Lagos — Global Services Corporation Limited (GTECH) has signed an agreement with National Sports Lottery Plc (NSL) of Nigeria to implement a National Online Lottery in Nigeria.

Under the agreement, according to a joint statement from the two institutions, GTECH will replace NSL's existing central systems for the operation of its lottery games with a new GTECH central system and will assist NSL in the transition from its existing systems to the new system.

GTECH will also provide other related technical, marketing, and commercial support services for the duration of NSL's licence, which runs through December 18, 2016.

NSL's licence, and GTECH's agreement with the NSL, may both be extended for an additional 10-year term.

GTECH expects to receive revenues of approximately $38 million over the base eight-year agreement, commencing in the third quarter of 2009.

Commenting on the agreement, GTECH President and CEO Jaymin B. Patel, said: "The Nigerian market has, for quite a long time, been very attractive to GTECH. Being one of the most populous and fastest-developing economies in Africa and occupying a strategic position in the West African sub-region, Nigeria provides an opportunity to realise yet another shared vision of a positive linkage of our technology and services with sound local capacity, knowledge, and expertise.

"We are particularly excited about our foray into this unique new market and more so for the opportunity to expand into wider African markets. We recognise the achievements made thus far by NSL, and we are committed to complementing all the initiatives made. GTECH hopes to make the Nigerian operation a model to be followed in the international lottery sector."

NSL CEO, Odunlami Kola-Daisi, said: "We have worked relentlessly to get to this stage. We have always recognised and appreciated the value of GTECH's leadership and success in the international lottery sector, and we are happy to have access to, and be able to provide Nigerians with, a world-class lottery operation that will meet the expectations of all stakeholders in the Nigerian National Lottery Project. We look forward to deriving full benefits of state-of-the-art technology and lottery best practices from GTECH. Their technology and talent transfer will immensely benefit Nigerians who are more or less a new entrant into the lottery world, making them experts in their own right. This is a partnership that will forever change the landscape of electronic transaction processing in Nigeria."

With this partnership, the NSL CEO said: "GTECH is committed to deepening and developing further the lottery industry in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general".

Under the terms of the agreement, NSL's current 15,000 terminals will be connected to GTECH's new central system. An additional 10,000 terminals are expected to be installed before the end of 2009. Moreover, GTECH Printing Corporation will be the exclusive provider of instant-ticket printing during the 12 months following the launch of the new system, which is expected to come on stream in July 2009. GTECH will maintain a data centre in Lagos, Nigeria, and provide additional services such as the design and marketing of Lotto and Instant games. It will also implement a comprehensive marketing plan, including market research, advertising and retail network optimisation.

NSL, a company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), holds a 15-year licence, which commenced in 2001, to operate Nigeria's National Lottery. The licence may be renewed for an additional 10 years beyond 2016.

Currently deploying its 15,000 terminals nationwide, and with staff strength of 200 employees, NSL hopes that with the newly-signed agreement with GTECH, it is able to provide world-class, full complement of lottery services and best practices to the West African country with an estimated population of 150 million.

GTECH is a leading gaming technology and services company. With 6,200 people in over 50 countries, GTECH provides innovative technology, creative content, and superior service delivery to effectively manage and grow today's evolving gaming markets.

GTECH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lottomatica, one of the world's largest commercial lottery operators and a market leader in the Italian gaming industry. For more information about the two companies, visit GTECH's website at www.gtech.com and NSL website at www.nationalsportslottery.com.