Silicon Gaming Fans - Watch for New Games

23 March 1997

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Silicon Gaming Inc. (Nasdaq: SGIC), announced that the Nevada Gaming Commission gave final regulatory approval to initiate sales of its Odyssey slot machines in Nevada. The first machines will be made available in various Station Casinos Properties in Las Vegas beginning later this month. Silicon Gaming is a development company engaged in the design and manufacture of next generation interactive slot machines for use in casinos and other gaming establishments.

"This is surely the most significant milestone Silicon Gaming has achieved thus far, representing the culmination of three years and $20 million in development," said Donald J. Massaro, chairman of the board, CEO and president of Silicon Gaming. "Our goal was to take the best of slot gaming and add a whole new dimension of creativity and excitement."

The final regulatory approval in Nevada was based on an extensive nine-month approval process including an examination of the software code and hardware testing, as well as a 60-day floor trial. The approval process is designed to ensure fairness for both the player and casino operator.

Available First at Station Casinos, Las Vegas

The approval of the Odyssey for sale in Las Vegas represents the first step in introducing the machine to the public. The first machines will be placed at Boulder Station and Texas Station Gambling Hall and Hotel in Las Vegas on March 24 and at Palace Station on March 26 in Las Vegas. Station Casinos and Silicon Gaming will be celebrating this notable occasion with a special slot tournament starting on April 7, and an official launch and awards ceremony at Boulder Station on April 11.

Silicon Gaming has sales commitments for more than 500 units from casinos throughout Nevada; plans include installation of at least 400 Odyssey units by the end of the second quarter.

Innovation: What Makes the Odyssey so Different?

Silicon Gaming believes that the Odyssey is unlike any slot machine currently available. Easy to play, traditional games (such as reels, keno and poker) are given a whole new magnitude of entertainment with an oversized (26") display, high-resolution, three-dimensional animation and graphics, full motion video and dynamic sound. Players have their choice of using the touchscreen, buttons or even a traditional pull handle for their wagering. Bonus features built into each game add to the excitement. Other features of the games include entertainment such as trivia games which run during play stoppage.

The Odyssey has a multi-game format, with six themed animated games. The initial game offerings include:

Fort Knox takes the player on an imaginary journey to the main vault of the famous treasury depository. Once inside, giant combination reels spin for a chance to hit the jackpot, complete with vault doors which swing open to spill "gold" coins into the tray. The longer the play, the better the chance to match a Master Combination Code and win a bonus award.

Phantom Belle admits the player to a game of draw poker on the haunted remains of a beautifully-preserved Mississippi Riverboat. Players test their luck against a ghostly dealer, while chips slide across the table after every deal.

Win-O-Matic is a faithful reproduction of a classic 1950's slot machine. The game is easy to play and features nostalgic symbols like cherries, lemons and oranges. Authentic sound and realistic visuals let the player take a trip back to a bygone era.

Dazzling Diamonds is a mesmerizing version of a traditional three-reel slot game. Stunning graphics and magical sounds provide a fitting setting for a "dazzling" double jackpot symbol.

Krazy Keno is a whimsical version of keno with a colorful background, wacky sounds and flying balls which sail through the air to land on 20 numbered spots. If they match the spots selected by the player, the player wins. A jackpot ball gives a chance to triple a maximum bet.

Star Spangled Keno uses a patriotic theme complete with stars, stripes, fireworks and marching band music to give an all-American flair to the game of keno.

The machines are also designed to make maintenance easy for casino employees and operators. A SmartSignal(TM) candle on top of the Odyssey lights up with different colors and flashes at different rates to let employees know at a glance the nature of the service call (jackpot, fill, tilt or change) as well as how long the customer has been waiting. And the service operator can quickly access several screens on the monitor to get a quick look at the status of recent play and currency exchange or check the whole system.

Silicon Gaming has also pioneered an innovative approach to handle play stoppage conditions. In the event the games are interrupted -- for instance for a jackpot payout -- a live action video character named "Professor Jack Potts" pops up on the screen to explain the nature of the interruption and to introduce a series of short vignettes and games while the player is waiting for an attendant.

Founded in 1993, Silicon Gaming is focusing on improving the wagering experience for slot players by producing slot machines which combine an advanced multimedia gaming platform with content-rich, software-based games. By providing what the company believes to be better entertainment value for players, Silicon Gaming hopes to offer enhanced revenue opportunities for casinos and other gaming establishments.