Caesars Entertainment Inc. announced it is the first in the industry to launch IGT’s newest installment of its beloved slot title, Kitty Glitter Grand. The game is now live across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino, and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Ontario. It’s also available at Caesars Rewards destinations in Atlantic City, including Caesars and Harrah’s, with Tropicana set to join the lineup soon, subject to final regulatory approval.

This debut marks IGT’s first simultaneous exclusive launch of a game both online and in casinos in the US. As a result, Caesars is currently the only place where fans of the Kitty Glitter franchise can experience this latest installment, whether in person or online.

“The popularity of Kitty Glitter Grand speaks for itself across gaming floors at our Caesars Rewards destinations, which is why we couldn’t be happier that our players will be the first to enjoy the newest title in this renowned brand’s history. We know how impactful exclusive launches can be, so we’re grateful to our partners at IGT for their trust in partnering with us on their first simultaneous online and in-casino launch in the United States. We’re committed to bringing first-to-market, unforgettable experiences to our online casino players that can’t be found anywhere else,” said Matthew Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital.

“The exclusive launch of Kitty Glitter Grand is another shining example of how we’re strengthening the powerful connection between our world-class destinations in Atlantic City and beyond with our dynamic digital platforms. We’re uniquely positioned to deliver exclusive, first-to-market gaming experiences that our guests can enjoy both on the casino floor and from the comfort of their home. This launch underscores our commitment to offering best-in-class entertainment wherever our players choose to engage,” said Barron Fuller, Regional President at Caesars Entertainment.

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For more than twenty years, Kitty Glitter has been a fan favorite in brick-and-mortar casinos, and its enduring popularity continues to captivate players. This latest installment offers an enhanced gameplay experience with recognizable collection features that players already know and love from the original Kitty Glitter game, while adding even more compelling new enhancements. Both new players and fans of the original can enjoy an added wheel bonus and random wilds in the base game, which help boost these themes to the next level.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Caesars on the exclusive launch of Kitty Glitter Grand, a title that builds on one of IGT’s most iconic brands. This first-of-its-kind simultaneous launch across online and land-based channels in the U.S. reflects our commitment to innovation and delivering engaging content that resonates with players wherever they choose to play,” said Nick Khin, CEO of Gaming at IGT.

In celebration of this special debut, Caesars plans to host an exclusive VIP event for select Caesars Rewards members at Caesars Atlantic City in August. The Company is also running an omnichannel promotion at its Atlantic City destinations and a special leaderboard promotion across its digital platforms in all jurisdictions where it offers iGaming, excluding Ontario.

The Texas House has approved legislation to abolish the Texas Lottery Commission and reform lottery operations after multiple scandals have rocked the agency.

Authored by State Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood), Senate Bill 3070 abolishes the commission that has overseen the lottery since shortly after its founding in 1991, moving operations to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

As originally written, the bill would also limit ticket sales per transaction, require age verification at the point of sale, push the agency into a two year probationary period and provide for greater oversight of the lottery—oversight that has been either intentionally or unintentionally lacking.

In January, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made an impromptu visit to a lottery ticket reseller responsible for selling millions of tickets online. During the course of his visit, he was denied access to the area where ticket printing was taking place.

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The bill, as originally written, would allow the lieutenant governor, Speaker of the House, attorney general, and governor the ability to act as inspectors of lottery operations.

At the eleventh hour, State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) offered a 58-page amendment to the measure that removed this and other critical parts of the bill. It was this amended bill that was, according to Geren, drafted with the lottery vendors, colloquially called stakeholders, that ultimately passed the House.

Among other changes, the Geren amendment changed vendor and employee retention.

While it was argued that the current employees would provide for a smoother transition from the TLC to TDLR, this would include members of the staff who were complicit in the extra legislative expansion of gambling in the state of Texas, and covering for the lottery’s multiple sins.

The Geren amendment, passed under the watchful eye of IGT’s lobbyist and former chief of staff to Gov. Greg Abbott, Luis Sanez, also guarantees that the state lottery contract will remain with its current vendor, IGT. According to a lawsuit filed in Houston, the company played a critical role in an international gambling syndicate’s rigging of the April 2023 $95 million jackpot.

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According to testimony given to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, representatives from IGT were onsite for hours during the ticket printing at a location that conducted no retail business, which is against state rules. This is the same location where children were filmed printing tickets.

Geren, a longtime proponent of expanding gambling in Texas, failed to pass a bill last session that would have allowed casino gambling in the state. This session, the lottery, and its corrupt operation took all the oxygen out of the room.

State Rep. Brent Money (R-Greenville) offered an amendment to Geren’s amendment that would have abolished the lottery and not just the commission. Money’s amendment failed by a vote of 71-58.

Geren’s amendment was ultimately adopted in a vote of 91-44.

The legislation passed in a vote of 110-29.

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Now, the bill requires one more vote in the House before going back to the Senate for either approval or to be reconciled in a conference committee.

If the bill is not reconciled, the lottery may be abolished, or a special session could be forced to save the corruption-plagued institution.

International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Global Solutions Corporation, signed a nine-year contract extension with the Tennessee Education Lottery (“TEL”). The contract extension begins June 2027 and runs through June 2036. The TEL has been a valued IGT customer since 2004.

Under the terms of the agreement, IGT will deploy its high-performing Aurora central system, a feature component of IGT’s integrated lottery solution, OMNIA. Additionally, IGT will provide upgraded Wizard back-office business applications, replace existing terminals with newly launched Retailer Pro S2 terminals with WinCheck S2 peripherals, provide new Keno Show Controllers with WiFi capabilities and deliver communication network upgrades.

“For more than 20 years, IGT has been a trusted partner to the Tennessee Education Lottery, providing innovative solutions that have supported our consistent growth,” said Rebecca Paul, Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer. “One of our core missions is supporting educational programs in Tennessee, and since our inception, we have raised more than $7.5 billion for our state. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with IGT, whose advanced technology will assist in responsibly increasing both sales and our contributions to Tennessee education.”

“IGT has been committed to bringing best-in-class lottery solutions to the Tennessee Education Lottery since its inception,” said Jay Gendron, IGT Chief Operation Officer, Global Lottery. “Through this nine-year contract extension, we are excited to bring new technological upgrades to the Lottery, providing them the systems and equipment needed to drive performance for its players and the good causes it serves in the state.”

The upgraded technology will provide the TEL with intuitive, user-friendly applications, tools, and reporting capabilities. Components of the central system, including Performance Wizard, Sales Wizard, Learning Wizard, and Retailer Wizard will streamline operations for optimal functionality. The introduction of IGT’s high-performance, high-volume Retailer Pro S2 terminals with WinCheck S2 peripherals will enable the TEL to easily add new features across multiple point-of-sale terminals simultaneously and allow players to quickly and reliably see if they are draw game or instant ticket winners.

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