By Mike Boyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Lottery supplier Gtech Holdings Corp., is moving Interlott Technologies Inc.'s operations from Mason to Rhode Island, eliminating 130 jobs locally.

Gtech, which acquired Interlott for $85 million last year, said that after acquiring the maker of instant-ticket lottery machines in September, it decided it would be more efficient to move Interlott's operations to its headquarters in West Greenwich, R.I.

A spokeswoman said the company will offer relocation assistance to any of Interlott's 90 manufacturing employees willing to relocate to Rhode Island. Those that don't will be offered severance, she said.

The company says Interlott's sales and administrative staff will be offered severance and the opportunity to apply for jobs in Rhode Island.

About 80 Interlott sales representatives in the field won't be affected.

Gtech said the move will begin April 1 and be completed by September.

Gtech is the largest supplier of online gaming systems and services with revenues of $1 billion and 4,300 employees. Gtech was started in the late 1970s by a mathematician and a former computer analyst.

Interlott had record revenues a year ago of $52 million and profits of $3 million.

Interlott traces its roots to a patented dispenser that didn't tear tickets, developed by engineer Edmund Turek in 1987. It was named one of the top small companies in the United States in 2002 by Fortune magazine.

Gtech shares closed Friday at $55.61, down 22 cents.

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E-mail mboyer@enquirer.com