WINNIPEG, Manitoba (February 24, 2025) – Pollard Banknote Limited (“Pollard Banknote”; TSX: PBL) is thrilled to announce the extension of its partnership with Universal Products & Experiences, renewing its licensing agreement for North American print and digital lottery products to the end of 2028. The renewal agreement includes four iconic NBCUniversal franchises that capture nostalgia, innovation, and entertainment: Back to the Future, JAWS, Hot Stuff, and Universal Monsters.
NBCUniversal’s highly recognizable stories and fan-favourite characters have had many successful launches with lotteries in North America to date. Notably, JAWS made waves in 2024, achieving record-breaking sales in multiple states. In 2025, both the JAWS and Back to the Future films from Universal Pictures will celebrate milestone anniversaries, and several lotteries have already signed up to get in on the action, leveraging the increased marketing support tied to these celebrations.
These beloved brands have proven to be a perfect fit for the lottery category, effectively attracting both new and existing players while providing endless opportunities for fun, engaging, and creative marketing campaigns. To add to their appeal, each brand features a plethora of high-definition assets that work well when combined with many of Pollard Banknote’s wide range of innovations, including Scratch FX®, EasyPack™, Neon Ink, and more. These assets are also well-suited for digital printing, presenting new ways for lotteries to enhance instant game experiences even further. In addition, the Pollard Digital Games Studio is currently developing eInstant game concepts for these brands, paving the way for engaging digital experiences and new omnichannel opportunities.
“These franchises from NBCUniversal have brought endless amounts of joy to our lottery partners and their players,” said Brad Thompson, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Pollard Banknote. “From the chilling legends of Universal Monsters to the timeless charm of Back to the Future, we are excited to continue featuring NBCUniversal’s iconic worlds in our captivating games that support our lottery partners in maximizing funds for the good causes they champion across North America.”
To support strong sales and engagement, Pollard Banknote’s Licensed Games team offers lotteries a comprehensive turnkey program that includes the design, programming, and printing of themed tickets, as well as various optional enhancements such as second chance draws, merchandise and experiential prizing, point of sale programs, and digital marketing.
© Universal City Studios LLC and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hot Stuff, The Little Devil © 2025 Classic Media, LLC.
About Universal Products & Experiences
Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, as well as engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and third-party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s lines of business include Consumer Products and Games, along with Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. More information is available at universalproductsexperiences.com.
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% by the Pollard family and 36% 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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brad Thompson
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
E-mail: bthompson@pbl.ca
Pollard Banknote Limited
Telephone: (204) 474-2323