The news that US lottery operator Scientific Games Corporation has won a contract to provide Norway’s State-owned monopoly Norsk Tipping with a full gambling system for parimutuel and odds-based numbers games has triggered speculation that the agreement may also provide entree at some stage for Playtech, which signed a partnership agreement with the American giant early this (2010) year.
Norway is on the threshold of opening up its online gambling market by considering applications from companies that may be in competition with its monopoly .
In the Norsk Tipping deal just announced, Scientific Games will initially deploy its state-of-the-art lottery central system technology while providing ongoing service and maintenance support for the duration of a twelve-year contract.
“Norsk Tipping is a premier lottery that is at the forefront of delivering creative gaming through new technologies,” said Michael Chambrello, President and Chief Executive Officer for Scientific Games.
Chambrello revealed that the contract with Norsk Tipping is scheduled to begin during the course of 2011 and was won following a competitive procurement process.
“Our objective was to select a long-term partner that could build and support a dynamic central system for the most important segment of our business,” said Torbjorn Almlid, Chief Executive Officer for Norsk Tipping.