NeoPollard Interactive LLC, jointly owned by Pollard Banknote Limited and Aristocrat Interactive, announced that the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) has extended its contract with NPi for the continued provision of its Online Play System, Player Loyalty Program and Related Services. Under the terms of the amended agreement, NCEL will extend its partnership with NPi through two one-year renewal periods until June 30, 2028, with the option to exercise an additional one-year extension at the Lottery’s discretion.

Since 2019, NPi has been a trusted partner in powering NCEL’s Online Play program, delivering a comprehensive suite of digital solutions that includes a robust Online Play platform, a fully integrated player loyalty program, a user-friendly mobile application, and industry-leading player engagement strategies. This strategic collaboration has driven remarkable growth, with gross gaming revenue from the program doubling over the past two years with the introduction of digital instant games—underscoring the strength of the partnership and the effectiveness of NPi’s digital offerings.

With the renewal, NPi will implement Aristocrat Interactive’s Fusion content aggregation platform to significantly expand NCEL’s game offerings. This platform will continue to deliver exciting games from Aristocrat Interactive’s NeoGames Studio, in addition to providing engaging new titles from the Pollard Digital Games Studio. Additional third-party games will be introduced annually, ensuring a continually refreshed and dynamic game portfolio. In addition to expanding the Lottery’s game offerings, NPi will enhance its player support services, providing 24/7 assistance via phone, chat, and email to deliver a seamless and convenient experience for players across North Carolina.

“We are pleased with the success we’ve achieved with our Online Play program and the collaboration with NeoPollard Interactive. This renewal reflects our confidence in NPi’s ability to help us grow and innovate with a strong commitment to responsible play. We look forward to continuing our partnership to deliver even more value to our players,” said Mark Michalko, Chief Executive Officer of North Carolina Education Lottery.

“The North Carolina Education Lottery is a valued partner, and we are proud to continue supporting its mission to generate revenue for education in North Carolina. This renewal attests to our shared commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional digital lottery experiences. By continuously advancing our technology and expanding our selection of games, we are confident that we can help NCEL deepen player engagement and enhance overall player satisfaction—ultimately generating strong returns for the state,” said Colin Hadden, Vice President & General Manager of NeoPollard Interactive.

Since its inception in 2006, the NCEL has raised more than $12.4 billion for education programs across all 100 counties in North Carolina. In fiscal year 2025, the Lottery raised more than $1 billion for education for the third year in a row and generated the second highest gross sales per capita in the US.

Sports betting in the state grew significantly this August compared to last August, according to a new report from the North Carolina Lottery Commission.

ECU freshman Colin Burke started dabbling in sports betting as a senior in high school, but after losing more money than he gained, he says he knew it wasn’t worth it.

“It’s my money now, not my dad’s, so I’m not really trying to lose it on something that…could hit big, but reality is, most of the time it doesn’t,” Burke said.

A new sports betting revenue report shows others believe it still is worth it.

The new report from the state lottery commission shows sports bettors wagered more than $463 million in paid bets in August, nearly 30% more than the state bet on sports last August.

Though it’s a high number, some say it’s not a shock.

“It is actually not surprising because it follows suit with every other state that has legalized sports wagering,” Gambling Research and Policy Initiative Director Dr. Michelle L. Malkin said.

The report shows North Carolina has collected nearly $180 million in taxes from sports betting since its launch in March of last year. Dr. Malkin says it’s important to remember that, in gambling, the house always wins.

“Some people might be winning, a lot of times, but they’re not winning anything close to what the state is gonna be getting back in tax returns,” Malkin said.

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For those who do gamble, Malkin suggests doing it in low-risk ways, like keeping a ledger of wins and losses, setting time limits, and taking in the game.

“You should still enjoy the game, watch the game, don’t have your head in your phone the whole time hoping that your next bet is gonna win,” Malkin said.

Entain, the global sports betting and gaming company, has accelerated its product innovation strategy, rolling out a series of new features and enhancements across the UK, US, and Brazil.

These include faster withdrawals, next-generation BetBuilder tools, live same-game parlays, app performance upgrades, and localised features tailored to specific markets. These developments underscore Entain’s commitment to delivering the most engaging, seamless, and localised experiences for customers worldwide.

Key Highlights of Recent Innovations

• Enhanced Speed and Reliability: Site and app performance have been significantly improved, with 90% of withdrawals now processed within one minute, delivering a faster, more frictionless experience for customers.

• Next-Generation BetBuilder: Entain’s proprietary Football BetBuilder has driven an 80% increase in pre-match turnover and doubled its share of turnover to 12% in markets where it’s available. The launch of In-Play BetBuilder now allows customers to build bets during live games, with real-time tracking powered by Opta data.

• Live Same-Game Parlays in the US: Through BetMGM and in partnership with Angstrom, Entain has launched live same-game parlays for MLB and NFL, with NBA to follow. BetMGM’s latest app is its most responsive yet, with Live Player Props being released, real-time bet tracking on Apple devices, in-app research tools, and cash-out functionality during games.

• Quacca Bar for Ladbrokes and Coral: A game-changing feature enabling customers to build, edit, and place multiples and BetBuilder bets without leaving the app. Adoption has surged, with over 60% of bets now placed via the Quacca Bar.

• Localized Features in Brazil: Entain has introduced Fantasy Markets, AccaBoost, in-play football BetBuilder and Stats Pro, an integrated Stats hub giving customers deeper insights (including stats like xG) as well as live tracking to show how their bet is progressing.

• Gaming Expansion: Entain continues to release 150 new games monthly, with 20% as early-access or exclusive titles, while its rewards system has seen 40 million coins redeemed to date.

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Satty Bhens, Chief Technology Officer at Entain, commented: “Our Sportsbook product has never been stronger. We’ve closed the gap and are now pivoting from catching up to going beyond. From live single-game parlays in the US to in-play BetBuilders in Europe and Brazil, we’re upgrading player experiences while modernising our trading back office. This is just the beginning of what we can achieve as we continue to lead the industry in product innovation.”