International Game Technology and Anchor Gaming announce results of Shareholder meetings

Reno & Las Vegas
December 18th, 2001

    International Game Technology  (NYSE: IGT) and Anchor Gaming (Nasdaq: SLOT) announced that their stockholders approved the proposed IGT acquisition of Anchor at stockholders meetings held by each company today.

    "We are pleased that IGT and Anchor Gaming stockholders overwhelmingly approved the proposed transaction," said G. Thomas Baker, President and Chief Executive Officer of IGT. More than 98% of the IGT stockholders voting approved the issuance of shares to Anchor Gaming stockholders transaction and more than 98% of the Anchor Gaming stockholders voting approved  the transaction.

    The companies received notice last week that the Federal Trade Commission had terminated the pre-clearance waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act applicable to the proposed acquisition of Anchor Gaming by International Game Technology.  
International Game Technology and Anchor Gaming are working to complete the merger by the end of January 2002 or earlier subject to obtaining 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 with Anchor Gaming 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 http://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 with International Game Technology 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 http://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