An agreement between global branded payments provider Blackhawk Network and lottery expert Pollard Banknote Limited has been firmed up with a view to bringing greater convenience to consumers purchasing instant lottery tickets.
Retailers will now have the ability to merchandise instant tickets ‘in-lane’ at retail to provide both current lottery players and new impulse customers a quick and simple way to purchase popular instant games directly at the register and most self-checkout kiosks.
Brett Narlinger, head of Global Commerce at Blackhawk Network, stated: “Blackhawk is committed to bringing innovative payment solutions to POS—including lottery—to its vast network of retail partners to help increase reach, loyalty, and revenue.
“Partnering with Pollard Banknote to support its scanACTIV solution is yet another option that can enable our multi-lane retail partners to drive incremental sales and offer greater value and convenience to their customers.”
Benefitting from both Pollard Banknote’s patented scanACTIV solution and Blackhawk’s direct POS integrations with an expansive network of the nation’s leading retailers, shoppers will now be able to buy lottery tickets in the checkout lane when paying for groceries and everyday items.
In the past, multi-lane retailers have been unable to offer in-lane purchases of lottery products due to the need for employee lottery training, special storage displays and inventory procedures.
Moreover, retailers have also had to account for the potential for theft or fraud of ‘live’ tickets. The use of the scanACTIV solution means, however, that all lottery tickets have no value until they are activated at checkout, thus supporting a convenient, seamless, and secure experience.
Jennifer Westbury, Executive Vice President of Sales & Customer Development at Pollard Banknote, stated: “We are excited to partner with an industry leader like Blackhawk and leverage its breadth of retail and payments expertise to expand our lottery products across its expansive network of multi-lane retail partners.
“Pollard Banknote is a proven innovator in the lottery industry and is dedicated to being at the forefront of introducing new solutions for lotteries to expand their player reach and grow sales.
“scanACTIV is part of our evolving portfolio of cutting-edge solutions designed to enhance retail sales and facilitate in-lane lottery purchases. Our partnership with Blackhawk will further enable us to deliver a more convenient lottery experience, and more importantly, open untapped opportunities for lotteries to increase revenues in support of good causes in their local communities.”
