Gambling in the USA
Instant Tickets Help Drive Record Performance for Michigan Lottery in 2018
Pollard Banknote Limited congratulates the Michigan Lottery on its record-breaking $941.3 million contribution to its beneficiary, public education, in Fiscal Year 2018. Instant games were a major factor in the Lottery’s success, driving sales and helping to boost its contribution to the state’s School Aid Fund.
The Lottery achieved record sales last year of nearly $3.6 billion, which largely can be attributed to a significant 12.6% increase in instant game sales. The Michigan Lottery is the only U.S. lottery to achieve double-digit annual instant sales growth for the past five consecutive years, and is on track for another outstanding year, with Fiscal Year 2019 year-to-date instant game sales up 15% compared to the similar period for Fiscal Year 2018, which ended Sept. 30, 2018.
Since 1996, Pollard Banknote has been helping the Michigan Lottery with strategic planning on a variety of instant game initiatives, from market research to retail strategy, and the introduction of innovative products. Among the contributors to the Lottery’s success over the past year is Pollard Banknote’s patented Scratch FXÂŽ, which adds a premium shine to instant game tickets. In Fiscal Year 2018, the Michigan Lottery used Scratch FXÂŽ on more than 20 instant games, including the Tax Free family of tickets offered at $1, $2, $5, and $10 price points.
The Lottery also experienced success with Pollard Banknote’s Winning Combinationsâ˘, which pairs Scratch FXÂŽ and neon ink for even greater visual appeal. Even with five prior game launches at the same price point, the $150,000,000 Payout ticket, which features Winning Combinationsâ˘, achieved 20% higher sales than the Lottery’s average $30 game since 2015 (based on 10-week sales).
These innovations were also used to reinvigorate some of the Lottery’s base games, such as Cashword and Wild Time. This included the Lottery’s $5 and $10 Wild Time games, and the $20 Super Bonus Cashword ticket, which was produced in an oversized format with Scratch FXÂŽ.
“We have enjoyed a great relationship with the Michigan Lottery for over 20 years,” said Donna Preziotti, Director, Sales & Marketing, Pollard Banknote. “The Michigan Lottery does an excellent job of keeping players excited with a variety of offerings in its instant ticket portfolio, and we are excited for the opportunity to continue helping the Lottery introduce new strategies and products to promote continued growth.”
“The recent record-breaking years have been an exciting time for the Lottery,” said Glenn Strong, Deputy Commissioner of Games and Marketing, Michigan Lottery. “We are always looking for new ways to drive instant sales, so we are celebrating our success, but also looking forward to discovering new ways to increase the Lottery’s contributions to the School Aid Fund in coming years.”
About the Michigan Lottery:
Since it was established in 1972, the mission of the Michigan Lottery has been to maximize revenue to support public schools by providing fun and entertaining games of chance. The Lottery contributed a record $941.3 million to its beneficiary, the School Aid Fund, in the recently ended Fiscal Year 2018. This was the Lottery’s fourth consecutive record contribution, topping the previous record of $924.1 million set in the 2017 fiscal year. Since its inception, the Michigan Lottery has provided more than $22 billion to support public education. To learn more, visit www.michiganlottery.com.
About Pollard Banknote:
Pollard Banknote is a leading lottery partner to more than 60 lotteries worldwide, providing high quality instant ticket products, licensed games, Schafer Systems retail merchandising solutions, and a full suite of digital offerings, ranging from game apps to comprehensive player engagement and iLottery solutions, including strategic marketing and management services. The company is a proven innovator and has decades of experience helping lotteries to maximize player engagement, sales, and proceeds for good causes. Pollard Banknote also provides pull-tab tickets, bingo paper, and its Diamond Game and Oasis-branded electronic ticket machines to charitable and other gaming markets in North America. Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is owned approximately 67.5% by the Pollard family and 32.5% by public shareholders, and is publicly traded on the TSX (PBL). For more information, please visit our website at www.pollardbanknote.com.
Source: Pollard Banknote Limited
Gambling in the USA
Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed

Significant construction has been completed during the first year of work on the $1 billion Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., a site off Interstate-85 only 35 miles from Charlotte and close to the South Carolina border.
Construction on all aspects of the project is in full swing, with the foundations for the casino complex and hotel completed several months ago, the casino complex at its full height and expanding horizontally, and steel continuing to rise for the 24-story, 385-room hotel. The hotel tower framing is now 10 stories high, with an additional floor being added nearly every week. At completion, the hotel will be connected to the casino complex.
The casino complex includes the introductory casino on the first level, three levels of covered parking, a back-of-house level and top level with the main casino floor and restaurants. The introductory casino, set to open in spring 2026, will include 1350 slot machines, 20 table games, a 40-seat restaurant, a bar, sports betting kiosks, and Lucky North Rewards desk.
The introductory casino will replace the current temporary (prelaunch) casino, which continues to grow in popularity as it nears its fourth anniversary on July 1.
The main casino complex is targeted to open in 2027. It will be about 2 million square feet and feature:
⢠4300 slot machines
⢠100 table games
⢠11 dining outlets, including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, marketplace with six venues, cafÊ, and grab-and-go outlet
⢠A players lounge
⢠11 bars, including a center bar and sports bar
⢠A 2700-space parking garage built under the casino complex and 800 surface parking spaces
The project has created hundreds of construction jobs. Upon completion, the casino resort will employ an estimated 2200 regional residents and citizens of the Catawba Nation.
âThis casino resort will be an economic game changer for Catawba citizens and a force to drive the economy of Cleveland County and the City of Kings Mountain. This project is a testament to our resilience, our commitment to self-sufficiency, and our determination to build a better future for ourselves and our future generations,â Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said.
Harris noted the temporary casino is contributing to many community and charitable organizations in the region, and that will only increase as the full casino resort opens.
The project is being led by the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority under Vice President Trent Troxel, with Yates-Metcon as the construction general contractor; Delaware North as the gaming management, development and hospitality consultant; and SOSHNY Design architects.
âOnce again, I want to thank the Cleveland County, City of Kings Mountain, federal and state leaders who have supported the Catawba Nationâs efforts develop the casino resort in its ancestral lands in North Carolina,â Harris said.
Work has also been completed on two key infrastructure projects for development of the permanent casino resort that were funded by the Catawba Nation: doubling the size of the Dixon School Road Bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installing new sewer lines near the casino.
Gambling in the USA
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Named Luckiest Casino in US by Casinos.com

