Benjamin Gonzalez Roaro, President of the Lotería Nacional, commented: “This is a very important development in our objective to modernize Lotería Nacional, which, for over 200 years has been providing traditional pre-printed lottery tickets. As we move forward with our automation programme, we will be able to enhance our efficiency and distribution channels to make an even greater contribution to public and social welfare throughout Mexico.”
Pre-printed lottery tickets for the Lotería Nacional have traditionally been sold through lottery agents at fixed locations and by lottery agents who operate as street sellers without a physical location. The majority of tickets are sold by street sellers where, currently, the typical distribution and sale of a ticket involves the pre-printing of the ticket followed by physical distribution through distributors and sub-distributors without any networked system, with any unsold tickets or redeemed prizes being returned to the Lotería Nacional via the same method.
Sorteo, the technology provider for the Lotería Nacional, is automating the pre-print system with the roll-out of ALTs that enable street sellers to print real-time tickets on demand. The ALTs are networked via Sorteo’s proprietary technology platform, the Digital Orchid Lottery Gaming Platform, which provides full integration of all products and operators, and can be run alongside the existing pre-printed ticket distribution systems. As street sellers receive their ALTs, they are transitioned to the Gaming Platform with the costs associated with physical printing and distribution being immediately eliminated. In addition, the Gaming Platform will enable the rapid creation of new products and electronic distribution channels as well as integration with major retail chain point-of-sale systems.
The roll-out of the ALTs began in October 2011. By April 2012, 800 terminals had been deployed for product activation, which is expected to reach a total of 3,200 terminals by the end of 2013. In addition to the roll out of the ALTs, Lotería Nacional expects to offer the print-on-demand lottery tickets at over 2000 major retail new point-of-sale terminals as well as modern lotto shops.
Nour-Dean Anakar, CEO of Sorteo Games, added: “We are delighted to see our first automated Lotería Nacional tickets printed and sold, and to be a part of this fundamental transition. This is the beginning of the next generation of electronic ticket sales for Lotería Nacional, and we expect it will see significant growth as a result of our technology.”