More trouble emerges for the Arkansas Lottery Commission

The Arkansas Lottery Commission once again finds itself in the center of controversy, according to a report filed by Roby Brock at TalkBusiness,net.

Today, at the conclusion of the bidding receipt process, only one vendor, Intralot, submitted a bid for the state’s business. Intralot is the vendor contracted with the South Carolina lottery — the most recent employer of Ernie Passailaigue, the new director of Arkansas’ lottery program.

The "online" contract bid received today includes deployment of the hardware and software to run the lottery network; a communications system that involves satellite, telephone and Internet capabilities; operations and training for retailers; and a way to validate tickets and pay prizes.

There are three major lottery vendors that normally vie for the lucrative contracts, but two chose to refrain from participation. One of those firms, Scientific Games International, sent a letter to the commission stating its intention to not submit a bid.

Another firm, G-Tech, sent a letter outlining several problems with the bidding process and asking the commission to readjust its bidding process.

House Speaker Robbie Wills wasn’t pleased to obtain just one bid.

"I’m disappointed that only one provider responded to the Request for Proposal. We’d been told to expect three bids and a very competitive process. Competition is a good thing. It’s troubling that two out of the top three lottery vendors declined to submit a bid and I hope to learn why,” Wills told TalkBusiness.net.

Link here for the full report, including a link to the copy of the G-Tech letter.