demonstrated its value. Safer Gambling Week 2023 smashed previous social media records, generating over 50 million impressions across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
“The website received half a million visits and the campaign engaged with a large number of cross-party MPs and peers who gave their backing as did Premier League clubs West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion.
“Safer Gambling Week demonstrates that Bacta, its members and the industry at large is fully committed to delivering a safe, responsible and enjoyable gambling entertainment experience for all of its customers.”
The post Bacta pledge support for Safer Gambling Week as industry drives awareness campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SharpLink Gaming Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET) (“SharpLink” or the “Company”), an online performance-based marketing company serving the U.S. sports betting and iGaming industries, today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Financial Highlights
- Revenues decreased 27.7% to $2,838,908 for the first nine months of 2024, compared to $3,925,618 for the same nine-month period in 2023. For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, revenues declined 34.7% to $881,690 compared to $1,349,331, respectively.
- Total operating expenses declined 25.9% to $4,426,835 from $5,977,327 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively; and total operating expenses dropped 46.0% to $970,080 from $1,795,057 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
- For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net income climbed to $11,002,266 after factoring net income from discontinued operations of $14,567,733 – up 673.3% from a net loss of $9,114,443 inclusive of the net loss from discontinued operations of $2,523,754 posted for the comparable nine months in the prior year. After factoring a net loss from discontinued operations of $97,139, the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2024 decreased 68.9% to $885,131 when compared to a net loss of $2,849,547 for the same three months ended September 30, 2023 after factoring a net loss from discontinued operations of $822,100.
- As of September 30, 2024, cash on hand was $1,850,206 and total stockholders’ equity was $2,020,143. This compared to $2,487,481 cash on hand and total stockholders’ deficit of $9,399,769 as of December 31, 2023.
Commenting on the results, SharpLink Chairman and CEO Rob Phythian said, “The notable decline in operating expenses reflects SharpLink’s continued focus on streamlining our affiliate marketing business; and the significant improvement in our bottom line results is largely a result of our $22.5 million cash sale of our SportsHub fantasy sports and sports game development businesses to RSports Interactive, Inc. earlier this year. Since that time, we have succeeded at scouring our balance sheet, eliminating virtually all of our debt, and have turned our attention to identifying, qualifying and pursuing compelling strategic growth opportunities that we believe can best be leveraged to create and enhance long-term sustainable value for our shareholders. As we progress through to the end of the year, we look forward to sharing much greater insight into our future plans for SharpLink resulting from the collective due diligence efforts of our leadership team and our highly engaged Board of Directors.”
For more detailed information about SharpLink’s Third Quarter 2024 financial results, please refer to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed yesterday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and accessible online at sec.gov or via SharpLink’s investor relations page at investors.sharplink.com/
About SharpLink Gaming, Inc.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, SharpLink is a trusted marketing partner to leading sportsbooks and online casino gaming operators worldwide. Through its iGaming affiliate marketing network, known as PAS.net, SharpLink focuses on driving qualified traffic and player acquisitions, retention and conversions to U.S. regulated and global iGaming operator partners worldwide. In fact, PAS.net won industry recognition as the European online gambling industry’s Top Affiliate Website and Top Affiliate Program for four consecutive years by both igamingbusiness.com and igamingaffiliate.com. SharpLink also owns and operates a portfolio of direct-to-player, state-specific, affiliate marketing websites designed to attract, acquire and drive local sports betting and online casino gaming traffic to its valued partners which are licensed to operate in each respective state. For more information, please visit sharplink.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements include statements regarding the Company’s ability to grow its business through strategic growth opportunities, the potential benefits of the Company’s products, services and technologies and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be accompanied by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential” or similar words. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including without limitation, the Company’s ability to achieve profitable operations, government regulation of online betting, customer acceptance of new products and services, the demand for its products and its customers’ economic condition, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the lengthy sales cycle, proprietary rights of the Company and its competitors, general economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company’s annual report and other filings with the SEC. The Company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
INVESTOR AND MEDIA RELATIONS
[email protected]
The post SharpLink Gaming Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Week 46/2024 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Spinomenal has welcomed another title into its Wildlife Series, Majestic Bison. Set in the Wild West, Majestic Bison surrounds players in a landscape populated with wild wolves, elegant eagles, fearsome snakes and formidable goats. A stripped back soundtrack captures the essence of the Wild West, with banjos and harmonicas immersing players in the action as they hunt for gold.
PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, is celebrating the magic of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival with the release of its new slot, Rio Fantasia. A young dancer named Isabella is the star of the show as players join in the rhythm and passion of one of the world’s most spectacular parties. Rio Fantasia is a 3-reel, 3-row video slot featuring Stacked Wild symbols, multipliers, and respin until win.
Hölle Games has released Jumpin’ Jacks, a new Classic title featuring a special Duplicating Wilds mechanic. This 5×3, 15 payline slot has a theme of Halloween harvest, with scarecrows, pumpkins, corn, crows and a creepy midnight sky completing the picture. The atmosphere is there to match, with a cosy yet somewhat spooky soundtrack.
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has served up Cafe Pin-Up, a slot that whisks players away to a vibrant 1950s diner, where retro glamour meets thrilling gameplay. Players take a seat inside a charming cafe, where pin-up girls are on hand to deliver delicious dishes in a raucous atmosphere created by a jukebox playing toe-tapping tunes. The game is presented in a 5×4 grid with 20 paylines with the Pin-Up Girl Wild symbol playing the key role.
New from Peter & Sons comes Muddy Waters, a game that will send your Geiger counter up to 11. This high-volatility and highly radioactive slot comes packed with symbol multipliers, power-ups and a unique fishing mechanic. Muddy Waters riffs on the popular fishing-slot genre, but since this is the weird and wonderful world of Peter & Sons, it gets flipped on its head, because this game is about reeling in radioactive fish.
Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and provider of unique content, is getting players into the festive spirit with its latest release, Money Sleigh, a Christmas-themed slot guaranteed to deliver stocking-filled fun and the chance to unwrap big wins. Santa and his team of loyal helpers are ready to guide players through this exciting holiday adventure, with the potential to win up to 10,000x their stake.
The post Week 46/2024 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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