Scientific Games Corporation has launched instant-game purchases in the checkout line with its SCiQ InLane technology. Through a recent partnership with the Kentucky Lottery, Kroger and Blackhawk Network, shoppers at Lexington, Kentucky-area Kroger stores can now purchase scratch games in the checkout lanes. The long-term initiative with SCiQ InLane will also expand to other Kroger markets.
In ongoing efforts to modernize the lottery retail experience at grocery stores and big-box retailers and help drive maximum proceeds for lottery beneficiary programs, Scientific Games has partnered with Kroger, the largest grocery retailer in the U.S., and Blackhawk Network, a branded payment program that helps extend reach, build loyalty and increase revenue.
“As the first state chosen to test this new system, we’re looking forward to seeing how it performs in the marketplace,” said Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville. The Kentucky Lottery is one of the Top 20 lotteries in the world for instant-game per-capita sales.
SCiQ InLane is the first solution that securely integrates with the retailer’s point-of-sale system to sell lottery instant games via technology from payments partner Blackhawk Network. The technology features automated instant-game dispensing under the retail checkout counter with a menu display of the games on sale. The system provides real time data analytics to the retailer and the lottery.
“Consumer data is a critical element to better serve our customers. SCiQ provides us with the data needed to better serve our lottery players,” said Jarrod Cummins, Director of Prepaid Services for Kroger, the largest of the Kentucky Lottery’s grocery-store partners.
SCiQ InLane is an intelligent system that automatically tracks every unit of instant product sold in real-time. This level of category management, previously not available to retailers, allows greater visibility into sales performance and available inventory. SCiQ also automates the retailer’s shift accounting reconciliation process, and significantly reduces labor costs.
“Blackhawk is committed to bringing greater convenience to new and existing consumers purchasing instant lottery games,” said Richard Gotlieb, Vice President of Lottery and Sports Betting at Blackhawk Network.
“Partnering with Scientific Games, Kroger and the Kentucky Lottery to support this innovative in-lane solution is yet another option that enables our retail partners to drive incremental sales and offer greater convenience to their customers.”
Blackhawk is a global financial technology company and a leader in payment technologies and solutions. Through this partnership, Blackhawk will further enable the delivery of a more convenient lottery experience at retail, and more important, open untapped opportunities for the Kentucky Lottery and Kroger to engage consumers.
Currently, instant games are a nearly $60 billion consumer-product category in the U.S., with grocery stores representing approximately $11 billion (18.5%) of total instant-game retail sales.
