On August 14, the Pennsylvania Lottery launched a new category of fast-paced games drawn every five minutes. Referred to as Xpress Sports, the new virtual sports entertainment options were launched in conjunction with renowned gaming software vendor Scientific Gaming and is expected to be rolled out statewide to all the retailers.
“Following Keno’s very strong start, we expect that our Xpress Sports games will also be a big hit with our players,” said Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “These games are part of our continuing mission to modernize our business and generate new funds to benefit older Pennsylvanians.”
Xpress Football and Xpress Car Racing, the games, use ultra-realistic animation to depict the outcomes of random computerized drawings that occur every five minutes. Tickets to play the Xpress Sports games can be purchased and checked at any of the lottery’s retailers. In addition to this, players who wish to watch the drawing results in retail time on big-screen currently will be able to do just that at over 1,500 locations, a number that is going to grow further, according to spokesman Gary Miller.
Scientific Games’ contribution to the partnership involves investment in technology innovation to support the Lottery’s plan to modernize through new solutions, products, and services, virtual sports included.
“We are thrilled to continue the Pennsylvania Lottery’s modernization efforts with the launch of our new virtual sports brand, Xpress Sports,” Drew Svitko added. “Virtual sports games appeal to Pennsylvanian’s passion for sports and, like all of our games, virtual sports games are supported by systems technology innovation. Our recent game entertainment expansion with Keno, iLottery and now virtual sports is already generating new funds to benefit older Pennsylvanians. Kudos to all those at the Lottery and Scientific Games who have worked so hard to introduce these new products to our players.”
The virtual games, as well as Keno, will be displayed at a mixture of the lottery’s retail venues, taverns, and bars through Scientific Games’ technology solution.
Pennsylvanian Casinos Not for It
Like the iLottery collection of games offered in the state, the Pennsylvania Casino Gaming Coalition which consists of the 13 licenses casino operators, sees the virtual sports betting as an infringement of the state’s gambling expansion law that was signed in 2017.
“The Pennsylvania Lottery’s new game combines elements of online casino games, sports betting and slot machines — areas that are legislatively restricted to the commonwealth’s casino operators. We will continue to oppose their illegal attempts to cannibalize the state’s casino industry,” said David La Torre, the coalition’s spokesman.
Already, the coalition is planning to take legal action against the state administration over its objections to the online lottery games.
