Scientific Games

Willy Franzen — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:49:41 +0000

The other day I read a fascinating article about a Canadian guy who figured out how to determine whether scratch-off lottery tickets would be winners… without scratching them off. He decided not to take advantage of his discovery, because he realized he made more money as a statistician then he would have made taking advantage of the flaw. When he tried to tell the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, they thought he was some crackpot and ignored him. Finally, he got their attention when he sent them 20 tickets with predictions of their outcomes—he was right on 19 out of 20 of them. The article mentioned the names of a few U.S. based companies that work in the scratch-off lottery games, and I instantly wondered whether they had any entry level jobs. One of those companies is Scientific Games, which is headquartered in New York, NY but appears to be operationally based in Alpharetta, GA. Lotteries in the U.S. are a $50 billion market, and Scientific Games is “the primary instant ticket provider for 8 of the top 10 U.S. lotteries.” It may not seem as though there is a lot of room for innovation in lottery games, but Scientific Games has consistently proved otherwise.

An Instant Career Winner

Now, we all (well, at least most of us) know that playing the lottery isn’t a sound alternative to a career, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t opportunities in the industry. Some people may think that running lottery games is as simple as picking numbers or printing tickets, but there’s actually a ton of science and research that goes into developing the games. You can learn more about the specifics by looking into Scientific Games’ three core businesses: Printed Products, Lottery Systems, and Diversified Gaming. Across these businesses the company offers products and services that include “instant ticket manufacturing, systems and services; lottery gaming systems and technology; licensed branded games; operations management services; video gaming management systems and terminals; server-based systems and gaming machines; and Amusement-With-Prize (AWP) and Skill-With-Prize (SWP) betting terminals.” If you love the action of a scratch-off ticket, then you need to take a look at Scientific Games’ Careers page (which does specifically mention entry level opportunities). Their job search function isn’t great, so I can’t link to specific jobs, but you should look out for the following positions: Junior Graphic Designer (Alpharetta, GA), Field Service Technician (Urbandale, IA and Colorado Springs, CO), Computer Operator (Pueblo, CO), and Sales Analyst/Product Manager (Little Rock, AR). The company is pretty large, so if you don’t see something that you like, look them up on LinkedIn and see what other positions they might have opening up in the future.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you play any scratch-off lottery games?

The Harmony Institute

Willy Franzen — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:39:26 +0000

Have you ever realized that you were being marketed to? I don’t mean watching tv and seeing an ad that makes you want to buy something. I mean getting a creepy feeling like somebody is watching you, but instead they’re getting inside your head to sell you on something. The beauty of marketing is that you usually don’t realize it’s happening, but when you do, it’s scary. You wouldn’t normally associate this kind of thing with a non-profit, but when I came across The Harmony Institute, I was both intrigued and freaked out. They’re a New York City based organization that uses “cutting-edge scientific research with film, television and new media experiences to help [their] clients deliver narratives that modify behavior and influence change.” Is it just me, or does that sound a little weird?

The Harmony Institute Will Change You

At first glance The Harmony Institute sounds like some creepy conspiracy theory gone non-profit, but when you think about it, it makes sense. The non-profit world is full of great causes that people don’t really believe in. Using science-based marketing techniques to influence the way people think is the only way to get buy in from the general public on big ideas like environmentalism, ending poverty, and improving education. By using entertainment to deliver well-crafted messages, The Harmony Institute can help other organizations achieve their causes. This is mainly based on using “unique methodology in researching and testing the impact of behavioral science on consumers of mass media storytelling.” If you’re intrigued by this, then you should check out Jobs at The Harmony Institute. They don’t have any full-time openings posted right now, but they say that they’re looking “for motivated, multi-disciplinary individuals who believe that social change can occur through new and engaging venues.” You can apply by sending a cover letter and résumé to info@harmony-institute.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think about The Harmony Institute?

One Day, One Job » behavioral science

Scientific Games

An Instant Career Winner

The Harmony Institute

The Harmony Institute Will Change You