IGT executive hired as NC Lottery chief

Mar 14, 2018, 2:53 pm (11 comments)

North Carolina Lottery

RALEIGH, N.C. — A top leader at a gambling operations vendor was hired Tuesday to become the North Carolina Education Lottery's next executive director.

The lottery commission voted unanimously to hire Mark Michalko, a vice president and managing director for International Game Technology's operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The commission's search for a new lottery chief began soon after Alice Garland, the executive director since late 2010, announced last fall she would retire at the end of March.

"We had an impressive field of candidates, but the cream rises to the top," Commissioner Jody Tyson said after the panel returned from a closed session and voted to hiring Michalko in an open meeting. "And I have full confidence that we have made the best decision."

Michalko was the California lottery's founding executive director and worked for the lottery in Ohio. Michalko also has a North Carolina connection — he's been living in Chapel Hill while working out of IGT's London office. IGT is also the North Carolina lottery's operating system contractor.  (IGT was formerly named Gtech.)

"I've been in the gaming business my entire professional career," he said in a brief acceptance speech. "I'm very excited about the opportunity here."

Michalko will be the third executive director for the lottery, which began selling tickets 12 years ago this month

Annual sales steadily increased under Garland's tenure to $2.4 billion during the fiscal year ending last June, while the share earmarked for public education has grown to $622 million. Updated internal lottery projections foresee sales reaching almost $2.6 billion for the current year and $650 million in net earnings — $34 million higher than originally budgeted, according to documents for Tuesday's meeting.

"This is a well-run organization," Michalko said. "I'm just looking forward to the opportunity to try to continue that growth."

Still, the lottery faces challenges with retailers and sales for its latest game, called Carolina Keno. Legislators also have been pushing back against overtures to expand online sales.

Michalko will make $212,000 annually, slightly below the salary made by Garland, who initially joined the lottery in late 2005 to lead its legislative and communications office. Garland's voice cracked with emotion Tuesday as she said being the executive director has been the perfect job for her. She had worked previously in state and federal government and in employee and trade organizations.

"I'm so proud of what we have accomplished as a team," Garland said.

AP

Comments

music*'s avatarmusic*

Congratulations to Mark Michalko. All the best for the North Carolina Education Lottery! 

Bleudog101

Congratulations Mark!  So proud of your legacy @ IGT too.

itpmguru's avataritpmguru

All I can say for Alice is "hey....hey.....hey.......GOODBYE!" 

NOW maybe we can get some of the other lottery cheaters outta there, Alice is a good start!

trulyblessed

Bye Bye Alice!!!Banana

play4shekels's avatarplay4shekels

The moment they announce the switch to random number generators, you need to call the investigators.

noise-gate

” Garland ‘s voice cracked with emotion...” she is walking away from 200K plus. She probably has a great nest egg stashed away. At least she is not leaving this outfit in shambles. She did good, she did say she was proud of what they had accomplished.

itpmguru's avataritpmguru

Quote: Originally posted by play4shekels on Mar 14, 2018

The moment they announce the switch to random number generators, you need to call the investigators.

RNG's are not needed here because NC is already soooooo rigged it is pathetic!   Last month we had 4 trips fall in the "Pre-draws" and this is usually the norm around here and quads also.  We are lucky if we see one trip every 2 or 3 months.

 

SIDE NOTES:  MAYBE the new director can afford bigger monitors to they can see the drawings when they cut to pre-recorded video showing the chutes?!?!  You dont know how many times they call the wrong number!

Soledad

IGT is in charge of gambling policy in the U.S. This is just a set up move. They’re trying to increase sales and change policy if they can with legislators.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by Soledad on Mar 17, 2018

IGT is in charge of gambling policy in the U.S. This is just a set up move. They’re trying to increase sales and change policy if they can with legislators.

This small time investor in IGT and loyalist to that company wants to see proof of your allegations.  More like an opinion.

Soledad

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Mar 17, 2018

This small time investor in IGT and loyalist to that company wants to see proof of your allegations.  More like an opinion.

Hardly an allegation. That’s good you invest. But that’s an old company with stakes in many areas. Italy and China (keno) as I see it are their best bets at the moment. But the U.S. is so profitable they can’t just ignore it. They want online gambling completely legal. The only thing blocking them in the U.S. is the law, and good that it does. So they’re focus in U.S. has to be increasing retail at the moment as I understand it. Hence, set it up state to state. Grease the wheels. Do your research if it interests you. Brazil very similar. The facts are there. They are in charge of policy. But we also have systems in the U.S. , specific departments in government that are also in charge on a much bigger scale as it should be.

Soledad

My point is this, keep taxing the poor and making them believe that they can keep up with modern day wealth distribution. And how is this done? Increase the jackpots of course! Well how do you get the money for these astronomical jackpot figures? Ticket sales. Let’s not forget about the whopping taxes paid by the winners when they do win. Hmm, what do those taxes pay for? Well, a little bit of education, not as much as you think, and mostly prisons. Politicians at work here making the world a better place. It’s just business to them.

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