Pollard Banknote Spreading PAC-MAN™ Fever with Branded Instant Scratch Games

WINNIPEG, July 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) ("Pollard Banknote"), a leading lottery partner that provides instant tickets, interactive solutions, and marketing support, is pleased to announce the addition of BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc.'s classic video arcade game—PAC-MAN™—to its portfolio of licensed products. Now, instead of inserting a coin into a machine, instant ticket players can use their quarters to scratch and win cash and authentic PAC-MAN™ merchandise!

Classic video games represent a tried-and-true theme in the lottery product category. PAC-MAN™, with its cute main character that wanders through a maze while gobbling dots and avoiding colorful ghosts, is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. PAC-MAN™'s powerful graphics, combined with play styles that stay true to the original game play mechanics, will translate easily into the instant ticket lottery category.

In over 30 years, the popularity of PAC-MAN™ has not waned. It was an instant hit when it first hit the scene in 1980 and by the end of the 1990s, an estimated 10 billion quarters had been used to play PAC-MAN™, making it the highest grossing video game and, according to Guinness World Records™, the most successful coin-operated game to date. Today the brand boasts an incredible 94% brand awareness in the U.S., and is gaining momentum among younger audiences, demonstrated by its more than 7.9 million Facebook fans. PAC-MAN™'s influence has reached beyond video games, immersing popular culture with a wide range of licensed products. Lotteries offering a PAC-MAN™ instant game can leverage this high brand recognition and enhance player interest with spectacular merchandise prizing.

"PAC-MAN™ is a welcome addition to Pollard Banknote's growing portfolio of properties aimed at targeting nostalgic players with established, yet still-relevant game concepts, while also engaging the younger demographic who have been introduced to these brands more recently," said Sina Aiello, Vice President, Marketing, Pollard Banknote. "PAC-MAN™ instant tickets—with retro flair and bold graphics that mimic the video game—will cut through the maze of retail clutter and bring in revenue for lotteries and the good causes they support."

The PAC-MAN™ brand makes a perfect tie-in for instant games. Lotteries can maximize player engagement by extending instant ticket play with interactive components, giving players additional chances to win or the opportunity to compete in an interactive game and try to climb to the top of the leaderboard. In addition, boundless promotional opportunities can help lotteries stir up "PAC-MAN™ mania."

Pollard Banknote offers turnkey integrated marketing programs with all of its licensed brands. This marketing support is customized to every client and includes many elements, such as web-based interactive gaming, second chance drawings, digital and social media campaigns, and POS support.

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

Sina Aiello
Vice President, Marketing
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]