Pollard Banknote's Exclusive Frogger Instant Ticket Gets a Second Successful Life in Idaho

WINNIPEG, Aug. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) ("Pollard Banknote") is pleased to announce the successful second launch of the Idaho Lottery's $5 instant scratch game, Frogger. The Idaho Lottery is experiencing déjà vu, with this follow-up game's success rivaling that of the first launch. After five weeks on the market, Frogger's average weekly sales were 77% higher than the average sales of all other $5 games launched in Idaho since 2012!

The Lottery's second Frogger instant scratch game—launched on April 27, 2015—features refreshed ticket art and three unique ticket designs, each with a different set of obstacles. Similar to the Lottery's first Frogger game, Lottery fans can play a 'ribbiting' online version that mimics the original arcade video game published and licensed by Konami Digital Entertainment ("KONAMI"). For an added element of excitement and competitive fun, this time around the Frogger interactive game offers a leaderboard, allowing players to see where they rank among the top 20 scores. The players who are best at guiding the frog home safely and quickly are rewarded; the top three scorers each week win a Frogger prize pack! All non-winning Frogger instant scratch tickets may also be entered into a weekly draw for a chance to win $100.

Both of the Idaho Lottery's Frogger game launches have been supported by retail point-of-sale materials and television, radio, and digital advertising.

"Our first Frogger Scratch Game™ was the Idaho Lottery's top-selling $5 game of all time. Given the chance to add a second edition to bolster this year's fiscal year-end sales, we jumped at the opportunity," said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director.  "Frogger has a very broad reach. The brand's nostalgic appeal attracts existing players, particularly those among the Lottery's dedicated extended play fans. Frogger also engages a new, younger demographic who have been introduced to the brand more recently on home game consoles. Working collaboratively with Pollard Banknote, both Frogger games have boosted our sales and dividends to support our good causes in Idaho."

"The performance of Idaho Lottery's second Frogger game adds to the many North American success stories to date. It demonstrates that, with a powerful, well-recognized brand and some minor modifications to the ticket art and accompanying marketing and promotional program, a licensed instant game can maintain player excitement and engagement over time. The Frogger brand has proven its ability to perform exceptionally well throughout multiple launches—so other lotteries should consider this when looking for proven strategies," said Sina Aiello, Vice President, Marketing, Pollard Banknote.

The mission of the Idaho Lottery is to responsibly provide entertaining games with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividends for public schools and the State's permanent buildings. Since the Lottery's inception in 1989, it has sold over $2.95 billion in products and distributed more than $694.5 million in Lottery dividends to state public schools and buildings.

About KONAMI

KONAMI is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties and traditional trading card games. KONAMI's software titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, DanceDanceRevolution and Castlevania, among other top sellers. KONAMI is also the manufacturer of the wildly popular Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, which has sold more than 25 billion cards worldwide. The latest information about KONAMI can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. KONAMI CORPORATION is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiaries, Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in the United States and Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. in Windsor, the United Kingdom. Details of the products published by KONAMI can be found at www.konami.com.

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]