Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has selected Bally’s Intralot’s Canadian subsidiary as its new lottery technology provider after a two-year-long search.
OLG announced on Thursday that it chose a bid from Intralot Canada after what it described as a competitive procurement process, as it seeks to modernize its tech system to maximize the potential of its lottery operations.
Until now, the governmental gaming operator has been running its own core lottery systems, but the crown corporation felt it was time to bring in a vendor to take it into the future. The new Intralot Canada-powered lottery technology solution is expected to be in place by 2029.
Moving with the times
The selection of Intralot Canada has been a long time coming. OLG opened a Request for Proposal (RFP) two years ago, in May 2024, saying at the time that it was seeking “the most competent and capable provider” to overhaul its lottery tech.
Given the scope and complexity of the procurement, OLG took its time. While the lottery could not divulge which other companies submitted a bid, Intralot Canada rose to the top.
In its press release published on Thursday, the Ontario lottery said that partnering with Intralot Canada will help it to capitalize on emerging technologies and enhance its player experience, and provide a catalyst for further sustainable growth.
It expects that enlisting the Bally’s Intralot subsidiary will yield benefits such as faster time-to-market and new ways to play the lottery, something OLG said will allow it to keep pace with evolving customer expectations.
“We’re excited to work together to bring customers even more engaging lottery experiences, with offerings designed to better meet their needs and add more enjoyment to every play,” said OLG President and CEO Duncan Hannay. “This investment will position us for future growth, modernize legacy systems, and strengthen our ability to give back to the people and communities of Ontario.”
Intralot deal is OLG’s latest gaming overhaul
The lottery-focused Intralot Canada deal is OLG’s latest move to significantly upgrade its gaming operations in Ontario amid stiff competition on the iGaming front.
Earlier this year, it belatedly rolled out the new version of its PROLINE omnichannel sportsbook with Kambi, after the European sports betting technology specialists took over the existing contract with OLG from Française des Jeux (FDG).
Both Ontario Lottery and Kambi leaders said that part of their shared goal on the sports betting side is to upgrade and further localize OLG’s offering in order to help the governmental operator gain greater market share in a province with dozens of licensed sportsbooks.
OLG does not have the same kind of competition on the lottery front, but it is on a mission to ensure that it continues to move with the times and provide players with the games they want to play, when and where and how they want to play them.
Bally’s Intralot bolsters Canadian footprint
For Bally’s Intralot, the merged North American lottery-focused business of U.S. gaming operator Bally’s Corporation and European lottery firm Intralot, the deal is another Canadian feather in the cap.
Back in April, the longtime partner of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) signed a new contract with the B.C. lottery that includes future lottery and technology upgrades across both the government’s land-based network and its iLottery system.
Now, Robeson Reeves, CEO of the Bally’s Intralot parent company, said that being selected by OLG is an indicator of the strength of his firm’s global lottery expertise and technology capabilities.
“Our platforms are built to handle the complexity, scale and security demands of modern lottery operations, backed by decades of hands-on experience running mission-critical lottery systems across global markets,” added Reeves. “As the industry continues to evolve, we are committed to giving OLG the tools, data intelligence and technical foundation it needs to lead.”
As part of its bid for the OLG contract, Intralot Canada outlined plans to expand its team to support implementation and ongoing operations alongside OLG in Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie.
