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Lotto goes digital

Audra Mahlong
By Audra Mahlong, senior journalist
Johannesburg, 23 Jul 2009

Lotto players are now able to play the national lottery through their cellphone, ATMs or online banking, exclusively through FNB.

In partnership with FNB, the national lottery operator, Gidani, has introduced the new method of playing the lottery, which enables players to access services through their FNB bank account.

Through facilities linked to their bank accounts, customers can play the lottery digitally.

Speaking at the announcement of the initiative, Gidani chairman and chief executive Bongani Khumalo noted that this is the first in a range of new additions to the national lottery.

“This is in fulfilment of the commitment we made when we took over the running of the national lottery of our country in October 2007. We said SA will have a lottery like no other in the world,” he said.

FNB customers using online banking and cellphone banking channels will have immediate access to the lotto. ATM play is being rolled out in phases, and by 11 August 2009 customers will be able to play the lottery at all approved FNB ATMs.

Services on cellphones can be accessed through the bank's existing WAP bearer and cellphone banking service. ATMs will only have the Lotto QuickPick option to avoid long queues, while cellphone and online banking will give players the option of selecting their own numbers.

Len Pienaar, CEO of Mobile and Transact Solutions at FNB, said the initiative would allow for a true digital purchase of lottery tickets. The move is in line with the bank's drive to introduce digital solutions to cash incentive businesses such as airtime and pre-paid electricity services. “Convenience is the strongest driver of growth in our markets. Our services allow customers to do banking when they want to, and now the lottery will be exactly the same,” he said.

Expanding services

Khumalo said the national lottery operator is also in discussion with other financial institutions, and announcements will be made at a later stage. Gidani expects a significant expansion of the national lottery footprint and noticeable growth in sales and revenue from these new methods, Khumalo added.

“Gidani had started discussions with the major banks, mindful of their unique strategic circumstances, imperatives and dynamics. The use of banking channels will not only make it more convenient to play the lottery, it will also enhance player protection, responsible play, privacy, accessibility, time economy and management of winnings and other related financial resources,” said Khumalo.

He added that, while Gidani has included online banking, cellphone banking and ATM channels, “much work still needs to be done to enhance access and use of these technologies in our greater modern lottery world”.

Security measures

Banking channels are unique and effective in the way they allow the operator to know the profile of each player immediately, Khumalo said. This goes a long way towards keeping out unlawful participation in the lottery.

“For example, underage persons will be effectively excluded. There are other added features brought in, by such considerations as the Finance Intelligence Centre Act in the banking environment. The challenge of excessive play will also be firmly handled,” he said.

FNB is confident its technology will meet the required specifications, Pienaar said. The project is complex in terms of the changes the bank needed to implement. In the move to virtual tickets, it is important to ensure the process flows and makes sense in the digital world, and that connections between Gidani and FNB work and are maintained, he added.

Purchases will be secure, as each channel of play will sit behind existing authentication systems, he noted. Tickets are only digitally redeemable and winnings will also only be paid out into players' accounts, ensuring the money is received by the correct person, he added.

Winnings of up to R50 000 are automatically paid into an FNB Account. If a player wins more than R50 000, FNB will contact them to explain how to claim the prize according to lottery regulations.

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