Aristocrat Interactive Becomes Sole iLottery Provider for Michigan After 12-Year NeoPollard Era Ends

Aristocrat Interactive successfully launched a comprehensive iLottery solution for the Michigan Lottery on July 17, 2026, replacing the NeoPollard Interactive joint venture that had operated the programme since its inception in 2014. The transition makes Aristocrat Interactive the sole technology and services provider for one of the United States' longest-running and highest-performing state iLottery programmes, under a six-year contract that runs through July 2032 with options for six additional one-year extensions.

Updated July 2026

• Launch date: July 17, 2026
• Contract: Six years through July 2032, with six additional one-year extension options
• Platform components: NeoSphere (player account management), NeoDraw (draw games), NeoCube (business intelligence), NeoEngage (customer experience)
• New website and mobile apps built in partnership with Gambyt
• Michigan iLottery was first launched in 2014, making it one of the oldest in the US
• Previous provider: NeoPollard Interactive (NPi), a joint venture of Pollard Banknote and NeoGames
• NeoGames was acquired by Aristocrat Interactive in 2024, making this transition a consolidation of previously acquired technology
• Michigan ranks among the top five US states for iLottery gross sales per capita
• Aristocrat Interactive opened a dedicated Lansing, Michigan office with more than 60 specialists to support the contract
• Aristocrat Interactive also holds the iLottery contract for Massachusetts, signed in August 2025

How Michigan's iLottery Programme Reached This Point

Michigan was among the earliest US states to launch a regulated internet lottery. The programme went live in 2014 under the technology of NeoPollard Interactive, a joint venture formed by two established lottery industry players: Pollard Banknote, a Canadian lottery product manufacturer, and NeoGames, an Israel-based iLottery technology company that had become one of the sector's leading platform suppliers.

That arrangement ran for 12 years and helped Michigan build one of the US's most mature iLottery ecosystems. The state consistently ranks among the top five US jurisdictions for iLottery gross sales per capita, a measure of how much players spend on digital lottery products relative to the state's population. Michigan's combination of an early start, broad product range, and strong marketing has made it a benchmark market that other states have studied when designing their own programmes.

The transition to Aristocrat Interactive as sole provider was made possible by a corporate event in 2024: Aristocrat, the Australian gaming machine manufacturer and digital gaming company, acquired NeoGames, absorbing its technology, contracts, and teams into a new division it branded Aristocrat Interactive. That acquisition made Aristocrat Interactive effectively the successor entity to NeoGames, including its role in the NeoPollard Interactive joint venture with Pollard Banknote.

When the NeoPollard arrangement reached its contractual term, the Michigan Lottery moved to consolidate under a direct agreement with Aristocrat Interactive rather than renewing the joint venture structure. The result is a cleaner, single-supplier relationship backed by Aristocrat's global resources and Lansing-based operational support.

What the New Platform Delivers

The Aristocrat Interactive system deployed in Michigan integrates four core technology components that together cover the full player lifecycle from account creation to game delivery to business analytics.

NeoSphere handles player account management, the regulatory and operational backbone that governs how players register, verify their identity, deposit funds, manage responsible gambling settings, and withdraw winnings. NeoSphere is Aristocrat Interactive's primary PAM platform for iLottery clients and is built to meet the compliance standards of US state lottery regulations.

NeoDraw manages draw-based games, the Powerball, Mega Millions, and in-state draw game variants that form the highest-revenue product category for most lotteries. NeoCube provides business intelligence and data analytics tools, giving Michigan Lottery operators a real-time view of player activity, game performance, and market trends. NeoEngage covers the customer experience layer, including promotions, player communications, and engagement mechanics designed to improve player retention and spending.

Alongside the core platform, Aristocrat partnered with Gambyt to build a rebuilt website and native mobile apps for iOS and Android. The digital frontend is the surface that players interact with, and the partnership with a specialist app developer reflects the growing importance of user experience design in differentiating iLottery products in a market where players have increasingly sophisticated expectations shaped by commercial gaming apps.

