The Mississippi Lottery Corporation (MLC) has announced that it has selected world-renowned vendor IGT Global Solutions Corporation (IGT) to provide services for the new state-wide lottery.
The agreement is a major milestone for MLC on its journey to providing the state with its first lottery, and will see IGT provide vital technology and systems to run its gambling services according to the Associated Press.
Industry Leaders to Lead Mississippi Lottery
In Mississippi, IGT will provide a range of services to the corporation including a central gaming system, telecommunications, retailer terminals and other peripherals. The company will also be tasked with designing instant games, printing tickets and providing warehousing, distribution and other logistical services.
IGT itself is a global leader in technology, content and gaming solutions for government-sponsored commercial gaming. They’re heavily involved with most aspects of the gambling industry.
“We are thrilled to have IGT on board with the MLC,” MLC President Tom Shaheen said in a press release. “Every lottery relies on vendors to provide their expertise and the necessary infrastructure to provide lottery products to the public. We look forward to partnering with them in our effort as we pursue our mission of raising funds for roads and bridges throughout Mississippi.”
The corporation described the agreement with IGT as a “pivotal step” in its quest to provide instant tickets and online games such as Powerball and Mega Millions to customers.
In terms of timeline, MLC expects sales of instant tickets to get underway as soon as Dec. 1, with online games getting underway during the first quarter of 2020.
Latest Mississippi Lottery News
Up until now Mississippi was one of the last remaining U.S. states without a lottery, but that changed in 2018 when lawmakers passed legislation aimed at helping to raise money for roads and highways.
According to a report in the Daily Journal in Tupelo, the first $80 million raised by the lottery will go toward a fund to help with the state’s highways, with subsequent money going towards educational services. That deal will stay in place for the first 10 years of the lottery’s existence.
The corporation is currently accepting applications from retailers who want to sell tickets when the lottery goes live. Vendors will typically come in the form of convenience stores, gas stations, tobacco/beer stores as well as a variety of other business types including grocery stores and supermarkets. Licensed casinos will also be able to sell tickets.
Mississippi is an interesting situation in the U.S. market. Most states have lotteries without widespread gambling, but Mississippi quickly legalized sports betting and slowly followed it up with a lottery over a year later.
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First published on: Gambling.com
