LAS VEGAS, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. has entered into an agreement with slot manufacturer IGT (NYSE:IGT) to upgrade its Horseshoe Casino slot floors in Bossier City, La.; Tunica, Miss.; and Hammond, Ind. with EZ Pay(R) Ticket Systems and new EZ Play(TM) ticket-in/ticket-out slots and video machines.

"First and foremost, Horseshoe is about taking care of the gambler," said owner Jack Binion. "We define our customer service in many ways, and this innovation is just another example of how Horseshoe provides ease and convenience to our players."

The program includes the purchase of more than 3,000 new IGT machines and three EZ Pay(R) systems to be installed over the next three years, along with retrofits of EZ Pay(R)-ready machines to offer ticket functionality on 100% of the machines on Horseshoe's three casino floors.

"We are thrilled to provide the machines and systems to bring tickets to the Horseshoe properties," said Tom Baker, president and CEO of IGT. "This is another endorsement of the hard work and development that went into creating the EZ Pay(R) Ticket System and EZ Play(TM) machines with ticket printers. It's a win-win for the Horseshoe casinos and their players."

The Horseshoe deal is the latest in a wave of casinos that are installing ticket systems and ticket-equipped machines. IGT recently announced its 100th installation of EZ Pay(R) Ticket Systems worldwide. Horseshoe Gaming joins Park Place Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Coast Resorts and others on the growing list of prominent casino corporations that have embraced the new ticket technology.

"We are very excited that Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. has selected our EZ Pay(R) system to provide the latest in ticket-in/ticket-out technology," said Rick Rowe, vice president and general manager of IGT Gaming Systems. "The EZ Pay(R) system continues to lead the industry by providing our customers with the functionality they need to continue to enhance and improve the gaming experience of their customers."

EZ Pay(R) technology combines ticket printers with traditional coin hopper pays to improve a gaming machine's cash-out function for players. Casino operators can program a machine to pay a portion of the payout in coins and the balance as a ticket. The ticket can then be reinserted into an EZ Play(TM) machine; exchanged for cash at a cashier's station; cashed by casino floor attendants with wireless validation units; or held by the player and used at a later time. The system can also be programmed to pay out tickets only, using the coin hopper as a backup.

IGT is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of microprocessor-based gaming and video lottery products and software systems in all jurisdictions where gaming and lotteries are legal. For more information on IGT, visit the company web site at www.IGT.com.

For more information on Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp., contact Roger Wagner, President and Chief Operating Officer, at (708) 429-8300 or visit their website at www.horseshoe.com.

Statements in this release, which are not historical facts, are "forward-looking" statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any of its forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed. IGT's future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent known and unknown risks and uncertainties. IGT does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update our forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. Information on risks and factors that could affect IGT's business and financial results are included in our public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: IGT

CONTACT: Ed Rogich of IGT, +1-702-896-8690

Web site: http://www.horseshoe.com/
http://www.igt.com/