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GLG Extends UK Contract1 November 2005WEST PATERSON, New Jersey – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Interactive Systems Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: ISWI) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Global Interactive Gaming Limited ("GIG") has extended its recently signed agreement with Littlewoods Betdirect, one of the UK's leading home gaming companies and part of Sportech PLC (LSE: SPO.L). Under the agreement addendum, ISWI's SportXction(R) play-by-play sports betting system will be offered over mobile phones and personal digital assistant devices using WAP and Java technologies. Under terms similar to the internet arrangement, which will provide GIG with a share of the wagering revenue, GIG will furnish the technology and operate the system, and Littlewoods Betdirect has committed to a series of marketing initiatives to promote the product and will be responsible for first level customer support and processing customer financial transactions. Littlewoods Betdirect has also agreed to bear certain development and integration costs. Bernard Albanese, President of ISWI, stated, "This latest agreement is excellent news for both companies. We are pleased that Littlewoods Betdirect customers will soon have complete freedom to use our play-by-play betting product anywhere they can receive wireless service. We anticipate that this next generation mobile phone offering will allow Littlewoods Betdirect to differentiate itself to both current and prospective customers by offering the most comprehensive in-run betting service available to the public." Neil Wooding, Head of Mobile for Sportech PLC, said, "We are very excited about adding this unique product to our existing suite of mobile offerings. We have been encouraged by the results of our mobile sportsbook launch earlier this year and see great potential for live betting on this platform. It is our intent to launch the enhanced service in the early part of 2006 in preparation for the World Cup, and look forward to a marketing campaign for this new service which will include a combination of on-line and print media." The agreement is for an initial 12-month term and Littlewoods Betdirect will incorporate the SportXction(R) system into all of the currently available sports offered on its wireless network, including football, cricket, golf, tennis, rugby, basketball, snooker and darts, which are expected to culminate into 1,500 events collectively during 2006. The mobile market in the UK is one of the most advanced in the world and 82% of UK adults currently own a mobile phone. Gambling by mobile phone has shown impressive growth, with the number of betting pages downloaded expected to approach three million this year, a rise of 367% on 2004. |