Brightstar Lottery Extends Ghostbusters Licensing Deal with Sony Pictures – Brightstar Lottery PLC has signed an exclusive five-year extension with Sony Pictures for Ghostbusters-themed omnichannel lottery games. This agreement continues the global development and distribution rights for the popular movie franchise.
What Happened
Brightstar Lottery PLC announced on July 1, 2026, that it has secured an exclusive five-year extension agreement with Sony Pictures, according to PRNewswire. This extension pertains to the continued development and distribution of Ghostbusters-themed omnichannel lottery games globally.
According to Sony Pictures Entertainment Senior Vice President, Global Licensing, Stacey Kerr, the Ghostbusters franchise is iconic and has lasting popularity. Kerr stated that Brightstar has been instrumental in connecting with both lifelong fans and new audiences, and expressed anticipation for ongoing collaboration on dynamic, high-quality lottery experiences.
Key Details
- The extension grants Brightstar exclusive rights to Ghostbusters-themed omnichannel lottery games (PRNewswire).
- Brightstar has been a licensee of Sony Pictures’ Ghostbusters since 2015 (PRNewswire).
- To date, the collaboration has resulted in the launch of over 25 games with more than 20 lotteries globally (PRNewswire).
- These games include traditional instant tickets, Brightstar’s patented Infinity Instants lottery tickets, Fast Play games, and an exclusive eInstant game (PRNewswire).
- Matthew Whalen, Brightstar Senior Vice President, Global Instant Ticket Services, indicated a focus on expanding the Ghostbusters franchise through new, immersive omnichannel experiences with this extension (PRNewswire).
Why It Matters
This long-term licensing agreement underscores the continued integration of entertainment intellectual property within the regulated lottery sector. Brightstar, described as a global leader in lottery innovation, leverages established brands to engage players, as stated by PRNewswire. The agreement highlights the value placed on brand recognition in developing lottery products across various formats.
The consistent use of a popular franchise like Ghostbusters, which has been successful in over 25 games across 20 lotteries globally, demonstrates a strategy to drive player engagement and generate returns for lottery operators. Brightstar’s role as a primary technology provider to numerous lottery jurisdictions globally, including 26 of 46 U.S. jurisdictions and eight of the world’s 10 largest lotteries, indicates the scale and reach of this collaboration.
What’s Next
With this contract extension, Brightstar plans to focus on expanding the Ghostbusters franchise through new, immersive omnichannel experiences that are designed to enhance fan engagement, according to Matthew Whalen (PRNewswire).
Originally reported by: PRNewswire. Published: 7/1/2026, 10:45:00 AM.