Kansas to Launch iLottery Platform in 2025

The Kansas Lottery has taken a significant step toward modernizing its operations by selecting Pollard Banknote to provide a comprehensive iLottery solution, with plans to launch online ticket sales in early 2025. This initiative marks a milestone in the Kansas Lottery’s efforts to offer digital sales of popular games, including scratch tickets, Powerball, and Mega Millions, through its website and mobile app.

The decision to partner with Pollard Banknote, a company with a longstanding relationship with the Kansas Lottery, aligns with the lottery's broader strategy to enhance player experience and adapt to the evolving demands of the digital age. The iLottery solution will be built on Pollard Banknote's Pollard Catalyst Gaming Platform, a state-of-the-art system that integrates various services such as geolocation, marketing, draw operations, risk management, and customer support.

Stephen Durrell, the executive director of the Kansas Lottery, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming launch. “Giving our players the ability to purchase our products in this fashion is something they have wanted for a very long time,” Durrell said in a recent statement. “We are excited to be able to provide new games and purchasing options, safely and securely, for players in the state. Just as we were pleased to bring Kansas sports betting through mobile applications, we are happy to now be able to provide players this new opportunity under existing law.”

The launch of the iLottery platform is particularly timely as it coincides with the recent allocation of traditional lottery revenues to the “Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund,” a move that underscores the state’s commitment to supporting professional sports initiatives.

Pollard Banknote’s co-CEO, Doug Pollard, highlighted the significance of this partnership. “These are exciting times for the Kansas Lottery and for Pollard Banknote,” he said. “Our decades-long relationship with the lottery combined with our game-changing Pollard Catalyst technology and what we believe is the strongest team in the industry will deliver the best player experience and is a winning combination for the lottery and its players.”

Pollard Banknote’s Catalyst platform will also integrate with the Kansas Lottery’s existing player loyalty program, PlayOn, ensuring a smooth transition for current online players and a streamlined launch of the new digital services. This initiative is part of a broader contract extension with Pollard Banknote, which will continue until October 31, 2026.

As the Kansas Lottery embraces this new digital era, concerns about responsible gaming have surfaced. Stephanie Roberts, a representative from the South Central Kansas Problem Gambling Task Force, voiced apprehension that the convenience of online lottery sales could lead to an increase in gambling addiction. This concern underscores the importance of implementing robust safeguards to protect vulnerable players as the iLottery platform is rolled out.

 

Giving our players the ability to purchase our products in this fashion is something they have wanted for a very long time.

 

Conclusions

The decision to launch an iLottery platform comes after a year of mixed results for the Kansas Lottery. Despite a strong performance in June 2024, the lottery narrowly missed setting a new sales record for the fiscal year, with total sales reaching $337.8 million, just $250,615 shy of the previous year's record. While Powerball sales surged by 15.2%, generating $50.8 million, a $4.7 million drop in scratch ticket sales offset these gains, leaving the lottery's total revenue 0.07% below the FY23 record.

As the Kansas Lottery prepares to launch its iLottery platform, it remains committed to providing a secure and enjoyable gaming experience for its players while navigating the challenges and opportunities of digital expansion.