G3-247 Report GREECE MARKET UPDATE


level jackpots, remote game downloading, integrated Responsible Gaming solution, Advanced Business Analytics, Player Services Management and Proactive Diagnostics.


GTECH will have achieved 24 INTELLIGEN deploy- ments between 2009 and the end of 2015 inclusive of Greece and the Greek system is currently in the process of being deployed.


Walter Bugno, President and CEO of GTECH International said: “GTECH’s extensive experience deploying large scale, open standards based VLT Central Systems for World Lottery Association customers around the world will help OPAP maximise the benefits of its new VLT program. INTELLIGEN’s open standards architecture and foundational features including its integrated Responsible Gaming solution will ensure the program’s success and long term sustainability, which ultimately benefits the people of Greece.”


Meanwhile recently, in November 2014 GTECH was one of four companies selected to supply VLT products to the Greek market. These four were chosen from a short list of eight initial companies when the tender began in December 2013. The other three companies are Inspired Technology, WMS and Synot.


OPAP became a GTECH


customer in March 2014 when it selected the company as a


partner for OPAP’s online sports betting operations in Greece.


OPAP became a GTECH customer in March 2014 when it selected the company as a partner for OPAP’s online sports betting operations in Greece. The solution was launched in three months and enabled OPAP to benefit from the new technology in time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.


The selection was the result of an open tender proce- dure in which four companies participated including Intralot and Scientific Games. Evaluation of all bidder offers was based on defined technical and financial cri- teria that were communicated in the tender invitation as well as prior experience.


An OPAP spokesman said: “The VLT project follows the company’s initial design and planning. This selection is one of the key milestones in the VLT roll out project and the first machines are expected to be running by end 2014.


“The legal operation will offer a legitimate, responsible and certified gaming experience to the public, it will contribute to the creation of thousands of new jobs and it will also bring additional income to the state through the GGR taxation, which is not the case of current illegal VLT market.”


GTECH’s INTELLIGEN VLT Central Information System will provide OPAP with the ability to connect up to 35,000 products supplied by VLT manufacturers through the Game to System (G2S) protocol which will permit advanced network functionality such as multi


Meanwhile recently, in November 2014 GTECH was one of four companies selected to supply VLT products to the Greek market. These four were chosen from a short list of eight initial companies when the tender began in December 2013. The other three companies are Inspired Technology, WMS and Synot.


Synot is currently finalising its contract with OPAP but is expected to supply around 2,000 of the VLTs next year and is ready to send machines at the beginning of 2015. Phase two of the project will see OPAP able to sell the remaining VLT licences to chosen concessionaires who can then open their own venues.


Synot’s David Mixa said: “Greece was always a very good market as indicated by the number of illegal machines, which shows that Greeks are big players. It is extremely difficult to predict future revenue in a market where the legal gaming industry was pretty much com- pletely eliminated. However, we see massive potential and Greece is a project which has a top priority for us.


“We imagine players will not like the players card requiring full identification of the players, tax deduction from achieved wins, limits on stake and wins. But on the


other hand the possibility to play legally without all the attributed negative aspects of illegal gaming and at the same time enjoying the most advanced gaming systems in the world, should outweigh some of the rather com- plex rules set up by the gaming industry regulators.”


The number of VLTs to be provided by each company has not yet been disclosed publicly by the companies, but a source in the market says GTECH and Inspired will supply around 5,000 machines each, WMS 4,000 and Synot 2,000.


OPAP plans to operate 650 stores with VLTs by the sec- ond half of 2015. OPAP is committed to put 16,500 VLTs into operation by the end of 2015 or the licences will be revoked. Each will accommodate up to 25 VLTs. This is a little behind schedule as the initial plan was to have these store up and running by the fourth quarter of 2014. The new target is considered a little ambitious.


But if all goes to the plan the 650 OPAP stores will house some 16,500 VLTs with at least 4,500 of these hopefully in operation by the first quarter of 2015 and this will be increased to 7,000 by April then 12,500 by May and by July the 16,500.


OPAP is looking to operate a large portion of the VLTs immediately as the 10 year authorisation begins from the day the first store opens. It is thought the majority of VLT operations will be on the mainland with smaller amounts on the islands.


Within the first few months of 2015 the international tender for the allocation of licences for the remaining 18,500 VLTs are also expected to begin. These 18,500 VLTs will be hosted in 800 stores.


OPAP has now put together a series of proposals to agents although there is some disagreement in the camp. The gaming halls are aimed primarily at existing OPAP agents who can operate alone or in a joint venture (with up to five agents).


Costs to set up each gaming hall is estimated to be around €69,000 to €86,000 on construction, equip- ment, furniture, two months rent and is covered by the promoter’s agents. The cost of the VLTs and technologi- cal equipment is down to OPAP. The agents must cover the cost of the insurance and have sufficient capital to cover winnings and a €10,000 letter of guarantee.


With a yield of €60-70 per VLT and 20-25 percent depreciation in three to six years the annual operating costs are estimated to range from €108,000 to €140,000.


OPAP wants the agents to create associations to take over the running of an agency. But the Panhellenic Federation of Professional Agents of Lottery Games (POEPPP) believes if the running of the VLT stores are left to third party operations it will result in a competi- tive network of non agents, which was not the initial idea.


Meanwhile tenders for various supplier licences have also been issued including the bid for the supply and printing of the cards needed for players to take part in the various OPAP lottery games plus the supply of ther- mal paper rolls and shipping services.


8 5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92