Topeka ? Recent computer blunders in the Kansas Lottery Pick 3 game could cost international gaming giant Gtech a contract to run the games at the four state-owned casinos.

The firm manages state lottery and casino data systems for gambling jurisdictions worldwide, including Kansas. In April, the firm was tentatively awarded the state’s casino data systems contract.

But Ed Van Petten, Lottery executive director, said that final contract negotiations with Gtech were now at a standstill until the issue is resolved.

“It was defective software, pure and simple,” Van Petten said Wednesday. “If they can’t address software issues in the Lottery system, how do we know they’re going to be able to operate a gaming system.”

Van Petten said the data systems contract would cover software for the Lottery’s central monitoring system for all casino games. He said there’s no deadline for signing a contract.

“I’m not moving forward until I’m satisfied. There is too much at stake for the state to move forward with a knee-jerk reaction,” Van Petten said.

Gtech spokesman Bob Vincent acknowledged the casino contract issue.

“We believe we will shortly resolve these issues that have come up with Pick 3,” he said.

“We are very confident we can do that to the satisfaction of the Lottery and renew our discussions with the Lottery about the gaming contract,” Vincent said.

A law enacted last year allows for state-owned and operated resort casinos in Cherokee, Ford, Sumner and Wyandotte counties to be managed by casinos companies. The Lottery would own the games.

As for the Pick 3 problem, “it was a software glitch that happened,” Vincent said. “It should have been caught, and it shouldn’t have happened.”

Lottery officials last week disclosed that Gtech’s systems reported the wrong winning numbers in the state’s daily Pick 3 drawings on June 29, June 30 and July 1. Officials feared many genuine winning tickets were discarded before the errors were discovered July 2.

Since then, Van Petten said only seven of the 169 rightful winners had claimed their share of $23,740 in prizes that should have been awarded.