Game Over? Not Even Close

Arcade Classics Power Up 2026

By Pollard Banknote

Published June 23, 2026

The first half of 2026 has delivered strong performance across lotteries leveraging Pollard Banknote’s retro gaming portfolio, underscoring the continued momentum and enduring appeal of iconic arcade brands. What might be considered nostalgic has proven to be anything but dated. Instead, these games are powering growth, engagement, and innovation across jurisdictions.

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A PROVEN PORTFOLIO WITH LASTING APPEAL

Pollard Banknote’s arcade classics portfolio is built on some of the most recognizable and enduring brands in gaming history, including Frogger, PAC-MAN, Ms.PAC-MAN, and Tetris. Together, these licensed properties have driven more than 150 lottery game launches globally.

Their strength lies in a powerful combination of simplicity and familiarity. The gameplay is intuitive and universally understood, the visual identities are bold and highly recognizable, and the brands themselves are deeply embedded in global pop culture. This creates an instant player connection across generations, from those who grew up with these iconic titles to new audiences discovering them for the first time.

This combination of nostalgia and accessibility continues to attract, engage, and retain a broad player base, contributing to consistently strong in-market performance.

POWERING SUCCESS: MOMENTUM CONTINUES TO BUILD

The first half of 2026 delivered continued success in markets where arcade brands are already established, alongside strong momentum in markets launching these properties for the first time, reinforcing brand resilience and sustained player appetite for nostalgic gameplay.

Frogger maintained strong performance across multiple jurisdictions, with each launch building on the brand’s proven foundation while introducing thoughtful enhancements in design, positioning, and player engagement.

BCLC kicked off the year with its third Frogger launch in January 2026, featuring a Canadiana theme that introduced localized design elements and distinct Canadian imagery. Dragon boats and whale icons appeared on the play grid instead of alligators, and hockey sticks and the Canada flag were built into the prize legend. All of this delivered a distinctly local twist on the classic game while demonstrating the licensor’s flexibility and their ability to preserve Frogger’s core appeal.

Momentum continued with WCLC’s fifth Frogger launch in March, which elevated the visual and tactile experience through Pollard Banknote’s proprietary Raised Gloss Ink. The game extended the brand’s successful and consistent track record with the lottery and outperforming average sales by 16% in its first five weeks.

Building on this success, the Georgia Lottery introduced its third Frogger game in late May, combining Raised Gloss Ink with a strategic price-point increase from $3 to $5, signaling strong confidence in the brand’s ability to perform at a premium level.

The Oklahoma Lottery further reinforced Frogger’s momentum later that month, pairing its launch with a “Dodge and Win” 2^nd chance promotion to deepen player engagement and drive retail excitement. This activation built on the Lottery’s earlier success with PAC-MAN, its inaugural arcade classic launch in February 2026.

In parallel, PAC-MAN continued to expand its footprint, delivering strong results through player engagement and promotional innovation across multiple markets. Oklahoma’s PAC-MAN debut was supported by a Players Club 2^nd chance promotion offering the chance to win a PAC-MAN arcade machine. The campaign outperformed previous promotions and demonstrated the brand’s ability to drive meaningful engagement, setting a strong foundation for continued arcade success with subsequent launches like Frogger.

Shortly after, the Idaho Lottery launched its second PAC-MAN game in March, blending classic and modern character design assets to broaden appeal. The game delivered a strong early performance, selling 32% above average within its first five weeks on the market, supported by a fully integrated marketing campaign across television and radio.

Following successful launches of both Frogger and PAC-MAN, the Maryland Lottery launched its Ms.PAC-MAN $3 game in April, supported by a comprehensive multi-channel campaign spanning television, radio, billboards, in-store displays, and digital advertising, including digital menu board and Keno placements. The ticket is further enhanced by a how-to-play video on the Ms.PAC-MAN landing page of the Maryland Lottery’s website, and a second-chance promotion offering players the opportunity to win cash prizes and a Ms.PAC-MAN arcade machine.

