State awards lucrative lottery contract to highest bidder over protest

State officials awarded a lucrative contract Wednesday to operate the Maryland Lottery to the highest bidder, over the objections of the company that offered the state the lowest price.

The Board of Public Works voted 2-1 to award the contract to Scientific Games International Inc., which currently runs the lottery. Gov. Larry Hogan was joined by Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp in approving the recommendation of the State Lottery & Gaming Agency. Comptroller Peter Franchot dissented.

Scientific Games, of Alpharetta, Ga., made an offer valued at $263 million over 10 years. That was $50 million more than Gaming Innovations LLC of Lanham, which bid $212 million. A representative of Gaming Innovations protested the award to the board, but was turned down after lottery agency director Gordon Medenica told members that Scientific Games was the most technically qualified bidder.

A third company, IGT Global Solutions Corp. of Providence, R.I., finished second in both technical and financial scores, but did not contest the agency's decision after dropping a protest in January. Its offer was valued at $238 million.

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-lottery-contract-20170510-story.html