Mifal Hapayis Launches Pop-Up Scratch-Off Instant Ticket Innovation from Pollard Banknote

WINNIPEG, Jan. 21, 2015 /CNW/ – Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) is pleased to announce that Mifal Hapayis, Israel's national lottery, is the first lottery in the world to launch a Pop-Up Scratch-Off instant game, a Pollard Banknote innovation. Hanukkah, named for the Jewish Festival of Lights, launched in early December at the 10 Israeli New Shekels (NIS) price point (approximately $2.55 USD). The ticket is printed on foil stock and features an image of a brightly lit menorah, giving it a festive feel that conveys the message, "Happy Hanukkah."

Pollard Banknote's Pop-Up Scratch-Off adds an exciting new feature to a standard two-dimensional instant ticket. With its unique use of die-cutting and scoring processes, one simple fold transforms a conventional scratch ticket into a pop-up place card. Hanukkah Pop-Up Scratch-Off instant tickets are great for welcoming family and friends to Hanukkah dinner—and treating guests with an entertaining chance to win up to 10,000 NIS!

"Hanukkah is a perfect tie-in for Pollard Banknote's Pop-Up Scratch-Off product," said Nancy Bettcher, Vice President, Product Innovation & Development, Pollard Banknote. "Pop-Up Scratch-Off tickets placed around a dinner table add a fun, exciting element to any celebration or gathering. This product is among Pollard Banknote's growing range of innovative offerings that help lotteries raise revenues to support good causes."

"Since 2002, Pollard Banknote has contributed insight, knowledge, and experience to bring new instant ticket concepts to Israel's lottery players, with the Hanukkah ticket being the most recent one," commented Avi Levy, Mifal Hapayis' Instant Tickets Marketing Director. "The Hanukkah instant ticket complements a great Hanukkah meal and wonderful company. Everyone likes to receive money as a gift, and with this new game, some dinner guests will be pleasantly surprised with a winning card. This new concept has piqued players' interest and retail sales have been impressive. This game's four-week average sales are 11% higher than other 10 NIS games."

Mifal Hapayis was founded in 1951 as a revenue source for healthcare initiatives. Today, the Lottery supports various good causes, including education, health, social services, community sports, culture, the environment, and the arts. In total, Mifal Hapayis has raised over 23 billion NIS to support Israeli good causes. 

About Pollard Banknote

Pollard Banknote is a leading lottery partner to more than 50 lotteries worldwide, providing high quality instant ticket products, licensed games, and strategic marketing and management services for both traditional instant games and the emerging iLottery space of web, mobile, and social channels. The company is a proven innovator and has decades of experience helping lotteries to maximize player engagement, sales, and proceeds for good causes. Pollard Banknote also plays a major role in the charitable pull-tab and bingo markets in North America. Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is owned approximately 73.5% by the Pollard family and 26.5% by public shareholders and is publicly traded on the TSX (PBL). For more information, please visit our website at www.pollardbanknote.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking" statements and information, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this document, such statements include such words as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "plan," and other similar terminology. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this document. There should not be an expectation that such information will in all circumstances be updated, supplemented, or revised whether as a result of new information, changing circumstances, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Pollard Banknote Limited

Image with caption: "Mifal Hapayis’ Pop-Up Scratch-Off game (CNW Group/Pollard Banknote Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150121_C5497_PHOTO_EN_10419.jpg

Image with caption: "Innovative Instant Ticket by Pollard Banknote (CNW Group/Pollard Banknote Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150121_C5497_PHOTO_EN_10420.jpg

Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; John Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; Rob Rose, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]