Press Releases

YGAM to confirm future strategy at ICE London showcase

Published

6 years ago

January 29, 2020

YGAM, the UK-based charity that works to inform, educate and safeguard young people against problematic gambling and social gaming, will be using its appearance at ICE London (4-6 February, ExCeL London, UK) to outline to the industry the ambitious targets it has set for 2020. Under the leadership of chief executive and co-founder Lee Willows, YGAM has set out an agenda which will see it work with at least 3,000 educational organisations to deliver practitioner workshops, engaging with approximately 600,000 young and vulnerable people in 2020. It will also seek to extend its student programme to 25 universities, reaching approximately 175,000 students, as well as establishing a target of reaching a minimum of 5,000 parents in 2020. YGAM’s trading subsidiary YGAM Innovation will continue to provide best-in-class, City & Guilds certified training to customer facing colleagues in the gambling industry and related sectors in collaboration with Betknowmore UK.

Speaking ahead of YGAM’s appearance as part of the Consumer Protection Zone at ICE London, Lee Willows said: “2020 is YGAM’s sixth anniversary and we feel that is well-worth celebrating. We have an exemplar team of 26 employees, which is due to increase to 42 in Q1. Working in collaboration with members of the Betting & Gaming Council and GamCare, we are going to deploy a high-population, national education programme that will see us jointly deliver at least one session of gambling awareness to all 11-19 year olds in Britain over the next four years.

“Our Parent and Families work will be enhanced with support from Lottoland, whom we worked with in 2019 to develop a pilot with the support of Playtech. We will be working with GVC and Ascot to further develop our university and student engagement work and we are particularly keen to use our attendance at ICE London to talk to other operators who would be happy to work with YGAM and, in the process, enable us to extend this work further.”

He added: “YGAM has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Clarion Gaming and, without doubt, ICE London provides an exceptional platform for charities to further raise awareness of their social purpose and to thank their supporters. With initiatives such as the Consumer Protection Zone and the pop-up talks around safer gambling and social responsibility across the show floor, ICE London continues to pioneer, lead and set the benchmark. It enables all organisations to not only take stock of current issues but, as importantly, to plan for the future.”

iGaming

Defy the Odds partners with BettingStartups to support gaming startups

Published

9 hours ago

April 21, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

defy-the-odds-partners-with-bettingstartups-to-support-gaming-startups

Defy the Odds (DTO) and BettingStartups have announced a strategic partnership aimed at supporting early-stage companies across iGaming and sports betting, with initial joint activity planned around SBC Summit Americas (June 9–11) in Fort Lauderdale.

DTO, which describes itself as a startup launchpad advising early-stage founders in iGaming, sports betting, sportstech and fintech, will work with BettingStartups, which focuses on the early-stage real money gaming ecosystem, to connect startups with investors, operators and established suppliers.

The organisations said the partnership will focus on improving access to three areas they view as critical for founders: community, collaboration and capital. The companies positioned the effort as a way to increase visibility for emerging businesses, support investor-readiness, and expand introductions between startups and industry stakeholders.

Kelly Kehn, Co-Founder of Defy the Odds said of the partnership, “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when founders connect, share ideas and push each other forward. That’s what community does. This partnership with BettingStartups is about bringing more startups together and making sure the wider industry pays attention to what they’re building. Because the future of our industry is being shaped by these founders.”

Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups, adds “We’ve always been about providing high-signal infrastructure for founders to scale. This partnership with DTO doubles down on that mission, linking our audience with a community that actually opens doors. Starting with the Startup Zone at SBC Americas, we’re giving founders a direct, affordable line to the operators and investors who define this industry.”

The post Defy the Odds partners with BettingStartups to support gaming startups appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Adam Prock

Scientific Games wins seven-year Minnesota Lottery systems modernization deal

Published

11 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

scientific-games-wins-seven-year-minnesota-lottery-systems-modernization-deal

Momentum cloud platform to replace legacy tech across retail and digital channels, with an option to extend up to three more years.

Scientific Games has secured a new seven-year contract to modernize the Minnesota Lottery’s technology stack, replacing the lottery’s legacy system across its retail and digital networks. The agreement includes an option to renew for up to three additional years.

