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GameTech International Announces Product Success and Partnership with U.K. Companies

GameTech also announced that it has formed a strategic partnership with ECM Systems of East Yorkshire to facilitate development of its business in the substantial U.K. bingo market.

``The U.K. is a huge, active and dynamic bingo market,'' commented Jon L. Whipple, GameTech's President and Chief Executive Officer, ``and we are very excited about this opportunity, particularly because we are addressing the market with a very strong strategic partner. ECM is the country's premier designer, manufacturer and supplier of bingo equipment with installations in every bingo hall of note throughout the U.K. They have an outstanding reputation and a tremendous service and support capability.

``International expansion is an integral component of our growth plan, and we are only beginning to tap highly promising overseas markets such as the United Kingdom.''

ECM Systems has served the U.K. bingo, casino and leisure industries for more than 25 years. Its bingo products include equipment for Ticket Bingo, Mechanized Cash Bingo and Prize Bingo. The company also provides the live link of more than 600 bingo halls for the National Bingo Game in the U.K., which distributes prizes of up to 100,000 British pounds sterling nightly and 200,000 British pounds sterling Sundays. ECM Systems is a market leader in both the United Kingdom and South Africa. Its state-of-the-art casino displays and wide area progressive jackpot systems are distributed by John Huxley Ltd throughout the world.

Paul Whitbread, Chairman & Managing Director of ECM Systems, stated: ``We are very pleased to join GameTech International in this strategic partnership. Their electronic products complement our own comprehensive product line, and we expect that they will be extremely well received by bingo hall operators and players throughout the U.K. Our first installation is at one of London's largest and most successful halls.''

Beacon Bingo in Cricklewood London has 3,000 seats and operates fourteen three hour sessions per week. It is one of three major halls operated by Beacon Bingo. The initial installation features GameTech's portable TED units, which automate play for customers, enabling them to play many more cards than is possible manually. The hand-held TED units (``The Electronic Dauber'') are designed with many useful and entertaining features and are as easy to use as a touch-tone telephone. The TED units are integrated with ECM's comprehensive bingo hall management system to provide management with complete, accurate financial information.

Stephen Young, General Manager of Beacon Bingo's Cricklewood hall, said: ``We are enthusiastic about the start of electronic play with the GameTech equipment. These advanced products offer our players greater fun, entertainment, excitement and increased winning opportunities. Along with ECM and GameTech, we will be working to familiarize our customers with them and to promote their use. From a business perspective, the TED units offer the potential of greatly increasing a hall's revenues and spend per player.''

According to Beacon Bingo, bingo is believed to be one of the U.K.'s most popular leisure activity with three million regular players and approximately 100 million bingo admissions each year at over 700 halls, with a total annual prize payout in excess of Billion British pounds sterling.

Whipple concluded: ``Our entry into the U.K. has a substantial revenue potential for GameTech, and we will be closely monitoring play and customer reactions to our electronic products. The removal of the maximum spending limit on bingo play, the great success of the National Bingo Game, the large number of substantial, high-quality halls and the public's enthusiasm for the game provide us with a very favorable environment for growth.''

GameTech International, Inc. is a leading supplier of a comprehensive line of electronic bingo equipment, including portable bingo units, fixed base units, and turnkey accounting and management software. The company supports its bingo operator customers with products that increase play, revenues and profits, and software customized to enhance management and operations, all backed by unparalleled customer service.

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