Operator News
Poland – Totalizator Sportowy generates record revenues and pays out record amount to good causes
By Phil - 9 March 2021
For the second year in a row, Totalizator Sportowy has donated a record-amount to good causes with over PLN1bn donated to sport and culture in 2020 and a record PLN1.18bn in gaming tax following record sales of PLN16.48bn.
Olgierd Cieślik, Chairman of the Board, said: “2020 has changed not only the face of the business world, but also all other spheres of life. Throughout its 65-year history, Totalizator Sportowy has never forgotten that it was established as an important partner for society. We started our activity by supporting Polish sport, then our tasks also included financing of national culture and other areas of life. We were also not indifferent to the challenges of the present times, supporting the fight against COVID-19 and its effects.”
Totalizator brought in several new products and opened 350 new slot arcades, making it Poland’s largest slot arcade operator with a total of 520. In January, a new game called Szyb 600 appeared at LOTTO points, as well as being available at lotto.pl., itself a new website where players using the mobile application are able to log in using a face image and fingerprint.
Last year was also important for customers of the only legal online casino in Poland, i.e. Total Casino. A live casino was introduced in April 2020 with more payment methods, a refreshed website and a mobile application, as well as dozens of games, including those from new providers.
Mr. Cieślik added: “A very important achievement last year was the selection of a new lottery platform provider, the implementation of which is currently underway, and the first phase will end in December 2021. The effect of this change will be a technological leap that will prepare the company for the future challenges and the changing needs of players. However, the approach of Totalizator Sportowy to the safety of the offered products will not change. This is confirmed by the Responsible Gaming certificate awarded in 2020, which for the first time covers not only the physical network of LOTTO points, but also the network of slot machine arcades and the e-commerce segment.
“Let us also recall the launch of the ffVC Tech and Gaming fund. The fund was established on the initiative of Totalizator Sportowy and the managing partners of the American ffVC fund from New York with the support of PFR Ventures and the National Center for Research and Development. The goal is to invest up to PLN 100 million in startups from the gaming, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, drones, robotics, enterprise software, RegTech or FinTech industries,” he added.
“Summing up the past year, one should also mention the Służewiec Horse Racing Track, which successfully opened and conducted the racing season. Importantly, horse racing started as the first sport discipline after the spring lockdown. In the 2020 season, 51 meetings were organised, and 459 races for thoroughbred English horses, Arabian horses, French trotters and half-bred horses. At the turn of August and September, Tor Służewiec also became the arena of struggles for the best Polish competitors in four equestrian competitions as part of Warsaw Jumpin,” he added.
The year 2021 is an exceptional time in the history of Totalizator Sportowy as the company celebrates its 65th anniversary. In December 2020, the sports world was informed that Robert Lewandowski, one of the best footballers in the world, became the Ambassador of the 65th anniversary of Totalizator Sportowy. The motto of the celebrations is #WielkieChwile. The LOTTO brand also has its Ambassador. Last year it was Andrzej Bargiel. It is thanks to this cooperation that the #LOTTOBargielChallenge project was created.
