Gambling in the USA
America’s First State Lottery Puts Education At Forefront With Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership Deal

Scientific Games Corporation announces the New Hampshire Lottery, the first modern U.S. state lottery and a Top 10 performing instant game lottery worldwide, has extended its current contract with Scientific Games for six years with the addition of the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership (SGEP) program to create maximum funding for educational programs in the state.
Through the new partnership, the company will provide the New Hampshire Lottery with world-leading instant game design and portfolio management services, as well as technology-driven analytics and insights, game manufacturing, advanced logistics, technologies to support inventory management and distribution, and services for 1,250 retailers throughout the state. The contract extension also includes Scientific Games sales force performance management software, gem|IntelligenceÂŽ.
The New Hampshire Lottery launched the first lottery instant “scratch” game in America in 1975 produced by Scientific Games, and has partnered with the company over the decades to develop an instant game product portfolio that generated a record $295.5 million in retail sales in 2020. Perenially a top-performing lottery globally, New Hampshire is currently ranked No. 10 in the world for instant game per capita sales (La Fleur’s 2021 World Lottery Almanac). To date, the Lottery has contributed more than $2 billion to education, with instant games representing approximately 65% of its revenues.
Charlie McIntyre, New Hampshire Lottery Executive Director, said, “Scientific Games’ track record of developing our instant game category to benefit students in New Hampshire speaks for itself. Critical to supporting our mission, this contract extension evolves our instant games relationship to a full category management partnership with technologies and services that will ensure our retailers have an optimal portfolio of games players want to purchase. The state’s decision to extend and enhance our contract with Scientific Games for six years is in the best interest of driving maximum profits for public education in New Hampshire.”
One of the most forward-thinking lotteries in the U.S. for game innovation, the New Hampshire Lottery has collaborated with Scientific Games to launch thousands of instant games, some featuring popular licensed brands and second chance promotions. Recent hits include 7-11-21ÂŽ LIVE!, $50 or $100 Series III and Granite State Platinum Millions.
“Scientific Games congratulates the New Hampshire Lottery on nearly 50 years of sound business management that has positioned the Lottery at the top of a global industry. Building from a very solid foundation, we look forward to further supporting the Lottery with our advanced SciTrak UltraÂŽ technology that powers the SGEP program, and supporting its retailer network with our gem|Intelligence software,” said John Schulz, Senior VP, Lottery Instant Products for Scientific Games.
Scientific Games launched the world’s first secure retail instant game in 1974, the first digital instant game in the U.S. in 2014, and is the world’s largest creator, manufacturer and services provider of instant games in the world. The Company provides games, technology and services to more than 150 lotteries around the globe, including nearly every North American lottery.
Gambling in the USA
Abbiati Casino Equipment and Hawkins Holdings Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Presence Across the Americas

Abbiati Casino Equipment, a globally recognised leader in premium casino equipment and technologies, announced a strategic partnership with Hawkins Holdings to strengthen its presence across North and South America. As part of this initiative, seasoned gaming executive Roger Hawkins has been appointed Brand Ambassador and Strategic Consultant for the Americas.
With more than 20 years of executive leadership in the global casino and gaming industry, Hawkins will spearhead the companyâs efforts to expand its footprint throughout the Western Hemisphere. His role will include market development, strategic partnerships, regulatory positioning, and the promotion of Abbiatiâs legacy of Italian innovation, craftsmanship, and integrity.
âThis partnership is about more than market entry â itâs about building deeper awareness, driving product adoption, and reinforcing Abbiatiâs commitment to quality across every pit and poker room in the hemisphere,â said Hawkins.
Giorgio Abbiati, CEO of Abbiati Casino Equipment, said: âWe have proudly served clients in the Americas for many years, but the time is right to deepen our focus. Rogerâs knowledge of our products and his insight into the market make him the ideal partner to lead this next phase.â
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.
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