HiQ to work with GTECH in the development of a new gaming platform for Veikkaus

HiQ has signed an agreement with GTECH Corporation, a leading global information technology company that focuses on lottery, gaming, and commercial markets. HiQ will work with GTECH in the development of the new integrated gaming platform for Veikkaus Oy, the operator of the Finnish national lottery. The agreement is valid for three years and the approximate order value for HiQ is SEK 160 million.

“HiQ and GTECH have both established a successful business relationship with this important client over the years, and this new agreement will, of course, strengthen our offering to Veikkaus from now on. The ever increasing interest in gaming over the Internet and via other interactive channels is opening up new business opportunities; the collaboration with GTECH is a good example of this,” says Anssi Rantanen, Deputy Managing Director at HiQ Softplan. The collaboration between HiQ and GTECH follows a decision by Veikkaus to award the new integrated gaming platform contract to GTECH after a competitive tender process where GTECH and HiQ submitted a joint proposal with GTECH as the main contractor. “Through the collaboration between HiQ and GTECH our client Veikkaus now has a very strong partner in the development of the new gaming platform. Both HiQ and GTECH possess unique competence when it comes to development of Internet gaming solutions. We are of course very pleased over the new collaboration as it creates new business opportunities for HiQ”, says Lars Stugemo, President and CEO of HiQ International. The development of a new integrated gaming platform will allow both companies to leverage their respective competencies in the development of interactive gaming systems and high-volume, dependable transaction-processing systems. Development work will span a number of years, and the new integrated platform will gradually replace Veikkaus’ current gaming systems. In 1996, Veikkaus was the first national lottery in the world to start Internet gaming, using the OnNet system. OnNet is Finland’s largest e-commerce site for consumers giving them the opportunity to play a variety of games of chance and skill, such as Lotto, Keno and various forms of sports betting. HiQ has been working closely with Veikkaus on the development of the OnNet Interactive Gaming Platform since 1996. GTECH is a leading global information technology company with over $1 billion in revenues and more than 5,400 employees in over 50 countries. The company provides software, networks, and professional services that power high-performance, transaction-processing solutions. The company's core market is the lottery industry, with a growing presence in commercial gaming technology and financial services transaction processing. For further information, please contact: Lars Stugemo, President and CEO, HiQ International, tel.: +46 8 588 90 000 Anssi Rantanen, Deputy Managing Director, HiQ Softplan, tel.: +358 9 4355 8631 Annika Larsson, CIO HiQ International, tel.: +46 8 588 90 015