Tri-State Lotto Commission
April 6, 2007
Meeting Minutes:
TRI-STATE LOTTO COMMISSION
New Hampshire Lottery Commission
Concord, NH
April 6, 2007, 10:30 a.m.
Present: Orland McPherson, Maine State Lottery
Richard Campbell, New Hampshire Lottery Commission
Tom Scala, Vermont Lottery
Pam Coutts, Maine State Lottery
Rick Wisler, New Hampshire Lottery Commission
Alan R. Yandow, Vermont Lottery
Rich Sperlazzi, Maine State Lottery
Lisa Rodrigue, Maine State Lottery
Robert Preston, New Hampshire Lottery Commission
Maura McCann, New Hampshire Lottery Commission
Kassie Strong, New Hampshire Lottery Commission
Gweneth Dean, Vermont Lottery
Mary Cassani, Vermont Lottery
Doug Parker, Scientific Games
Liz Dimmick, Scientific Games
Moe Pepin, Scientific Games
Karl Fortman, Scientific Games
John Ripley, NL Partners
Jen Cartmell, NL Partners
Chris Nichols, NL Partners
Carole Lacasse, Vermont Lottery
Chair McPherson called the meeting to order at 10:44 a.m.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE MARCH 9, 2007 MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Campbell to accept the March 9, 2007 minutes as distributed. Motion was seconded and voted in the affirmative.
FINANCE COMMITTEE - Mary Cassani
There was a review of the February financials. Gross revenues for Tri-State through February 2007 have increased $1,928,144, or 4.54% compared to last year. Of this increase, Megabucks sales are down $840,315, or 3.84%; Daily Numbers sales are down $495,524, or 3.03%; Triple Play sales combined with Paycheck sales are up overall $622,395, or 14.77%; and the Promotional Add-A-Play games increased sales $2,641,761. Total expenses through February are up over last year to date $1,108,096. This includes an increase in cost of sales of $970,761 and an increase in operating expenses of $137,335. Net Profit increased from last year to $1,027,923, or 7.31%. The Contingency Funds are all in the positive. Expired unclaimed prizes came to just over $1.3 million.
A simplified bid process for legal counsel to replace Barbara Prentice is underway as Barbara has left the law practice for a position in State government. In the interim, the Vermont Attorney General's office will assist us.
MARKETING COMMITTEE - Maura McCann
The press clip was distributed.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE - Pam Coutts
New Add-a-Play software is being installed in order to make the game a stand alone. Baseball will be the next game and then possibly Lucky Number. Alphabet is another game being considered.
We have a proposal from Smartplay on the random number generator. This unit will be necessary in order to conduct the Raffle game.
The committee is discussing a 365 day claim period. A practice has been developed and it is currently in the Attorney General's office for review. A recommendation will be forthcoming for a rule change.
The committee is currently discussing a replacement game for Paycheck. They have asked Scientific Games to assist them.
They are also looking at possibly another Raffle game in a July timeframe next year.
Director Wisler mentioned the possibility of a New England Raffle game for consideration.
DRAW COMMITTEE - Maura McCann
Maura presented a quote from Smartplay for maintenance on all the draw equipment at a cost of $2,223.00. Smartplay has maintained our drawing equipment for the last 20 years. Maura will check to see if there are other companies who perform maintenance on drawing equipment and report back to the commission.
Director Yandow asked if, after the maintenance, the machines were then "certified". Maura will check with Smartplay and report back to the commission.
MOTION
A motion was made by Commissioner Scala to authorize Smartplay to perform the annual maintenance on all the drawing equipment. Motion was seconded and voted in the affirmative.
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE - Gweneth Dean
Gwen reviewed the new flow chart noting that commission approval has been added. Commission and staff have worked with Scientific Games in the development of this chart.
SCIENTIFIC GAMES - Doug Parker
SG is continuing to test the Raffle game. Due to staffing issues, Vermont is scheduled to be a couple weeks behind in testing the game. Maine and New Hampshire have gone through a series of testing and it has gone along very well.
Karl Fortman wanted to go on public record and thank Gwen for being a partner with SGs for the past six years.
ACCEPTANCE OF REPORTS
Motion
A motion was made by Commissioner Scala to accept the reports as presented. Motion was seconded and voted in the affirmative.
OTHER BUSINESS
Director Wisler expressed his thanks to Gwen for her outstanding service, not only to the Vermont Lottery, but for the Tri-State Commission. She championed the initial structure of the Product Development Committee and the work that continues from that committee is a direct result of the hard efforts Gwen put into it. She was awarded the Powers Award from NASPL in recognition of outstanding service.
Carole will work on arrangements for the June meeting in Vermont and the September meeting in Maine.
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 4, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at the New Hampshire Lottery Commission in Concord, NH.
A motion to adjourn was made at 11:10 a.m.