Intralot, the Athens-based developer and supplier of gaming and transaction processing systems, has had its Australian operation fined $23,250 by the southern state of Victoria for breeching the terms of its lottery license.
Intralot Australia was awarded a ten-year license in 2007 to run a live, state-wide bingo game with tickets sold at retailers. Numbers were due to be drawn on television at eight o’clock in the evening on Sundays but the game was moved to Melbourne radio station 3AW last weekend after no commercial television network could be found to show the programme.
“The Victorian Commission On Gambling Regulation determined Intralot breached its licence for failing to broadcast the drawing of ‘TV Bingo’ and has recommended that the Government take disciplinary action,” said Tony Robinson, Gaming Minister for Victoria.
“By failing to broadcast the ‘TV Bingo’ draw on television, Intralot is conducting a public lottery that is different to that authorised by the licence.”
Intralot is also set to receive a letter of censure for failing to comply with the conditions of its licence while Robinson revealed that the licence conditions would be amended to prevent ongoing contraventions by removing the obligation to televise the game.
“This is the first time in Victoria the Government has ever fined a lottery licence holder,’ said Robinson.
‘We regard this as a significant breach of the licence condition.’
This is the latest problem for Intralot since its entry into the Victorian market last year. Retailers have complained of lost revenues through faulty technology, complicated games and poor marketing while the government is set to receive $265 million in tax this financial year from lottery games, which is $8.5 million less than under previous operator Tattersall’s.
Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com
