37 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 Sue van der Merwe: While Australia has certainly seen inflationary pressure and rates have risen, the scale of increase has not been to the same level we have seen, for example, in the United States or in the UK. We know lotteries have been resilient through different phases of the economic cycle. And the average ticket purchase with us is about A$12, so we are at the lower end of the range in terms of discretionary spending. We said when we delivered our results in August that we’ve been pleased with trading to date in the current financial year (from 1 July 2022). For example, the base (non-jackpot) games in the portfolio have been holding up well, in line with recent volumes. And we’re pleased at how Keno has rebounded strongly now that we’ve emerged from the era of COVID lockdowns. We have also just had a A$160m Powerball jackpot – the largest prize offer in Australian lotteries history, which attracted significant interest and was shared by three winners. What are some of your own priorities this year? Sue van der Merwe: This will be the first full financial year of The Lottery Corporation as a standalone company, and we have a lot to do. Among my focuses will be executing our strategy and embedding our culture now that we’ve defined who we want to be as an organization. I’m proud of the amazing team we have at The Lottery Corporation and I’m energized about what we can create together! We truly are very fortunate, I believe, to work in this industry and play a role in what lotteries does across the globe in terms of the positive impact it makes. And it’s always so special to catch up with friends and colleagues from around the world and share experiences and insights. Already this year has involved more travel than the previous two years that’s for sure! We held our Asia Pacific Lottery Association conference in Singapore in September and of course the World Lottery Summit in Vancouver was a great success in terms of sharing insights within the industry. On a personal front I’m planning a holiday in Italy, which I’m very much looking forward to! That’s great Sue, thank you for your time and insights. Sue van der Merwe: It’s a pleasure Paul, thank you for the opportunity. n Shaping the Future of Lottery in Australia continued from page 13 Lotto America Reaches New Heights continued from page 18 For an additional $1 per play, players can add the All Star Bonus® multiplier feature to their Lotto America ticket. So far, the Monday drawing hasn’t negatively affected the add-on feature’s participation rates. On average, 26.4% of Lotto America purchasers included the All Star Bonus in Cycle A, compared to 25% in Cycle B. Following the launch of the Monday draw, the All Star Bonus participation rate has increased to 27.3%. The Monday draw and the All Star Bonus also seem to appeal to players who frequently engage in the product. As a result, the performance result of the All Star Bonus closely follows the base game results - weekly All Star Bonus sales including the Monday drawing averaged 22.4% greater than Cycle A and 29.6% greater than Cycle B. “The Monday drawing has been a multifaceted solution,” Toyne noted. “Lotteries are able to engage their frequent players an extra night, and the additional sales from the Monday drawing are generating dynamic jackpot growth, which in turn, is attracting more people to the game.” “The Lotto America Product Group has established a solid draw lineup by having Lotto America and Powerball both offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday,” Prock added. “We’ve seen that a strong jackpot run in one game can cross over and lift the sales of other products. We want to promote that symbiotic relationship between Powerball and Lotto America.” n “Taking retailer store syndicates online is an exciting initiative which delivers another element to our omni-channel strategy to align the retail and digital experience.” Houston, have you seen the latest issue of Public Gaming Magazine?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTg4MTM=