Lottery
Pollard Banknote Awarded Five-Year Primary Contract by Michigan Lottery for Instant Game Tickets
Pollard Banknote Limited is pleased to announce that, following a competitive procurement process, it has been awarded a primary contract from the Michigan Lottery (“the Lottery”) to provide instant game tickets. This marks the extension of a long-standing partnership between Pollard Banknote and the Michigan Lottery. Under this most recent agreement, Pollard Banknote will provide approximately 90% of the Lottery’s instant tickets per contract year. The initial contract term is five years, with the option to renew in one-year increments for up to five additional years. In addition to instant game tickets, the Lottery also awarded Pollard Banknote a contract to supply validation pull-tab tickets.
As a partner to the Michigan Lottery since 1996, Pollard Banknote is immensely proud of the role it has played in supporting the Lottery over the years, providing a wide range of instant games, retail solutions, and omnichannel products. From fiscal year (“FY”) 2013 to FY 2023, Pollard Banknote printed approximately 90% of the Lottery’s instant games. The Lottery earned the distinction of the fastest-growing U.S. lottery in terms of instant ticket sales per capita, with a phenomenal 182% increase during that time; this is particularly impressive when compared to the average U.S. lottery growth of 66% in instant ticket sales per capita. This growth catapulted the Lottery’s per capita sales ranking to seventh among U.S. lotteries over the same 10-year period.
Combining their years of expertise, Pollard Banknote has collaborated with the Michigan Lottery to curate an outstanding portfolio of games. In 2022, the Lottery’s first $50 game, $300,000,000 Diamond Riches, leveraged Scratch FX® to bring vibrancy to its diamond theme, helping drive strong sales and engagement with players. In addition, Pollard Banknote has worked closely with the Lottery to optimize its $20 price point to offer a diverse selection of games, including a variety of unique print innovations and enticing prize structures, to appeal to a broad spectrum of players. As a result, the Lottery’s $20 price point has grown a remarkable 385% from FY 2013 to FY 2023, making it the fastest growing among U.S. lotteries. Pollard Banknote has also been instrumental in the strategic development of the Lottery’s core game category, including Cashword and Wild Time, leading to a 106% increase in Cashword sales and a 204% increase in Wild Time sales from FY 2013 to FY 2023.
Pollard Banknote has also supported many retail initiatives over the years. The Lottery utilizes a variety of innovative products from Pollard Banknote’s Schafer Retail Solutions + (“SRS+”) portfolio to strengthen its retail footprint throughout the state, including over 2,300 Lighted Ticket Menu Boards and All-in-Ones, Outdoor Fuel Menu Boards, and a variety of dispensers.
The partnership between Pollard Banknote and the Lottery is further solidified by the company’s deep roots in Michigan. With an established and robust footprint in the state, including a full instant ticket manufacturing facility in Ypsilanti and nearly 350 Michigan based employees, Pollard Banknote plays an active role in creating job opportunities, generating tax revenue, and supporting other local businesses, which contributes to positive economic growth. In fact, according to a recent economic report by East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group, in 2022 alone, Pollard Banknote created 475 jobs in the state and spent more than $92.6 million USD operating and investing in its Michigan facilities, generating a total of $51.7 million USD in economic activity.
At its manufacturing plant in Ypsilanti, Pollard Banknote produced approximately seven billion ESS (equivalent single size or 2″ by 4″) instant tickets for lotteries around the globe in 2023, including the majority of the Michigan Lottery’s tickets. As evidence of the company’s commitment to continuous improvement, between 2015 and 2022, Pollard Banknote made nearly $30 million USD worth of major capital investments at this facility, including a $20-million state-of-the-art TRESU press.
“We are honored to be selected as the primary supplier of instant game tickets to the Michigan Lottery,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote. “We deeply value the relationship we have built with both the Michigan Lottery and the communities in which we operate within the state. As a testament to our successful collaboration and efforts to deliver outstanding games and innovative retail solutions into the Michigan market, we take pride in having contributed to four-fold sales growth since the start of our partnership almost 30 years ago. We look forward to continued success and growth in the years to come.”
Canada
Vancouver Resident Purchased Winning $40 Million Lotto Max Ticket While Quenching Sparkling Water Craving
Phuc Duc (Daniel) Chau loves the Bubly brand of sparkling water and stopped in a convenience store to purchase a can. Chau likes to buy lottery tickets based on a gut feeling, and due to the employee’s bubbly nature while he purchased his Bubly, Chau also purchased a Lotto Max ticket for the May 23, 2025 draw.
It was this ticket that ended up scoring Chau a whopping $40-million jackpot.
