Page 77 - Public Gaming International September/October 2017
P. 77

of a Division approved logo that inform the  malicious code in the state of Wisconsin.  licensed games, and strategic marketing and
        patron that the game is a skill based game,  The trio of Tipton, his brother, Tommy,  management services for both traditional
        is not a slot machine, and does not offer  and longtime friend, Robert Rhodes, have  instant games and the emerging iLottery
        a minimum RTP,” as quoted by OPR.  If  admitted guilt for their roles in rigged jack- space of web, mobile and social channels.
        approved, skill-based game developers would  pots in Wisconsin, Colorado, Oklahoma and  The company is a proven innovator and
        not have to include bonuses or other features  Kansas.                  has decades of experience helping lotteries
        to bring the RTP over 83 percent for all play-                          to maximize player engagement, sales and
        ers and would allow all titles to pay back 0%   GREAT CANADIAN GAMING   proceeds for good causes. Pollard Banknote
        to the players                      CORPORATION AND                     also plays a major role in the charitable pull‐
                                            BROOKFIELD BUSINESS                 tab and bingo markets in North America.
        EDDIE TIPTON SENTENCED TO           PARTNERS L.P                        Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is
        25 YEARS IN PRISON                                                      owned approximately 73.5% by the Pollard
                                            Great Canadian Gaming Corporation and  family and 26.5% by public shareholders and
        Tipton pled guilty to a felony count of ongo- Brookfield Business Partners L.P. announce  is publicly traded on the TSX (PBL). For
        ing criminal conduct for his lead role in a  that they have been selected as the success- more information, please visit our website at
        scheme to rig lotteries.  As the former direc- ful proponent by the Ontario Lottery and  www.pollardbanknote.com.
        tor of security for the Multi-state Lottery  Gaming Corporation (OLG) to operate
        Association, Tipton manipulated the random  certain gaming facilities in the Greater  INNOVA develops unique games and prod-
        number generators in computers provided to  Toronto Area.  This is the largest award by  ucts for the global gaming industry, with
        several states by installing “malicious codes”  the OLG as part of the modernization of its  particular focus on state and provincial
        that enabled him to predict winning numbers  casino operations. In 2016, its three facili- lotteries. Through INNOVA’s wholly-owned
        on certain dates under certain conditions. He  ties, OLG Slots at Woodbine, OLG Slots at  subsidiary, Diamond Game Enterprises,
        collaborated with associates who bought the  Ajax Downs and Great Blue Heron Casino  INNOVA focuses on enhancing the revenues
        winning tickets and/or redeemed them for  located in the Mississaugas of Scugog Island  of government-sponsored lotteries and other
        the prize money.                    First Nation, generated gross gaming reve- regulated operators by offering its unique
                                            nue of over $1 billion. These facilities have a  “extended play” products in traditional and
        The whole scheme unraveled after investiga- combined total of over 4,000 slot machines,  non-traditional gaming venues. INNOVA’s
        tors determined Tipton had bought a winning  60 table games and employ more than 2,200  primary product is its third generation Lucky
        Hot Lotto ticket with a $16 million annuity  staff..                    Tab machine, an instant ticket vending
        jackpot that was never paid amid suspicions.                            machine that dispenses tickets while simul-
        Tipton — who as a lottery employee was   POLLARD BANKNOTE               taneously displaying the results of each ticket
        not supposed to play the games — wore a  ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL           on a video monitor in an entertaining fash-
        disguise to buy the winning ticket to a 2010  COMPLETION OF OFFER FOR   ion. For more information, please visit www.
        Hot Lotto jackpot. The problem was that   INNOVA GAMING GROUP           innovagaminggroup.com.
        the prize had to be redeemed in person.  He                             SOURCE Pollard Banknote Limited
        arranged for others to try to claim the prize  Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX:PBL)  For further information: Doug Pollard,
        almost a year later, just ahead of the dead- and INNOVA Gaming Group Inc. (TSX:  Telephone: (204) 474-2323 ext 204; John
        line.  Lottery officials suspected fraud and  IGG) today announced that an additional  Pollard, Telephone: (204) 474-2323 ext 275
        did not pay.                        1,167,946 common shares of INNOVA
                                            (“Common Shares”) have been validly depos-  ONLINE GAMBLING LOBBYING
        Tipton was video-recorded at the store when  ited pursuant to Pollard Banknote’s offer to  GROUP OPENS SHOP IN DC
        he bought the ticket in December 2010.   acquire all of the outstanding Common
        His co-workers recognized him through  Shares for $2.50 in cash per Common Share. An online gambling lobbying group - iDEA
        the disguise.  The store audio recording of                             (iDevelopment and Economic Association)
        Tipton during the transaction was even more  Pollard Banknote will mail a notice of  - has established operations in Washington,
        convincing in implicating the computer  compulsory acquisition to all remaining  DC.
        programmer and subsequently leading to  holders of Common Shares shortly. Pollard
        co-conspirators in Texas.           Banknote intends to cause the Common  The group includes major operators in
                                            Shares to be delisted from the Toronto Stock  internet gambling, including Amaya,
        Over a six-year period, Tipton rigged jack- Exchange and cause INNOVA to cease to be  the parent company of PokerStars; GVC
        pots in Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas  a reporting issuer under applicable securities  Holdings, owner of bwin and partypoker;
        and Oklahoma. He managed to “wipe”  laws as soon as possible.           and UK oddsmakers Paddy Power Betfair.
        the malicious code off the computers that                               Additionally, three brick-and-mortar casinos
        generated the winning jackpot numbers for  Pollard Banknote is a leading lottery partner  that are engaged in online casino gaming in
        the lotteries in all but one of those states.  to more than 60 lotteries worldwide, provid- New Jersey - Golden Nugget, Tropicana,
        Investigators found that computer and the  ing high quality instant ticket products,  and Resorts - are members.  iDEA says it

                                                                         SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 //  PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL  //  77
   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82