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Youbet's debuts 'Playing to Win'

WOODLAND HILLS, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Youbet.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBET) took its first step into original programming last Friday when Playing to Win debuted at the company's website. Host Andy Serling and guest handicapper Mike Watchmaker dueled on the show's Pro's Picks segment with Watchmaker citing eventual winners in the Wood Memorial (Nobiz Like Shobiz) and the Illinois Derby (Countdown Cat).

Serling pledged to wear a dunce cap if Countdown Cat won in Illinois, a promise he'll make good on this Friday at noon eastern at Youbet.com/playingtowin. Both handicappers got shut out of the money when 29-1 shot Tiago won the Santa Anita Derby.

Playing to Win is the new 30-minute horse race handicapping series that airs live at Youbet's website each Friday though the Breeders Cup in October. The series, hosted by betting expert Andy Serling, is being presented by the Daily Racing Form (DRF) and features top DRF handicappers including Mike Watchmaker, Andy Beyer and Dan Illman. The show is produced by Bruen Productions, a Youbet subsidiary. Replays are available online right after each airing.

"Serling is outstanding and outrageous in his first series effort," said Youbet marketing VP Tom Levenick, "and we're enabling those behaviors with program segments that let Andy and his guests delve into serious handicapping ... and pursue the secrets of the game through regular program features like 'Hidden Horse' and 'Out-of-the-Box.' Both segments will let Serling point to horses and races that he thinks viewers ought to keep an eye on."

Next week's guest handicapper is Andy Beyer. Levenick said that the show can take full advantage of online broadcasting techniques to create a highly interactive viewer experience. "As the audience develops," he said, "we expect to introduce features that let viewers chat with the experts online or on the phone."

In addition to fan interest, the show is expected to appeal to Youbet's track partners as editorial and other content is developed.

"We appeal to a young audience," said Youbet CEO Charles F. Champion, "and Playing to Win is another example of how we hope to increase loyalty to our brand by using today's broadcast technology to enhance the online experience of our customers. The new generation of bettors wants information that comes in highly animated, highly visual formats ... and that is the demand we are seeking to satisfy with this series."

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