Aristocrat Interactive also expanded its physical footprint in Michigan to support the contract, opening a Lansing office and hiring more than 60 dedicated local specialists. That level of in-state investment goes beyond what most technology contracts require and signals that Aristocrat views Michigan as a reference account for future US iLottery pitches.

Michigan's iLottery in Context

Michigan iLottery is among the more successful US state digital lottery programmes measured by penetration and per capita spend. The state legalised and launched its online lottery in 2014 at a time when only a handful of US states had done so, and that early-mover advantage allowed Michigan to build a player base and refine its product offering while competitors were still navigating legislation.

Michigan is also notable for running one of the most permissive digital gambling environments in the United States. The state regulated online casino gaming and sports betting alongside its iLottery programme, meaning Michigan players can access a broader range of legal digital gambling products than residents of most other states. That competitive environment has pushed Michigan Lottery to continually upgrade its platform to remain relevant against commercial casino and sports betting operators who are not subject to the same constraints on game design or promotional activity that lotteries face.

The Aristocrat Interactive contract is the latest step in that ongoing platform investment. Chris Shaban, Managing Director of Aristocrat Interactive iLottery, described the deployment as providing Michigan Lottery with "the tools to further their position as a trailblazer in iLottery" and emphasised the responsible gaming foundations built into the new system.

Aristocrat Interactive's Growing US iLottery Portfolio

Michigan is not the only major US lottery contract Aristocrat Interactive has secured in recent years. In August 2025, the company was selected by Massachusetts to supply its iLottery platform, adding another large-market state to its portfolio. Massachusetts, with a population of approximately 7 million, is one of the highest-revenue lottery markets in the US and had been operating its iLottery through a separate supplier before selecting Aristocrat Interactive.

The combination of Michigan and Massachusetts gives Aristocrat Interactive two of the highest-profile US iLottery contracts outside New Hampshire, which launched the US's first modern iLottery in 2018. As more US states consider regulated iLottery programmes, whether as dedicated lottery extensions or as broader online gaming legalisation, Aristocrat's demonstrated capacity to build and operate these systems at scale for major states positions it competitively for future procurements.

Comparison of Major US iLottery Programmes

State	Launch Year	Current Platform Provider	Online Casino Regulated
Michigan	2014	Aristocrat Interactive (from July 2026)	Yes
Pennsylvania	2018	Scientific Games (now Light and Wonder)	Yes
New Hampshire	2018	NeoPollard Interactive	No
New Jersey	2021	Scientific Games (now Light and Wonder)	Yes
Massachusetts	2022	Aristocrat Interactive (from Aug 2025)	No

"The successful launch of our full iLottery solution in Michigan marks a significant milestone. We are providing the Michigan Lottery with the tools to further their position as a trailblazer in iLottery, all while maintaining a responsible gaming environment." - Chris Shaban, Managing Director, Aristocrat Interactive iLottery

Frequently Asked Questions

Who runs Michigan's online lottery in 2026?

As of July 17, 2026, Aristocrat Interactive is the sole technology and services provider for Michigan's iLottery programme under a six-year contract through July 2032. Previously, the programme was operated by NeoPollard Interactive, a joint venture between Pollard Banknote and NeoGames, which Aristocrat acquired in 2024.

What is NeoSphere and how does it work?

NeoSphere is Aristocrat Interactive's player account management platform. It handles player registration, identity verification, deposits, withdrawals, and responsible gambling tools for iLottery programmes. It is the core backend system Michigan Lottery now uses to manage its online player base.

How long has Michigan had an online lottery?

Michigan launched its iLottery programme in 2014, making it one of the first US states to regulate and operate internet-based lottery games. The programme has run continuously since then and is one of the highest-performing in the United States on a per capita basis.

Is Michigan iLottery the same as Michigan online casino?

No. Michigan iLottery is operated by the Michigan Lottery, a state government entity. Online casino gaming in Michigan is separately regulated and offered by commercial operators licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Michigan is one of a small number of US states that has legalised both iLottery and online casino.

What other US states use Aristocrat Interactive for iLottery?

Massachusetts selected Aristocrat Interactive as its iLottery platform provider in August 2025. Michigan is the company's other major US contract, making it one of the two largest iLottery programmes in the country by population.