“I was at work when I found out,” recalled Chau of the moment he realized he won. “I was going through my bag to find a cough drop, but I saw that I had two lottery tickets in my bag and decided to scan the tickets, but I needed to update the [BCLC Lotto!] app first. The first ticket I didn’t win anything, but the second said $40 million. I have never seen that many zeroes in my life, ever. I dropped my phone and then called BCLC right away!”
At the time of the prize claim, the Vancouver resident hadn’t yet shared the news of his win.
“My partner doesn’t know yet! I want to share the news with them in a special way.”
Chau shared that his dream has always been to travel the world. “There are so many places I want to go to, so I haven’t fully decided!”
When asked if he will quit his job, he said, “I haven’t decided, but I want to continue to support my community in a different way.”
On how it feels to be a multimillionaire?
“It means a lot to me. It opens up an opportunity for me to give back to my family, community and the world all around me. It’s not meaningful unless you can share this with those who need it.”
Chau purchased the winning ticket at the 7-Eleven on Imperial Street and Boundary Road in Burnaby.
So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $146 million from Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices.
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits.
Aristocrat Interactive, under NeoGames US LLP, signed a six-year contract with the Michigan Lottery to provide its full solution of iLottery product offerings, reaffirming its leadership in the U.S. iLottery industry. Under the contract, from July 2026, Aristocrat Interactive will provide services to the Michigan Lottery for six years, with six additional one-year extension opportunities. The relationship with the Michigan Lottery began in 2014 with the launch of its iLottery program using NeoGames’ iLottery platform and games.
This new deal will provide the Michigan Lottery with eInstant games, draw-based games, and add-on offerings produced by Aristocrat Interactive’s NeoGames Studio, along with continuing to leverage the company’s iLottery technology, which includes:
• NeoSphere player account management platform
• NeoDraw draw games system
• NeoCube Business Intelligence solutions; and
• NeoEngage – Aristocrat Interactive’s overall customer and data experience solution.
Aristocrat Interactive will also provide the Michigan Lottery with a new website and mobile application services with Gambyt – a software company specializing in the lottery, casino, and sports betting industries. Under the deal, Aristocrat Interactive will lead the Michigan Lottery’s CRM marketing efforts, including promotions and customer communications, and will deliver managed services including staffing, a customer service center, payments management, third-party integration, compliance, and responsible gameplay solutions.
“This collaboration is a sign of our commitment to being a leader in the iLottery space and a win for players and public education in Michigan as we look to further enhance our offerings, deliver an entertaining iLottery experience, and drive incremental revenue to the School Aid Fund. Aristocrat Interactive has a proven track record of providing the industry’s leading technology, comprehensive player services, and engaging content for lotteries around the world. We’re confident this new deal will help us continue to be a leading innovator in this exciting digital space,” said Suzanna Shkreli, Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery.
“The Michigan Lottery is a trailblazer in the U.S. iLottery industry, and we’re proud to be a strategic partner for their business. This multi-year agreement is a testament to the proven strength of the Aristocrat Interactive platform, our commitment to innovation, and the long-term value we provide to our customers,” said Chris Shaban, Managing Director of Aristocrat Interactive iLottery.
Justin Simporios is normally a sound sleeper who “can fall asleep anywhere” – but he had a very sleepless night, after learning he won an $80-million Lotto Max jackpot from the May 9, 2025 draw. This is the largest lottery jackpot ever won in B.C. and is also the largest jackpot ever won by a single individual in Canada.
“It was 10:30 p.m.,” recalled Simporios of the moment he realized he won. “I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife ‘we’re millionaires!’ and she told me to stop making that joke. After, I manually checked each number before scanning [using the BCLC Lotto! I cried and shouted, ‘we’re millionaires!’”
The Surrey resident woke up his wife to share the news. “She was in complete disbelief and a bit mad at me because our daughter wasn’t feeling well.” Simporios’ wife luckily agreed this was a good reason to wake her.
While still in disbelief about his win, Simporios is ultimately most excited to share his windfall with his family. “I want to help my family and my wife’s family. I’ll pay off my sister’s medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life.”
Giving back to the community in Surrey and B.C. is also a key priority for Simporios. “I’ve struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream.”
As an avid LA Lakers fan, Simporios mentioned he would like to see LeBron James play before James retires. He also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a family reunion. “My wife and kid have never visited!”
On how it feels to win a record-breaking jackpot?
“The biggest change will be having more time with my wife and family. We want to live with a purpose – to help the community around us.”
Simporios purchased the winning ticket at the Walmart Supercentre in Central City on King George Boulevard in Surrey.
So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $101 million from Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices. Learn more about the BCLC Lotto!
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits.
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