Under the deal, Scientific Games will deploy its cloud-based Momentum ecosystem, which the company says is designed to support omnichannel sales and performance. The rollout will include a systems conversion and new technology across the Minnesota Lottery’s retailer network.

“We took an innovative approach to selecting technology that would pave the way to the future and responsibly grow our contributions to programs that positively impact the lives of Minnesotans,” said Adam Prock, Executive Director, Minnesota Lottery. “We were seeking modern technology and a solution focused on service and partnership. Scientific Games was aligned with our vision for growth.”

Scientific Games said Momentum is anchored by its central gaming system, SciTrak Scratch games distribution system, gem | Intelligence retailer licensing and management portal, and INFUSE business intelligence platform. The Minnesota rollout also includes SCiQ digital menu boards, WAVE clerk-operated terminals and PlayCentral self-service machines, plus a second-chance digital promotions solution supported by the company’s CRM program.

Scientific Games said its systems technology has been selected by four North American lotteries in the past 18 months: Minnesota Lottery, Ohio Lottery, New Mexico Lottery and Loto-Québec. The Minnesota Lottery said it has generated more than $4 billion for state programs since 1990, including the environment, education, public safety and health and human services, and problem gambling.

The post Scientific Games wins seven-year Minnesota Lottery systems modernization deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Adam Prock

Scientific Games Technology to Power the Minnesota Lottery’s Omnichannel Sales

Published

11 hours ago

April 21, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

scientific-games-technology-to-power-the-minnesota-lottery’s-omnichannel-sales

Company’s Innovative Tech Solution Selected Based on Partnership and Growth

Scientific Games and the Minnesota Lottery are partnering on a major tech modernization initiative through a new seven-year contract focused on growth. The global lottery company’s new technologies will replace the Minnesota Lottery’s legacy system, delivering industry-leading performance and security to its retail and digital networks. The new technology contract may be renewed for up to three additional years.

Scientific Games will power the Minnesota Lottery with a flexible, cloud-based solution through its Momentum ecosystem—an integrated framework of technologies, applications and services designed to work together to optimize sales performance and drive growth.

“We took an innovative approach to selecting technology that would pave the way to the future and responsibly grow our contributions to programs that positively impact the lives of Minnesotans,” said Adam Prock, Executive Director, Minnesota Lottery. “We were seeking modern technology and a solution focused on service and partnership. Scientific Games was aligned with our vision for growth.”

Scientific Games has become the fastest growing lottery systems provider in the world, with the company’s technology selected by four North American lotteries in the past 18 months, including the Minnesota Lottery, Ohio Lottery, New Mexico Lottery and Loto-Québec. Globally, over the last decade, the company has completed 50+ lottery system implementations and conversions, most recently for the New Mexico Lottery, North Dakota Lottery, Lotto New Zealand and The National Lottery in the UK.

“Scientific Games looks forward to serving the Minnesota Lottery with the highest standards of excellence and all the flexibility a cloud-based ecosystem has to offer,” said John Schulz, President of Americas & Global Instant Products for Scientific Games. “A systems conversion requires a strong partnership and months of cooperation and collaboration. We will work closely with the Minnesota Lottery’s team to deliver another successful go-live, moving the Lottery into a sustainable future.”

The company’s Momentum ecosystem is anchored by its central gaming system, patented SciTrak Scratch games distribution system, gem | Intelligence retailer licensing and management portal and INFUSE business intelligence platform. Scientific Games’ SCiQ digital menu boards, WAVE clerk-operated terminals and PlayCentral self-service machines—which can open new distribution channels—will be installed across the Minnesota Lottery’s retailer network. Additionally, a second-chance digital promotions solution supported by the company’s award-winning CRM program will be included.

Since 1990, the Minnesota Lottery has generated more than $4 billion for state programs, including the environment, education, public safety and health and human services, and problem gambling.

Serving 150 lotteries in 50 countries, Scientific Games is the world’s largest lottery games company, fastest growing lottery systems provider and a leading provider of digital lottery solutions. The company is one of the first lottery companies globally certified by the World Lottery Association as a Responsible Gaming Supplier.