Pollard Banknote helps the West Virginia Lottery in making it a spookier Halloween for its players. The lottery has recently launched the first-of-its-kind Halloween-themed PAC-MAN scratch-off game. It was designed by the two parties and is licensed under Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. Tickets cost US$5 and tout a top prize of US$30,000.

Based in Manitoba, Canada, Pollard is a major partner to more than 60 lotteries across the globe. It delivers market-leading instant tickets, licensed games, in-lane ticket options, and sales-driving merchandising solutions from its innovative Schafer Retail Solutions + portfolio. Some other of its premium services include digital offerings, strategic marketing, and management services.

Introducing PAC-MAN Scratch-off Game

The new scratch-off ticket impresses with instantly recognizable imagery on a spooking black backdrop of purple-coloured bats, tombstones, spiderwebs, and lifeless trees. Its ‘key number match’ playstyle and bonus segment are developed to appeal to all audiences. It is part of Pollard’s Halloween-inspired library and has a tagline of “Get them before they ghost you!”

For the launch, the lottery is hosting a marketing collateral to boost awareness, including point-of-sale posters, digital and social media ads, and radio spots. As part of the initiative, there will also be co-branded PAC-MAN merchandise for giveaways and a social media contest that includes t-shirts, PAC-MAN candies, PAC-MAN speakers/chargers, and ghost lights.

The new game is accessible exclusively from Pollard as part of its arcade classic assortment, an expanding collection of popular brands, PAC-MAN will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2025. The game is considered among the most successful coin-operated titles ever made, and according to estimations, it has been played over 10 billion times. North American lotteries offer 26 PAC-MAN-themed scratch-off games and e-Instant games.

The West Virginia Lottery was founded back in January 1986, and since then, it has contributed close to US$11.9B in gaming revenue to the State of West Virginia. Its funding has been used to support education, seniors, and tourism. According to estimations, its lottery operations have provided over US$3.7B for education, US$1.5B for senior services, and US$1.3B for tourism.

A few weeks ago, the lottery also awarded a contract extension to Pollard Banknote and NeoGames S.A.’s subsidiary, NeoPollard Interactive. Via the new deal, the lottery will utilize NPi’s first-in-class technology, including NeoGames’ NeoSphere player account management system and NeoDraw, a central gaming system for draw games. It will also gain access to Pollard’s playON® Player Engagement Platform.

Showcasing Tech at NASPL ‘23

Last week, Pollard announced that it will be joining the 2023 North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries annual conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At the expo, the company is set to showcase its thrilling products and services, including three segments that provide success to its partners – exciting games, retail brilliance, and innovation.

Source: “Happy Waka-Ween! West Virginia Lottery Launches Industry’s First Halloween-Themed PAC-MAN Scratch-Off Game” PR Newswire, October 30, 2023