D.C. Picks New Lottery Company -- Again
Intralot to take over lottery
Getty Images
The District has selected a new company to run its lucrative lottery system -- throwing out Leonard Manning and his GTECH company, which has run it since it started in 1983, sources told News4.
The city has picked Intralot -- a giant international firm. It's the same company that won the contract last year. But D.C. Council blocked that move because Intralot had controversial local minority partners who were close to D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty. The minority partners had owned the Club U on U Street, where there had been lots of violence, and were the subjects of other complaints.
Manning also had lots of political supporters -- Chairman Vincent Gray among them -- who forced the mayor to rebid.
This time Intralot, considered the best technically prepared firm, won without any minority partners (they're not required by law, but usually are a political help).
Once the award is announced later today, the new contract goes to the council for review. It is unclear what will happen, but the battle is back on.
Posted Friday, Oct 16, 2009 - 10:46 AM EST
