NBA and Scientific Games Bring Basketball Excitement to Lottery Tickets

By Jessica Whitehouse,
Editor at online-gambling.com

Jessica Whitehouse Editor at online-gambling.com

Jessica Whitehouse is a content expert and editor from Santa Monica, California. At online-gambling.com, she focuses on roulette, blackjack reviews, lottery, and casino payments. Whitehouse is also our leading go-to expert in online gambling in South Africa. In addition, she provides the photo materials for most articles on the site.

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Last updated: January 3, 2025

Scientific Games has made a significant stride in expanding its portfolio of licensed properties by introducing NBA-themed instant scratch games to US lotteries. This multi-year partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) offers fans and lottery players a unique opportunity to engage with their favorite sport through a customized gaming experience.

A Winning Combination: NBA and Scientific Games

The collaboration is designed to incorporate unique features such as second-chance promotions and experiential prizes. State lotteries will also be able to create team-specific games in partnership with local NBA teams.

Tina Hoover, VP of licensing at Scientific Games, said the following:

“We are excited to welcome the NBA back into the lottery category. The NBA has a loyal and passionate fanbase, which makes the brand perfect for lottery games that appeal to players in communities across a state. Each game can be customized to a lottery’s home market. Best of all, sales from the games will benefit the lottery’s good cause programs in those same communities.”

Massachusetts Lottery Leads the Way

The Massachusetts Lottery, a global leader in instant scratch game sales, was the first to debut an NBA-themed game under the new agreement. On November 19, they launched a Boston Celtics-branded ticket celebrating the franchise’s championship legacy.

Mark William Bracken, Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the Celtic’s ironic status and the opportunity to offer fans a chance to win big and experience unique prizes.

It was also good news considering the launch of the state’s iLottery platform is now scheduled for around the end of 2026.

A New Era of Innovation for Scientific Games

Scientific Games has a proven track record of innovation in the lottery sector. In fiscal year 2024, the company’s licensed branded games generated $2.6 billion in retail sales across North America. Adding NBA-themed scratch tickets further solidifies its leadership in providing engaging and profitable gaming solutions to lotteries.

Its expertise spans retail and digital games, advanced technologies, and analytics. The company currently serves 150 lotteries in 50 countries, making it the world’s largest lottery game provider.

Launching the NBA-branded tickets follows a strategic reorganization within the company. The company announced several executive hires in October to strengthen its innovation and digital expansion efforts. Key appointments included Matt Lynch as President of Digital, Steve Beason as Chief Innovation Officer, and Patrick Homm as Vice President of Systems Engineering.

Benefits for Players and Communities

The new scratch games are designed to benefit both players and local communities. Lotteries are expected to reinvest proceeds into public programs, aligning with their mission to support good causes. As Tina Hoover noted, the sales from these games will directly benefit the lottery’s good cause programs in local communities.

Beyond the initial excitement of the NBA partnership, Scientific Games is poised to explore further opportunities in the sports betting and iGaming sectors. The company’s strong partnerships and technological capabilities position it well to capitalize on the growing demand for digital gaming experiences. By leveraging its extensive experience in the lottery industry, Scientific Games aims to become a major player in the evolving landscape of sports betting and iGaming.

As the industry evolves, Scientific Games remains committed to innovation and delivering engaging gaming experiences to its customers. The company’s strategic focus on digital expansion and partnerships with iconic brands like the NBA positions it for long-term success in the global gaming market.