International Game Technology and Anchor Gaming report Federal Trade Commission approval

Reno & Las Vegas
December 14th, 2001

    International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) and Anchor Gaming (Nasdaq: SLOT) announced that the companies were notified today that the Federal Trade Commission has terminated the pre-closing waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 applicable to the proposed acquisition of Anchor Gaming by International Game Technology. 

    The merger remains subject to the approval of both companies’ stockholders and certain outstanding approvals of gaming regulatory authorities, as well as other closing conditions.  International Game Technology and Anchor Gaming are working to complete the merger by the end of January 2002 or earlier subject to obtaining stockholder approvals, all required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

    Statements in this release regarding IGT, which are not historical facts, are "forward-looking" statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These matters involve risks and uncertainties, including changes in demand for the companies products because of a reduction in the growth of markets or changes in the popularity of its products, a decrease in the popularity of its wide area progressive systems, the risks of conducting international operations, the adoption of new unfavorable gaming laws or laws applicable to gaming machine manufacturers, uncertainties generally associated with the development and manufacturing of gaming machines and systems the risk that the proposed merger may not occur.  Historical results achieved are not necessarily indicative of future prospects of IGT.  More information on factors that could affect IGT's business and its financial results are included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K and other public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  For more information on International Game Technology, visit the IGT company web site at www.igt.com
 

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding Anchor Gaming within the meaning of section 21e of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and other applicable securities laws.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions.  Included in these provisions are any projections or estimates of earnings, revenues, or other financial items; any statements of plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operation; any statements concerning proposed new products, services, or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief; and any statement of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Such forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Although Anchor Gaming believes that the expectations reflected in any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in Anchor Gaming's forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:  the risk that we may not meet our projected financial results; risks of proprietary games such as pressures from competitors, changes in economic conditions, obsolescence, declining popularity of existing games, failure of new game ideas or concepts to become popular, duplication by third parties and changes in interest rates as they relate to the wide area progressive machine operations within our joint venture with IGT; general changes in economic conditions; our ability to improve results of operations in our gaming systems segment; reduced lottery sales in lottery jurisdictions where AWI has lottery contracts; our ability to keep or renew existing lottery contracts; competition in Colorado that could adversely affect our Colorado casinos; our ability to generate sales of new video lottery central control systems and video lottery terminals; we are subject to adverse determination in pending litigation with Acres Gaming relative to our proprietary games' intellectual property and in pending litigation between Gtech Holdings and the Florida Lottery relative to our Florida Lottery contract; we have obligations under agreements with the Pala Band of Mission Indians that subject us to joint venture risk, construction risk and sovereign immunity risk; risk that initial results from the Pala Casino cannot be sustained over the long-term; the risk that the merger may not occur and other factors described from time to time in Anchor Gaming's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Anchor's Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2001, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 and the merger joint proxy statement/prospectus dated November 13, 2001.  These reports and proxy statement may be obtained free of charge at the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov

CONTACT: 
Media, Ed Rogich, 702-896-8690, or Investors, Bob McIver, 775-448-0110, both of IGT; or Media, Howard Stutz, or Investors, Geoff A. Sage, both of Anchor Gaming, 702-896-7568.

 For more information on International Game Technology, visit the company web site at www.igt.com