Press Release

Pollard Banknote Exclusive License, JAWS, Swims Home To Massachusetts In U.S. Instant Ticket Debut

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, March 26, 2024 /CNW/ – Pollard Banknote Limited (“Pollard Banknote”; TSX: PBL) congratulates the Massachusetts State Lottery (the “Mass Lottery”) on the launch of the United States’ first instant ticket inspired by JAWS, the iconic summer blockbuster from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. This $10 ticket launches today and offers players a chance to win a top prize of $1,000,000.

The ticket’s design will grab the attention of players with the movie’s unforgettable poster art and a multi-colored shimmer that creates the illusion of rippling ocean waters around the infamous great white shark, made possible by Pollard Banknote’s Spectrum Scratch FX® print innovation. Nautical symbols in the play area further reflect the game’s theme.

The game offers players an additional opportunity to win with an exciting second-chance promotion. Pollard Banknote has partnered with Atlas Experiences to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experiential prize: thirty winners and their guests will be invited for a three-night stay on Martha’s Vineyard, where JAWS was filmed, at the legendary Harbor View Hotel, which hosted cast and crew during production. These lucky participants will be treated to a private guided JAWS island bus tour, a “shark-infested waters” theme party, a private screening of JAWS, and a sampling of the local cuisine. The stay will conclude with a digital game show where one lucky player will swim away with a $1,000,000 prize. An additional $50,000 in prizing will ensure everyone goes home with a cash prize. This incredible experience will take place July 11 to 14, 2025, in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film’s original release in movie theaters.

The game’s launch will be kicked off with special JAWS-themed events at the Mass Lottery’s headquarters and regional offices. Lottery players and fans of the iconic film are invited to attend to celebrate the launch, receive promotional tickets, and play games for a chance to win cash and custom, co-branded JAWS merchandise.

The launch is being promoted with a marketing campaign supported and coordinated by Pollard Banknote. Retailers will advertise the game with posters, displays, and even 6-foot tall standees of the famous shark with his mouth cut out, allowing players to pose as the shark’s lunch—a perfect photo opportunity for social media. Pollard Banknote’s marketing support also includes animated digital advertisements, a campaign to generate engagement on social media, radio and television spots, and merchandise for promotional giveaways.

“It’s fitting that for its U.S. instant ticket debut, the world’s most infamous shark returns home to Massachusetts,” said Mark William Bracken, Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery. “We appreciate the efforts of Pollard Banknote in the development of this amazing ticket and the promotion around its launch. We’re confident it will make a big splash and help us in our mission to support cities and towns in Massachusetts.”

“We congratulate the Massachusetts State Lottery on being the first U.S. lottery to launch an instant ticket inspired by the theatrical film, JAWS,” said Brad Thompson, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Pollard Banknote. “With the terrifying shark making his return, it might not be safe to go back in the water, but it’s safe to say this ticket will be a real blockbuster for the Lottery!”

Each year, the Massachusetts State Lottery returns its net profits to the Commonwealth for distribution of unrestricted local aid to all 351 cities and towns. In fiscal year 2023, the Mass Lottery paid out a record $4.483 billion in prizes, returned $1.193 billion to the Commonwealth, and paid $350 million in commissions and bonuses to Mass Lottery retailers.

JAWS© Universal City Studios LLC and Amblin Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

About JAWS

Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, JAWS set the standard for edge-of-your-seat suspense, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon and forever changing the movie industry. When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town’s chief of police (Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again. Featuring an unforgettable score that evokes pure terror, JAWS remains one of the most influential and gripping adventures in motion picture history.

About Pollard Banknote

Pollard Banknote is a leading lottery partner to more than 60 lotteries worldwide, providing high-quality instant ticket products, licensed games, in-lane ticket options, and sales-driving merchandising solutions from its Schafer Retail Solutions + portfolio. It also offers a full suite of digital offerings, ranging from world-class game apps to comprehensive player engagement and iLottery solutions, including strategic marketing and management services. 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 provides pull-tab tickets, bingo paper, ticket vending machines, and its Diamond Game and Compliant Gaming electronic games and devices to charitable and other gaming markets in North America. Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is owned approximately 64.2% by the Pollard family and 35.8% by public shareholders, and is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (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.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brad Thompson
Vice President, Sales & Marketing        
E-mail: bthompson@pbl.ca

Pollard Banknote Limited
Telephone: (204) 474-2323