Swisslos Enjoys Success with Instant Scratch Game Printed by Pollard Banknote

WINNIPEG, May 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) is pleased to congratulate Swisslos, the Swiss lottery company that serves the German-speaking cantons, on the impressive sales results achieved with its instant game, Das Traum-Los (The Dream Ticket). Das Traum-Los, featuring Pollard Banknote's patented Spectrum Scratch FX^®, launched on January 6, 2016 and is significantly outselling previous versions of the game. After nine weeks, sales were an amazing 38% above that of the 2015 version. While this game typically stays in the market until December, Swisslos expects to be out of stock as early as August and has therefore requested a new order!

Every year since 2011, the two Swiss lotteries, Swisslos and Loterie Romande, have partnered to offer players this multijurisdictional game. While each lottery's game has a unique name and design, they both feature common elements such as the same play mechanics—which closely match bingo—and a shared prize structure (both developed by Loterie Romande).

Das Traum-Los, sold at the 25 Swiss franc price point (approximately $26 USD), is designed to reflect a theme of dreams and aspirations. The inside of the ticket includes images of an extravagant home, a motorboat, expensive jewelry, a dream vacation, and a luxury car. To maximize the play area and accommodate nine separate games, Das Traum-Los is a large 8" by 11" (20 cm by 28 cm) ticket that is folded in half for a unique card-style format.

The 2016 edition of Das Traum-Los marks the first time Swisslos has enhanced one of its instant tickets with Pollard Banknote's patented Spectrum Scratch FX^®—a print treatment that adds sparkle and shine for a visual appeal that exceeds that of foil and metallic inks. The front of this stunning ticket features shimmering holographic wording and design elements on a contrasting black background—offering a high-value, luxurious look that stands out at retail and attracts impulse buyers.

"Sales of our Das Traum-Los instant game have been growing slightly year-over-year, but the jump in sales this year is unprecedented," explained Rolf Kunz, Head of Marketing at Swisslos. "We like to change the ticket art each year and the change this year is very significant. We have been impressed with samples of instant tickets that feature Pollard Banknote's Spectrum Scratch FX^® treatment and decided that it would be a perfect addition to Das Traum-Los—giving it an elegant feel that reinforces the ticket's theme of dreams and luxury.As sales are proving, the result is a very attractive ticket that is being noticed at retail."

"Pollard Banknote is excited to see the exceptional sales performance of Swisslos' first Scratch FX^® instant game," said Michelle Annadale, Director, Sales & Marketing, Pollard Banknote. "Das Traum-Los is the latest in a long list of successful instant games that utilize our patented Scratch FX^® process. Swisslos' sales numbers match our expectations: on average, initial launches of Scratch FX^® games sell 40% higher than average games at the same price point. We look forward to working with Swisslos to add more of Pollard Banknote's print innovations to its instant game portfolio."

Swisslos was established on January 1, 2003 as a result of the merger of three lotteries. In 2014, Swisslos, across its multiple product lines, generated 389 million Swiss francs for charitable purposes. While 29 million CHF were allocated to national sports, the remaining 360 million Swiss francs were distributed to the lottery funds of the cantons, which used the money to fund charitable projects and institutions in the fields of culture, sports, environment, and social issues. Since its inception, Swisslos has generated 6 billion Swiss francs for charitable and non-profit purposes.

Loterie Romande, founded in 1937, serves Switzerland's French-speaking cantons. Loterie Romande distributes its profits to associations that support the social, cultural, educational, research, environmental, and sports aspects of the local community. In 2014, the Lottery's contributions to the community reached 209.9 million Swiss francs.

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: "Das Traum-Los (The Dream Ticket) Printed by Pollard Banknote (CNW Group/Pollard Banknote Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160504_C7395_PHOTO_EN_682340.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]