Across jurisdictions, a clear pattern is emerging: arcade classics consistently deliver strong performance while sustaining engagement through thoughtful product design and integrated promotional support.

EVOLVING THROUGH INNOVATION: REIMAGINED NEW GAME CONCEPTS

While nostalgia continues to drive strong appeal in market, continued success at the lottery level depends on keeping the experience fresh. Pollard Banknote is actively evolving its arcade portfolio through new gameplay formats, updated design systems, and expanded ticket innovations. This approach is reinforced by the flexibility of the existing arcade brand assets, complemented by regularly updated modern style guides that enable continuous evolution of each program’s look and feel.

Extended-play maze formats remain a natural fit for these brands, representing over 40% of all PAC-MAN launches and more than 90% of Frogger games. This consistent adoption reinforces their effectiveness as a core gameplay mechanic that aligns seamlessly with player expectations.

Expanding Gameplay with Play Around™

Pollard Banknote’s Play Around™ innovative game design concept extends gameplay to the back of the ticket, unlocking additional maze environments and creating a longer, more immersive player experience. Building on the core gameplay players know and love, this expanded format enhances engagement while creating strong opportunities for higher price-point tickets. The concept brings a vibrant, colorful twist to classic maze play, designed to captivate both long-time fans and new audiences while standing out at retail. Play Around™ is highly adaptable across arcade classic brands, pairing seamlessly with their gameplay mechanics and distinctive visual identities.

Big Impact Formats with EasyPack™

EasyPack™, another proprietary innovation from Pollard Banknote, is a natural fit for arcade-style play, pairing bold, oversized designs with the layered excitement players expect from interactive games. Designed to open like a classic arcade cabinet or greeting card, it reveals expanded play space with vibrant visuals and multi-layered gameplay. This format creates opportunities to incorporate multiple play styles within a single game and even combine multiple arcade brands into one dynamic offering. The result is a high-impact instant ticket that captures the energy and excitement of the arcade, delivering engaging gameplay and standout visual appeal that commands attention at retail.

LICENSED TO SPIN: EXTENDING THE EMOTIONAL MOMENT

Building on the proven success of The Big Spin from Pollard Banknote, the Licensed to Spin concept integrates arcade brands into a dynamic “scratch, watch, and win” experience.

Players begin with a traditional instant win opportunity, but those who reveal a themed symbol such as a PAC-MAN “WAKA WAKA” are prompted to visit a retailer to activate an animated reveal at the terminal. This transforms prize redemption into an event, amplifying anticipation and emotional engagement.

The concept aligns particularly well with arcade brands by replicating key elements of gameplay progression. The added digital reveal introduces suspense, reward, and interactivity that mirrors the original arcade experience, turning a simple transaction into a memorable moment.

SCALING ACROSS CHANNELS: OMNI-CHANNEL OPPORTUNITIES

Arcade classics are not limited to a single product category. These brands continue to perform strongly across the full lottery ecosystem, including scratch tickets, pull-tabs, fast play, and e-instant games.

Notably, Frogger and PAC-MAN have also gained strong traction in the e-tab category, demonstrating their adaptability and cross-channel relevance and reinforcing their value as scalable, future-ready properties.

POSITIONED FOR CONTINUED GROWTH

Pollard Banknote’s retro arcade portfolio is uniquely positioned at the intersection of nostalgia and innovation. While the emotional connection of these brands continues to drive engagement, ongoing investment in new formats, gameplay evolution, and omni-channel integration are ensuring their relevance in a rapidly changing market.

Together, these initiatives are not just sustaining performance, they are expanding it. By combining proven gameplay with modern execution and new consumer touchpoints, arcade classics are well positioned to continue powering lottery growth through 2026 and beyond.

Ms.PAC-MAN™& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. 

PAC-MAN™& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. 

Tetris ® & © 1985~2026 Tetris Holding 

©Konami Digital Entertainment