Lansing, MI July 9, 2007 - After a three-month introductory program, the Michigan Lottery's Big Money Bingo game is being restructured to address concerns voiced by the state's non-profit community.  Beginning July 16, the following changes for Big Money Bingo, which is regulated by the Lottery's Charitable Gaming Division, will be in effect:

• The minimum starting jackpot for Big Money Bingo will increase from $5,000 to $10,000.
   

• Charities will be able to run more than one progressive bingo game per session.  This relieves charities from having to choose between Big Money Bingo and their own in-house progressive game and provides players greater variety.  It should be noted, however, that if a charity elects to run more than one progressive game, one must be Big Money Bingo.
   

• The commission that charities receive from Big Money Bingo will increase from 36.5 percent to 46.5 percent.  The new rate compares favorably with that of traditional Bingo games and will provide charities with more funding for their worthwhile causes.

The Charitable Gaming Division expects the changes will encourage more halls and charities to participate in Big Money Bingo, which will result in bigger jackpots and increased popularity of the game.

Big Money Bingo has proven popular with bingo players and is played at hundreds of locations throughout the state.  In the 14 weeks since its debut, sales have exceeded $1 million, with players winning six jackpots ranging from $50,826 to $215,696.

Big Money Bingo, developed by Scientific Games (NASDAQ: SGMS), is a linked progressive bingo game that is available at select charitable bingo locations throughout the state.  The Big Money Bingo jackpot starts at $10,000 and grows each day until it is won.  The progressive draw begins with 49 balls drawn and if not won, the number of balls drawn increases by one each week.  For more information, or to find a participating Big Money Bingo game, visit www.michigan.gov/cg or www.bingobonuszone.com.

In 2006, over $74 million raised through charitable gaming activities was used to support community projects and programs such as, schools, libraries, scholarships, school athletic programs, fire departments, youth camps, crisis centers, disabled citizens, medical research, senior citizen programs, soup kitchens, and many more.  Without the funding derived from charitable gaming, many of these invaluable community projects would not exist.

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