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Scientific Games

Scientific Games

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Scientific Games is a company dedicated to lottery products, technology, and services. It has been one of the major global names in lottery since its founding in 1974. The company has a presence across 50 countries and offices in many key locations throughout North America. 

Established: 1973

Headquarters: 1500 Bluegrass Lakes Parkway, Alpharetta, GA, U.S.

About Scientific Games

Scientific Games is one of the pioneers in the lottery industry. The company is credited with launching the world’s first secure, computer-generated instant lottery game in 1974. Other major milestones in its rich history include:

  • 1973: Founded as a technology pioneer for the lottery industry.
  • 2000: Acquired by Autotote Corp., which eventually rebranded the whole company under the Scientific Games’ name.
  • 2014: Acquired Bally Technologies
  • 2022: Underwent a massive transformation, where the lottery division was sold to Brookfield Business Partners for $6 billion, operating as a standalone private company under the name of Scientific Games. The remaining gaming and iGaming divisions were rebranded as Light & Wonder.
  • 2024: Opened a new 92,000-square-foot National Logistics Centre in the UK to support the net-zero goals of The National Lottery.
  • 2025–2026: Expansion into “Linked Games,” which combine physical lottery tickets with experiential prizes and digital second-chance opportunities.

Scientific Games remains the world’s largest creator and producer of instant “scratch-off” games, managing roughly 70% of global instant game retail sales.

Major Product Verticals

Scientific Games specializes in end-to-end lottery solutions in the following categories:

CategoryFeature
Instant Games (Scratch-offs)These represent the company’s flagship product, featuring advanced printing technologies like the holographic line called Obsidian™
iLotteryDigital platforms that enable online sales for government-sponsored lotteries
Lottery SystemsHighly secure backend technology and retail terminals that process billions of lottery transactions annually
Licensed BrandsA portfolio of over 100 world-renowned brands, like Monopoly or The Price is Right, used to create themed lottery content
Sports BettingIntegrates with digital sports betting platforms, lottery central gaming systems, land-based retail systems, and responsible gambling tools

Senior Executives & Leadership

The Scientific Games leadership team is comprised of lottery industry veterans and helmed by the CEO, Patrick McHugh. Other notable leadership roles include:

  • John Schulz: President, Americas & Global Instant Products
  • Michael Conforti: President, International
  • Matt Lynch: President, Digital
  • Beth Bresnahan: Chief Communications & Brand Officer
  • Nick Negro: Chief Financial Officer
  • James D. Schultz: Executive Vice President, Global Legal & Public Policy
  • Christine Wechsler: Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
  • Stephen Richardson: Chief Administrative & Compliance Officer
  • Samanda Drewry: Vice President, Regulatory Compliance & Licensing
  • Walt Eisele: Chief Technology Officer
  • Bryan Murphy: Vice President, US Operations
  • Carrie Galvin: Chief Transformation & Strategy Officer

Awards & Recognition

Scientific Games is frequently lauded for its technological innovation and commitment to sustainable operations. The company is the recipient of numerous industry awards, and some of the latest accolades include:

  • 2025 International Business Awards: Gold Award — “Sustainable Supply Chain” (Scientific Games National Logistics Centre for UK Scratchcards)
  • 2025 American Business Awards: Gold Award — “Operations Management Solutions” (SCiQ retail technology)
  • 2024 SBC Awards North America: Shortlist — “Lottery Supplier of the Year”
  • Communitas Awards (2024): Recognized for “Green Initiatives” and environmental stewardship in manufacturing

In the Media

Thanks to its position as one of the industry’s leaders, Scientific Games is prominent in numerous media outlets covering iGaming and lottery news. Here are some of the latest Gambling Insider articles about Scientific Games: 

Social Media

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Scientific Games?

A: Scientific Games is one of the leading global providers of lottery games and related technology and services. It focuses exclusively on supporting government-sponsored lottery programs.

Q: What is the relationship between Scientific Games and Light & Wonder?

A: These two entities used to be one company, but not anymore. After the 2022 divestment, the brand name Scientific Games now refers strictly to the lottery business owned by Brookfield Business Partners. Light & Wonder, as a separate company, consists of the remaining gaming and social divisions of the former Scientific Games Corporation under new branding.

Q: Does Scientific Games make slot machines?

A: Not anymore. The company used to make slot games and machines before the 2022 sale. The divisions focused on casino products were rebranded as Light & Wonder after the divestment. Today, Scientific Games focuses exclusively on lottery products, such as scratch-offs and iLottery systems.

Q: Who owns Scientific Games?

A: Scientific Games is privately owned by Brookfield Business Partners, a global business services and industrial operations company. It acquired the lottery division and the brand name of Scientific Games in April 2022. 

Q: Who is the CEO of Scientific Games?

A: The CEO of Scientific Games is Patrick McHugh. He joined the company in 2004 and guided the sale of the lottery division to Brookfield Business Partners in 2022. 

References

  1. Research Update: Scientific Games Holdings L.P. Downgraded To ‘B-‘ On Slower Debt Repayment; Outlook Stable (S&P Global)