Legendary rock band to have their own New Mexico Lottery scratcher game

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Kiss, the iconic rock band that has sold more than 80 million albums, played in front of millions and become an integral part of the American fabric over a 37-year career, can now add the Kiss Scratcher Game to their staggering list of accomplishments.

Kiss and the New Mexico Lottery today announced that they have signed a licensing agreement that will introduce the band to the $225 billion-a-year global lottery industry. As part of this historic agreement, the New Mexico Lottery will unveil the first-ever Kiss Scratcher today.

"Kiss learned a long time ago that you can't win unless you're in the game," said Kiss. "The New Mexico Lottery and the students that directly benefit from the sales of Kiss Scratchers are already winners by becoming the first state in the country to offer a game with 'The Hottest Band on Earth.' The New Mexico Lottery wants to rock its players' world and Kiss is just the band to make that happen. Not only do New Mexico Lottery fans get the greatest band in the history of rock and roll, they have a real chance of getting lucky with Kiss."

In late 2009, the New Mexico Lottery approached Kiss with a game proposal. Lottery Chief Executive Officer Tom Romero said the band is a perfect fit for the company's strategy to develop new products, grow sales and create more revenue for higher education at a time when the demand for college scholarships has never been greater.

"Kiss puts a fresh, fun face on Scratcher entertainment," Romero said. "The band's images are instantly recognizable and when those faces are big and bold on a Scratcher ticket, they will get both loyal and lapsed players talking about why it's fun to play all New Mexico Lottery games."

In New Mexico, the sale of lottery games benefits a college tuition-assistance program called Legislative Lottery Scholarships. The New Mexico Lottery projects that a sold-out Kiss Scratcher will generate approximately $900,000 in scholarship revenue.

The New Mexico Lottery's Kiss Scratcher features three ticket scenes.

In addition to cash prizes of up to $50,000, the Kiss Scratcher will offer second-chance drawings to win trips to Kiss' 'The Hottest Show on Earth' concert, the band's biggest concert tour ever. Two lucky players will win trips for two to attend the Sept. 24 Kiss concert at the Cricket Wireless Pavilion in Phoenix, Ariz. Players with non-winning Kiss Scratchers can enter to win at www.nmlottery.com. The drawing is scheduled for Sept. 2.

Kiss will hit the road this summer with 'The Hottest Show on Earth.' The tour, produced by Live Nation, will trek through a mix of arenas and amphitheaters throughout North America. Tickets for shows produced by Live Nation went on sale to the general public in select markets beginning June 4.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)One of the three ticket scenes that will be featured in the New Mexico Lottery's new Kiss scratcher game.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Kiss co-founder Paul Stanley holding a replica of one of the new Kiss scratcher game cards.