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Idaho Lottery Celebrates 35 Years with Record Dividend to People of Idaho
During a community celebration at The Village in Meridian, the Idaho Lottery commemorated their record-breaking 35th Anniversary by returning the single largest dividend in their history to the people of Idaho. The Idaho Lottery Commission presented Governor Brad Little with an $84,000,000 dividend check, a 2.4% increase over last year’s dividend.
“In 1988, Idahoans voted at the ballot box and approved establishing a state lottery to benefit public education. The Lottery has been a success for players, and it has created economic opportunity for Idaho businesses. Most importantly, the Lottery team has contributed nearly $1.3 billion for the benefit of Idaho public schools and buildings,” Governor Brad Little said.
Historically, Idaho Lottery dividends have been used by school districts for building maintenance, repairs, and operational projects. A change in statute during the 2024 Legislative session changes how Lottery dividends are utilized by the State’s school districts.
“Idahoans who play the fun and entertaining games from the Idaho Lottery help build communities in Idaho. Today we are in the West Ada School District where last year’s dividends are being used by local builders and tradesmen to repair roofs, replace HVAC systems, and make school facilities more accessible. Today’s Idaho Lottery dividends will benefit future public school district facilities and provide property tax relief by paying down voter-approved bonds and levies,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director.
Governor Little and Idaho Lottery Commission Chairman, Craig Corbett, awarded the largest single check ever from the Idaho Lottery to support public education in the Gem State. On behalf of Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, Debbie Critchfield, the Department of Education’s Chief Financial Officer, Gideon Tolman, accepted a check for $52,500,000.
“The 35th anniversary of the Idaho Lottery is the perfect time to celebrate all the good it has done for Idaho’s public schools. For years, the lottery has helped support K-12 education and once again, on behalf of Idaho schools, I want to thank Idahoans for these additional resources that will continue to benefit public school operations in our state,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction, Debbie Critchfield.
Dale Reynolds, Chairman of the Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council, accepted a check for $31,500,000 on behalf of the State’s Permanent Building Fund. Permanent Building Fund dollars support maintenance and capital projects for State-owned facilities and Idaho’s public college and university buildings.
“Over the past 35 years, the Lottery has proven its resourcefulness and partnership by contributing well over half-a-billion dollars for Idaho’s state-owned facilities. Lottery revenue each year enables us to preserve our historical facilities, provide safe work environments for the Gem State’s employees, and improve the quality of Idaho’s collegiate campuses,” said Reynolds.
This year’s dividend comes after Idaho Lottery sales exceeded the $400 million threshold for the second consecutive year.
“This is all made possible with funds from the Idaho Lottery, not tax dollars,” added Anderson.
In addition to the dividend record, the Idaho Lottery also awarded a record amount to their network of over 1200 brick and mortar retail locations who earned $24.7 million in commissions.
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OmegaTipsters, an iGaming platform established in 2016, has been relaunched by its current owner, GSH Online Media. The platform has evolved into a complete hub that aims to enhance user experiences through its state-of-the-art technological model.
GSH Online Media has retooled OmegaTipsters, bringing it onto a modern and redesigned platform. The company’s specialty lies in the online gaming sector, and relaunching OmegaTipsters marks a crucial step toward the sports betting market.
This relaunch aligns with the principles of GSH Online Media’s campaign to redevelop and improve its platforms.
With OmegaTipsters, the firm focuses on providing versatility for various user preferences while emphasizing responsible gambling and an educational approach.
A Versatile Hub for iGaming Enthusiasts
OmegaTipsters initially focused on providing betting tips, hence its name. With the relaunch of its website, the platform has introduced a range of features designed to enhance the user experience.
Its versatility enables it to serve as a helpful center for both sports betting and casino gaming enthusiasts. Apart from its original service of betting tips, it provides the following:
- Association football odds for numerous competitions, teams, and betting markets.
- A curated list that aggregates online casinos and bookmakers.
- Collection of betting offers and casino bonuses from the operators listed on OmegaTipsters.
- It provides a state-of-the-art filtering system for operators and offers features that encourage personalized searches.
- Social tournaments that offer completely free gameplay, providing varied real-money prizes.
- Expert-driven informational content that aligns with responsible gambling principles.
GSH Online Media CEO, Viorel Stan, Comments on the Relaunch
“Witnessing the relaunch of OmegaTipsters feels like a personal milestone. While our company prides itself on its growth and scalability, thanks to our presence in the casino gaming sector, I have a personal connection to the world of sports. Acquiring, redesigning, and perfecting OmegaTipsters allows us to diversify our portfolio and become more viable in the sports niche. I am thankful and proud of my team’s effort and competitive drive, allowing us to continue to expand!”
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The walls are closing in on the mobile app store duopoly, according to a major new survey of senior game developers. Aptoide, the original independent app store on Android and iOS, today published a landmark study, CTRL. ALT. DEL. Reclaiming The Game Distribution Landscape, spotlighting a major appetite among mobile game developers to break away from the dominance of Google and Apple.
Surveying over 300 senior-level professionals across mobile game studios in the US and UK, the research is an urgent call for change towards a more diverse distribution ecosystem – revealing that 84% of developers believe the industry can no longer survive under the stranglehold of just two storefronts.
The data paints a picture of an ecosystem at breaking point, with 67% fearing their reliance and dependence on Apple and Google. Growing dissatisfaction continues to become the norm as 51% cite exorbitant app store fees and marketing costs as their biggest pain point. Looking forward to the next five years, 74% of developers expect alternative app stores to play an essential role in their distribution mix.
This move toward a multi-channel approach is driven by a significant opportunity for growth. 73% anticipate double-digit revenue growth from embracing them, citing access to fresh user bases (42.8%) and greater freedom from restrictive policies (42.4%).
Paulo Trezentos, CEO and Co-Founder of Aptoide, said:
“The mobile game ecosystem is overdue for a reset. For too long, an entrenched duopoly has stifled commercial and creative potential, setting too many rules and taking too much revenue. Our findings confirm that developers are ready to reclaim control. A new wave of opportunity is emerging through alternative app stores – platforms that offer game makers greater control, better economics, and access to untapped audiences.”
According to JoyNet Games:
“The shift towards alternative distribution is no longer theoretical. Alternative distribution channels help us reach a broader audience, reduce dependency on a single platform, and provide more flexible marketing strategies. They also allow for cost optimization and improved profitability.”
Key Findings from CTRL. ALT. DEL.
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The Duopoly: 87% of senior developers say the vast majority of their revenue still comes from Google and Apple stores.
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Industry Dissatisfaction: This means 67% fear the risks of their reliance on Google and Apple, and 84% demand a more diverse ecosystem;
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Developer Pain Points: 51% cite punishing fees as their top frustration, followed by spiraling acquisition and marketing costs (46%), inflexible policies (44%) and persistent discoverability struggles (43%).
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Walled Gardens: 50% are concerned Apple and Google prioritize their own services.
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The Alt-Store Opportunity: 73% expect double-digit revenue growth from publishing to alternative stores.
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Perceived Benefits: Access to new users (43%) and greater freedom from restrictive policies (42.4%) are seen as the top advantages.
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Future Outlook: 74% believe alternative app stores will be a core part of their distribution mix within five years, rising to 86% in the US.
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