Pollard Banknote’s First Ticket With The North Carolina Education Lottery A Huge Success

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, April 23, 2013 /CNW/ – Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) (Pollard Banknote) is pleased to announce the outstanding success of its first-ever ticket for the North Carolina Education Lottery (“NCEL”). Holiday Millions was not only the Lottery’s first ticket produced by Pollard Banknote, but also its first $20 holiday theme game offering, which proved to be valuable in engaging new players at a higher price point.

The success of Holiday Millions was particularly evident through the Lottery’s Players Club, the Lucke-Zone, which tracked the first ticket a new member entered between December 1, 2012 and January 31, 2013. During that time, approximately 8,400 new members joined the Players Club and 44% of those entered Holiday Millions to start their relationship with the Lottery. Holiday Millions also achieved an above average 25% response rate in its second chance draw, making it one of the most successful tickets for second chance entry.

Holiday Millions featured Pollard Banknote’s Spectrum Scratch FX®, an enhancement to the company’s exclusive Scratch FX® process. This advancement mimics the look of colored foil and allows for more elaborate graphic designs to be brought to life. The eye-catching look is a value-adding feature that allows holiday theme games to provide an added sparkle to the season. 

“We are delighted with how well the Holiday Millions ticket was received by the North Carolina Education Lottery’s players,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer. “The staff at the NCEL has been a pleasure to work with. Their diligence in pursuit of revenue growth to support education programs in the state has been exciting and we are thrilled to add them to our growing list of clients.”

“We are happy with this ticket and especially the great response we have had in attracting new members to our Lucke-Zone Players Club,” said Alice Garland, Executive Director, NCEL. “Pollard Banknote has many instant game concepts which provide unique ways to market the instant product to our players. We are always eager to see their latest portfolio of games and explore new ways to provide our players with the best games possible.” 

All of the net proceeds of the North Carolina Education Lottery go to education expenses, including reduced class sizes in early grades, academic pre-kindergarten programs, school construction, and need-based college scholarships.

About Pollard Banknote Limited

Pollard Banknote Limited is one of the world’s leading full-service lottery vendors and is a major supplier to North America’s charitable gaming industry. The company manufactures instant lottery tickets and provides related programming, design, and marketing support. As well, Pollard Banknote manufactures pull-tab tickets and bingo paper, and supplies lottery management services (including warehousing and distribution). Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is owned approximately 73.5% by the Pollard family and 26.5% by public shareholders and currently serves more than 50 lotteries worldwide, including some of the largest and most respected lotteries in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America.

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 which 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.                                             

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