PRESS RELEASE

Classic Hasbro™ Properties Jump Onto Playing Cards
Top Toy Maker and Playing Card Company Come Together for New Products


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: George White
May 15, 2002 513-396-5870
GeorgeWhite@usplayingcard.com

CINCINNATI, OH – The United States Playing Card Company (USPC), the nation’s leading manufacturer and marketer of playing cards, announces the newest addition to its licensed playing card product offering. In a licensing relationship with leading toy and game maker Hasbro, Inc., USPC has designed and will market four new products targeted to kids and families featuring the classic toy and game properties MR. POTATO HEAD, CANDY LAND, G.I. JOE and TRANSFORMERS.

The new playing card series, which are scheduled to ship to mass and specialty retailers nationwide beginning in September 2002, will feature fun, unique playing cards for each of these family favorites.

"The United States Playing Card Company has done a terrific job of translating some of Hasbro’s most popular properties into highly entertaining playing cards," said Patricia Schmidt, Vice President of Licensing and Promotions for Hasbro.

The MR. POTATO HEAD and CANDY LAND properties will be captured in large format playing cards with card games geared to younger demographics. Additionally, two decks will feature powerful graphics based on the G.I. JOE VS. COBRA action figures, marketed in a collectible G.I.JOE branded tin that will be ideal for young fans and serious collectors alike. Finally, the TRANSFORMERS brand playing cards will include artwork featuring the unique action figures in a distinctive tuck case that features a lenticular image of a TRANSFORMERS figure in action.

"The United States Playing Card Company is thrilled to be working with Hasbro to bring these terrific toy properties to the playing card market for the first time," said USPC president Greg Simko. "Each of these four properties has a very strong fan base among kids and parents alike. As expected, retailer feedback on these new playing card series has been very favorable, and we are looking forward to a similar response from consumers when the cards hit retail in September."

The United States Playing Card Company is the leader in the production and distribution of premier brands of playing cards, including BEE®, BICYCLE®, AVIATOR® and HOYLE® playing cards. BICYCLE has been the best selling playing card brand in the world for more than 100 years. The privately held company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio since its founding in 1867, manufactures, markets and distributes playing cards, children’s card games, collectible tins, puzzles and card accessories.

Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.


MR. POTATO HEAD, CANDY LAND, G.I. JOE and TRANSFORMERS
are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2002 Hasbro Inc.
BEE, BICYCLE, AVIATOR and HOYLE are registered trademarks
of The United States Playing Card Company.