Lottery Giant Rolls Out $70m Tech Overhaul

The Lottery Corporation is launching a $70 million system upgrade to transform how Australians engage with Powerball and Keno. The company aims to deliver more personalised experiences, although the shift has also raised concerns about operational risks and data privacy. The new in-house platform will replace 5,300 lottery terminals across 3,700 retail locations and promises smarter customer interactions powered by machine learning.

The Lottery Corporation, which spun off from Tabcorp in 2021, manages $11.93 billion in lottery operations and serves nearly 10 million customers. The company is now relying on proprietary technology instead of external vendors and has developed its own software to better interpret player behaviour in real time. This approach reflects the personal touch that small-town retailers used to offer manually.

The upgraded system includes modern terminals with customer-facing screens, barcode scanners and improved ticket checkers. Hardware provided by a Nasdaq-listed tech company supports the infrastructure behind the new system. By learning user habits, the platform can make game suggestions such as Powerball QuickPicks when jackpot levels match those that previously drew customer interest.

This change could alter how gambling products are marketed, offering suggestions that feel more relevant and less generic. However, building this in-house also brings long-term questions about system upkeep, cybersecurity and the ability to adapt, especially as other sectors increasingly turn to ready-made external solutions.

Source: The Australian, The Lottery Corporation, Teradata