Rivals complaints lead to marketing changes
Pennsylvania's brand new online lottery, the iLottery, reported sales of $21.6 million in its first 26 days from its launch on June 4, despite the best efforts of the land-based casino industry to sink it in the first few weeks.
Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko told local media on Monday that 45,000 players had registered and the iLottery had paid out $18.7 million in prize money during the period, despite the initial roll out offering just 13 games, and no keno or scratch offs.
But going forward it will be forced to use different marketing tactics, after 13 of the state's casino operators objected to the use of phrases such as "casino-style" and "slots-style" games in its advertising.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed off a massive gambling expansion bill last year, which — as well as authorizing the Pennsylvania Lottery to offer its services remotely — paved the way for the casino sector to roll out full-scale online casino gaming, poker and sports betting.
(See also: Play Pennsylvania iLottery)
When is a slot not a slot?
That's expected to happen sometime later this year, but in the meantime the lottery snuck in there and Pennsylvania's casinos believe its treading on its toes.
The state's new gaming laws expressly forbid the Lottery from offering "games which simulate casino-style lottery games, specifically including roulette, poker, slot machines or black jack (sic)."
The lottery games are pseudo-slots, which do their best to ape the experience of slots while employing little of their mechanics. They are more akin to scratch-off games in the way they function — but they do look like slots.
For the casinos, it's too close for comfort.
"In virtually every way imaginable, lottery's iLottery program mimics a casino operation's simulated casino-style games," Stewart added.
Casinos: Shut down the online lottery
The casinos were particularly peeved that the lottery games are available to any resident of Pennsylvania over 18, while no one under 21 is permitted to play the games offered in casinos.
Nor is the Pennsylvania Lottery required to pay the enormous 54 percent tax the state exacts on slots revenues. Stewart called for the state to pull the plug on the whole "unlawful" operation.
But in a letter dated June 29, Hassel responded that the offensive advertising had been generated by technology provider Scientific Games, which used its own graphics and language, and that this had been an oversight that was addressed immediately.
To the irritation of the casino sector, however, the state's online lottery games have passed regulatory muster and will remain in their current form, he said.
Competition and Free enterprise win most of the time.
I do not like calling people names but JERK "Jealous, Envy, Resentment, Killjoys may apply here.
So all the money is going here lol!!216 is a good number tho!!
Online gambling is a HORRIBLE idea. Absolutely atrocious.
I have two concerns about it:
1) people will get addicted to gambling far more quickly this way, and lose their money far more quickly.
2) as a result of 1), the government may go back to stifling gambling overall
Neither 1) nor 2) are good things.
Why can't they just leave things as they are? How hard is it to go to your nearest convenience store to buy a lottery ticket (scratch-off or ball drawing)?
The government's appetite for revenue is unlimited. Selling lotto tickets online is sick, greedy, stupid, and does no one any good whatsoever.
NO ON-LINE GAMBLING, PLEASE!!! DO NOT DO IT!!!!!
must pay out more then North Carolina that's what makes people play when U stop winning U stop playing
You're entitled to your opinion, that's fine. As for me I love playing on-line.
Had a new router/Modem installed and unfortunately the Modem sends a signal to the KY lottery that I'm not 'in the boundaries of KY...' IGT called just before all this was replaced for the second time in two days that they will remotely fix the Modem. The cable guy is unable to do residential addresses. July 22nd all will be fine and will play again.
It's all about self control. Have I gone hog wild, yes, especially with Keno which I will never play again.
The casinos were particularly peeved that the lottery games are available to any resident of Pennsylvania over 18, while no one under 21 is permitted to play the games offered in casinos. Nor is the Pennsylvania Lottery required to pay the enormous 54 percent tax the state exacts on slots revenues.
Paying 54% in taxes on slot revenues when the Lottery pays zero is not the definition of a competitive level playing field. And coupled with the fact 18 year-old that can't enter a casino can play video slots online.
Based on your remarks it doesn't look like understand why the PA casino are upset.
I got the same message "not in the boundaries", but it was because of a problem the lottery web site had. Apparently it's still a problem for other players.
The very same concerns were made when states first proposed lotteries over 40 years ago and again when states passed casino gambling. Are you auditioning for the role of Big Brother or just believe you know what's best for everybody?
I understand that folks who live near the borders of neighboring states can have this problem. Also depends on your ISP; mine will be OK after 22 JULY 18. My cable company comes from Ohio and I think the Modem was programmed to that state. The old modem/wifi router never did this.
Years ago I mentioned that pa would incorporate the direct bank route to get your funds and track accurately any of your winnings. Gone will be those small hits of 250$ without tax paying. This ilottery is setup to track all your wins and send you a nice 3% taxation on it. The reality is most gambler addicts will continue to justify their habits and the state will justify how it caught more revenue by going this route.
I enjoy the slot machines at casinos. Much better payouts and avg hits. Ilottery can zap you within minutes..I played for 4 mins with $20. Won a whopping $2 the rest was all losses. So that's 80% profit for them...but it was my choice. And for that..lesson learned.
I pretty much agree with every ‘opinion’ that is said here. Except for Bleudog. You sound like a spokesperson for ‘IGT’. Perhaps you should go to Brazil and start preaching over there. See how that works out.
You know I'll have to go to my IGT page and see if Brazil is one of the countries they serve. I cannot help if IGT is contracted with KY to provide lottery services. I am partial to IGT, they take good care of my lottery needs & have won about five jackpots on their slot machines. Plus you know I'm a shareholder 'for fun' money investor. So take a chill pill, I'm over it.
I know you're posting that to tucker black, but i am just saying that i 100% AGREE. Good morning.Yep... It sure is. yep self-control,
hence, i really do hope nc get it soon.
I know a few who play online further east of me, and they enjoy online,
but 1 specifically win alot, tens and thousands of dollars within months at times,
then stop, if again no wins are seen, online, with the roulette i hear(mostly) and a few slots
but won the most with roulette.
I think it's all about, yep. S.C.(self-control)
I said what I said. Take it however you want.