SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Gaming Board is once again accepting bids for contractors to provide the central computer system that will manage the state's operator-run video lottery market. Deadline for submissions is Dec. 1; the evaluation and award process could take a month or longer.
This is the second round of bidding for the lucrative contract. Last August, IGB originally announced that Scientific Games Corp. had won the initial bid, reportedly with an offer of $89 million
A month later, IGB reversed itself and withdrew the award, saying mistakes and misunderstandings had flawed the original process. [see story]
Crain's Chicago Business said the rebidding process has imposed a "considerable delay" on the launch of the Illinois VLT market. Experts estimate Illinois will not be able to begin operating VLTs until the third quarter of 2011.
The central VLT computer is expected to control a $300 million annual market that could comprise 60,000 VLTs in some 10,000 taverns, truckstops and fraternal organizations, among other locations that are licensed to serve alcohol for on-premise consumption.
Scientific Games said it would rebid for the contract, as will a Greek company called Intralot S.A., among other possible contenders. Intralot lost the first round last August; its protest over mistakes by IGB led to the cancellation of the first contract.