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been named the luckiest casino in the US according to a recent study conducted by Casinos.com. The resort claimed the top spot based on an in-depth analysis of Tripadvisor reviews, measuring the frequency of luck-related keyword mentions.
With a 25.49% luck rate, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa topped the list thanks to glowing guest feedback, including frequent mentions of jackpots, hand pays and bonus wins. 50 reviews mentioned the word âjackpot,â and 19 even referenced a âhand pay.â
Casinos.com tracked keywords such as lucky, luck, won, winning, success, jackpot, hand pay, winner, bonus, profit to determine which U.S. casinos inspired the most winning moments among visitors.
âI hit 4 jackpots. I stayed one night. I had a blast. The machines are as loose as anywhere else,â wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer, noted Casinos.com, capturing the essence of why the casino landed in the No. 1 spot.
âWeâve always known this was a lucky casino, but itâs exciting to see that recognized through data-driven research. Itâs a testament to the vibrant energy on our casino floor and the unforgettable experiences we strive to create for every guest,â said Steve Bonner, President of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.
The ranking reinforces Seminole Hard Rock Tampaâs reputation as one of the premier gaming and entertainment destinations in the US. Seminole Hard Rock Tampa was not involved in the study and was unaware of it until the results were publicly released.
Over the past year, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa has paid out nearly 839,000 jackpots totaling more than $2.45 billion, continuing to deliver thrilling high-stakes gaming. Since May 1, 2024, the casino resort has awarded 375 jackpots of $100,000 or more, amounting to an impressive $61 million in winnings. Notably, 47 of those massive wins stemmed from bets of $5 or less and nine came from wagers of $3 or less.
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa offers a fully integrated casino experience with a sleek, modern design and welcoming atmosphere of 245,000 square feet of gaming space and entertainment. With 5230 of the hottest slot machines and a full range of table games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat, there is no shortage of opportunities to win. Additionally, guests can enjoy live craps, roulette, and sports betting at their leisure.
Gambling in the USA
California Gambling Control Commission Advances Licensing, Tribal Partnerships, and Responsible Gaming Initiatives

Sacramento, CA â In a meeting packed with regulatory updates and licensing decisions, the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) convened on April 24 to advance numerous agenda items impacting the state’s gambling landscapeâfrom tribal gaming approvals to responsible gambling programs and operator renewals.
Problem Gambling & Public Health Takes the Stage
The Commission meeting opened with a presentation by Sosha Marasigan-Quintero from the California Department of Public Health, offering an overview and update on the California Problem Gambling Treatment Services Program. While no specific staff recommendations were provided, the update underscores California’s continued focus on behavioral health in gambling.
Tribal Revenue Distribution Approved
The Commission approved the quarterly distribution of payments from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund to eligible recipient Indian Tribes. This routine, yet vital, procedure ensures the equitable distribution of revenue to support tribal sovereignty and infrastructure across the state.
Cardroom Licensing: Approvals and Extensions
Among key licensing matters:
-
500 Club Casino (K & M Casinos, Inc.) received both initial and renewal owner-type license approvals through January 2027.
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Casino Chico, Hollywood Park Casino, and Lake Bowl Cardroom were granted renewals and short-term extensions, some with conditions such as improving record-keeping systems or ensuring regulatory compliance ahead of reopening.
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Hotel Del Rio & Casino was granted a 60-day extension under several strict conditions, including updated safety plans and the restatement of commingled financial records.
Key Employee Licensing Actions
The Commission approved several initial and renewal key employee licenses. Notably:
-
Jeffrey Thompson was approved with a condition prohibiting involvement in illegal gambling activities.
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Kevin Lee and George Rahme received 120-day extensions for renewal processing.
Third-Party Proposition Player Services Under Scrutiny
The Commission approved both initial and temporary licenses for Fortune Players Group, Inc., with a lengthy list of conditions tied to the conduct of a former associate, Rene Medina. These conditions highlight the Commissionâs ongoing vigilance in monitoring third-party player services and maintaining compliance across operations.
Progressive Gaming, LLC was also approved for an initial license, further expanding third-party service provider capacity.
Gaming Resource Suppliers & Tribal Approvals
Initial suitability findings for several prominent tribal gaming resource suppliers were approved, including:
-
HCAL, LLC
-
JCM Global
-
Konami Gaming, Inc.
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PDS Gaming, LLC
Dozens of tribal gaming employees were also approved for key positions at tribal casinos across California, reflecting the Commissionâs continued support of tribal gaming operations and the necessary workforce to support it.
Notable Withdrawals and Denials
In two notable cases, requests to withdraw license applicationsâJosephine Hoang and Jesus Bojorquezâwere denied, signaling the Commissionâs increased scrutiny and emphasis on applicant accountability.
A Broader Look Ahead
With regulatory reform on the horizon and ongoing efforts to promote responsible gaming, the April 2025 CGCC meeting showcased a mix of routine license management and deeper engagement with emerging compliance issues. As the Commission prepares for the next quarter, the groundwork laid in this session will likely influence policy developments and enforcement trends across California’s gambling sector.
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