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Source: Williams
Gaming
First WMS Gaming Video Slot Machines Installed in Australia
Company's Blockbuster North American Hit Jackpot Party®
Placed in the World's Second Largest Gaming Market -
Waukegan, Ill.
June 15th , 2001
WMS
Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE: WMS), announced
today the first installations of its Jackpot Party® multi-line, multi-coin
video slot machines have begun in clubs and casinos in New South Wales,
Australia. The installations mark the
premier of WMS Gaming products in the largest gaming market outside
of the United States and highlight the realization of the Company's plan
to place games in Australia on the Stargames Ltd., (ASX: SGS.AX), PC3 hardware
platform. The Australian gaming device market is completely video and totals
nearly 200,000 machines.
In 2000, WMS announced that it entered into an exclusive
agreement with Stargames, whereby Stargames will manufacture and sell WMS
Gaming's multi-line, multi-coin video games in Australia, New Zealand and
Papua New Guinea. WMS Gaming will act as Stargames' sales representative
for a select number of key accounts in Australia while
Stargames will sell to other clubs, hotels and casinos in all three
countries.
"Our goal in Australia is to establish a strong
footprint of our popular video slot machine titles and garner significant
marketshare while enhancing our reputation as a leading international supplier
of popular slot machines," said Brian R. Gamache, President and Chief
Executive Officer of WMS Industries Inc. "These initial installations
mark the successful culmination of months of product development, regulatory
submissions and sales efforts. On my recent visit to Australia, I witnessed
first hand the high level of excitement that the casino and club operators
had for the prospects of being able to offer their customers our popular
WMS titles. This, coupled with the very favorable reception by Australian
players in our market research trials, bodes well for the success of our
games in the market and should help us realize our goal of generating approximately
one third of our overall base game sales from international markets over
the next three to five years."
Due to the complexity of the licensing and approval
process in Australia for the PC3 platform, Jackpot Party® ultimately
received approval later than anticipated. WMS has also submitted other
games, including the first version of its MONOPOLY® themed games, to
the
New South Wales Testing Authority for recommendation for approval.
The Company anticipates timely receipt of approvals for these new games.
WMS Gaming is headquartered in Waukegan, IL (847/785-3000)
with regional offices in all major domestic gaming jurisdictions, as well
as Barcelona, Spain, Johannesburg, South Africa and Sydney, Australia.
WMS Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries
Inc., designs, manufactures and markets video and reel-spinning gaming
devices and video lottery terminals.
This press release contains
certain forward-looking statements
concerning future business
conditions and the outlook for the Company
based on currently available
information that involve risks and
uncertainties. The Company's
actual results could differ materially
from those anticipated in
the forward looking statements as a result
of certain risks and uncertainties,
including, without limitation, the
financial strength of the
gaming industry, the expansion of legalized
gaming into new markets
and legislative and regulatory changes in
existing gaming markets,
the development, introduction and success of
new games and new technologies
and the ability to maintain the
scheduling of such introductions,
the ability of the Company to
qualify for and maintain
gaming licenses and approvals and other risks
more fully described under
"--Factors Affecting Future Performance" in
the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K.
MONOPOLY® is a trademark of Hasbro Inc.(c)2001 Hasbro, Inc. All
rights reserved. Used with permission.
CONTACT: WMS Gaming Inc., Waukegan
Molly D. Sandberg,
847/785-3000
msandberg@wmsgaming.com
- or -
Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated, New York
Joseph Jaffoni, Richard Land
212/835-8500
wms@jcir.com
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