My impression was that posters were saying IGT was somehow going to be funding this. Whether EGMI is providing cards or money, it will pay its share, I still have to assume.
Concerning the statement from the PR you quoted, “Under the terms of the Strategic Partnership, EGC will provide the China LotSynergy Electronic Lottery GameCards for initial sales and marketing efforts.” Earlier the PR says, “The companies will conduct initial trials during the next few months in China to ensure optimum offering for the market.”
Do “initial sales and marketing efforts” equal “initial trials”? I don’t know. Maybe the point of the statement you quoted is that EGMI will be providing the cards in the initial stages of the actual roll-out of the product and then later CLS or the JV will do the manufacturing. I don’t know.
But maybe it’s not even worth speculating who pays, because possibly the trials won’t cost very much. Or possibly the major cost of a trial will be the cards themselves. Who knows?
Anyway, I’m glad I brought it up. Your responses have given me a little more clarity on the possibilities although I still don't have much clarity on the facts.
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As for, “In addition to the Lottery GameCards, EGC and CLS will also cooperate in markets involving royalty credit and gift projects.” I assume they left out commas and it should be “royalty, credit, and gift projects.” It may mean there will be other programs that will be based on a royalty or license-type arrangement. Also other uses of the cards entirely such as gift cards like we have here for shopping but with some added functionality which allows people to win something. Could also mean promotions, as you suggest. Or….
