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Over the past few years, the world fell in love with iPad; we did too. So, it’s not surprising that we’re often asked,  “When will OrderPad for Lotteries run on iPad?” The purpose of this blog post is to answer that question.

And the answer is “never”. OrderPad for Lotteries will never run on iPad. It wasn’t architected for it. It’s like asking, “When will the Space Shuttle land on the moon?”

But, the second purpose of this blog post is to introduce OnePlace – the next generation of lottery sales force automation, which does run on iPad and also runs on the web.

What is OnePlace?

OnePlace is the next generation of lottery sales force automation and is brought to you by the same team that created OrderPad for Lotteries, which over the last decade, has become the industry standard for lottery sales force automation.

Budget Friendly

OnePlace is subscription-based and does not require a large upfront investment. iPads are also much less expensive than Tablet PCs. Now, lottery sales force automation is within reach for all lotteries.

iPad and Web

Great software, like OnePlace, deserves to be run on the world’s most advanced mobile computing platform. OnePlace offers a great native iPad app for those in the field and a great web experience for those in the office. The iPad app caches retailer and game information locally, so it can be used without an active data connection.

You can learn more about it here http://www.orderpadsoftware.com/products/oneplace/, or better yet, call me at 212-625-6520 to schedule a demonstration.

If you’re a Facebook user (who isn’t?), you may have noticed the plethora of games available on the social network. Some of these games use Facebook Credits, which users can buy within an interface on the game. However, Facebook in the United Kingdom is trying something a little different. A new app, Bingo & Slots Friendzy, will allow players to use real money! “Real money gaming is a popular and well-regulated activity in the UK and we are allowing a partner to offer their games to adult users on the Facebook platform in a safe and controlled manner,” said a spokesperson.

If you think that you have problems now, just wait until you win the lottery. You’ll have a whole new line of issues just like this woman trying to cross over a speed bump and this man attempting to go to the bathroom.

 One of the most addictive computer games is coming to the New Mexico Lottery. A “Bejeweled” Scratcher has been launched in the state. Players will score points by matching gems of the same shape and color, much like the popular video game. The press release states,  ”The $5 Bejeweled Scratcher features a top prize of $50,000 for revealing a row of four magenta-colored triangular gems.”

New Mexico is not the first state to have a Bejeweled Scratcher. In fact, someone had previously asked a question on Lottery Answers pertaining to this particular scratcher and it’s success rate. You can visit the community to see for yourself. Just sign up or log onto the website if you work for a US or Canadian Lottery.

Lottery officials can only hope that this scratcher becomes as addictive as the game it is based upon.

There’s no doubt that lottery commercials are entertaining. In fact, one commercial in the past from the New Zealand lottery commercial was so entertaining that movie makers supposedly incorporated it into a movie scene. According to Time Network Inc, the commercial inspired a scene from the 2002 film, “Slackers,” which starred Devon Sawa, Jason Segel, and Jason Schwartzman.  If you’ve seen the film, the commercial may seem a bit familiar:

And if you’re interested in seeing the inspired movie scene:

While it does seem that a lot of lottery ads are getting a bit more racy (who remembers NY Lottery’s Fat Wallet commercial?), they have managed to stray from media controversy  - until now. California had an ad that aired in April 2012 that featured a woman who was supposed to resemble “Lady Luck” and her luck strikes a man playing the lottery, quite literally. Take a look for yourself.

The California Legislative Women’s Caucus said that this ad inappropriately “glamorizes violence” because of the slapping scene. According to Russ Lopez, CA Lottery’s deputy director of corporate communications, while showing the ad to focus groups, “Nobody had an issue with it.” “(They) saw a metaphor for being struck by Lady Luck.” The CA Lottery quickly filmed an alternate version of the commercial that changes the ending just a tad. You can view the new commercial here.

What do you think? Did the ad go too far? Is the revamped version as effective?

Now that last year’s fiscal year is over, states have been reporting that this past year was their best year ever in sales! One state notably, Tennessee, saw a 10.2% jump in sales from the previous year, having a total of $1.31 billion in sales this past year. Lottery officials “continue to hone our business model, developing new and innovative product offerings for the playing public, expanding our retailer base, emphasizing customer service, and operating at all times with efficiency and the utmost integrity,” lottery President and CEO Rebecca Hargrove was quoted saying in a press release.

Florida had a record breaking $4.45 billion in sales, while California was not far behind with $4.4 billion. Countless other states also reported record numbers. The good news is that it looks like many states have not only given record numbers of payouts to players, but are also giving record number transfers to education programs. Hopefully this trend will continue. Some people seem to think it will. “I think we’re on the upward trend,” said California lottery Director Robert O’Neill, who was commenting on the current fiscal year and the plans his team and he have for the CA Lottery.

Oregon Lottery’s website boasts “When You Play, Oregon Wins,” and shows visitors how the price of their tickets fund projects to help their state. Not only does the Oregon lottery help fund education programs but also aids with watersheds, economic development, and state parks – who knew? So even if players don’t win big, Oregon residents still hit the jackpot! The website also even displays how the lottery funds are divided among the different efforts, which is information a lot of lotteries provide – and probably information that a lot of lottery players would like to know!

Have you seen those decoy ducks? Well, it looks like this guy has the same idea if he wins the lottery . . . sort of. Hopefully he won’t have to worry about TMZ finding him anytime soon. Check out the Missouri Lottery’s fun commercial!

Last month, Ohio welcomed the opening of its very first racino – a combination of slots and horse racing – at the Scioto Downs racing track in south Columbus. And so far it looks like it’s paying off . . . literally. The Scioto Downs facility netted $11 million in profits in its first month of operation. The money will be used to help fund K-12 education projects.

The interior of the horse track was updated with a sleek new look that now houses nearly 1,800 machines! There are currently 6 other horse racing tracks in the state of Ohio and it looks as if they may follow in Scioto Downs’ footsteps and offer video terminals in the future. And who can blame them?