Colusa Casino Installs IGT's sbX(TM) Tier One Solution and Joins the List of Innovators

LAS VEGAS, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT), a global leader in creating the games players love and network systems that improve the player experience, announced today that Colusa Casino in Northern California has installed the sbX™ Tier One package.

"The future of gaming is here," said Victor Fernandez, Colusa Casino general manager. "IGT's sbX™ Tier One systems tool gives us that competitive advantage we want and need. Because of sbX™, we can cater to our customers, give them the games they want, when they want, and we're the first in Northern California to do it. And when you can get something before your competitors and use it right away, you're miles ahead of the game."

sbX™ is a casino systems tool kit that lets casino operators design and deliver customized player experiences. sbX™ Tier One is a lease-based package that combines sbX™ Floor Manager (a game optimization and library access tool) and IGT's AVP® machines, plus access to nearly 300 game themes with new themes added each month. The Tier One package is designed to provide a partial-floor, server-based game management solution with the potential of an eventual floor-wide conversion.

"With sbX™, we can offer our players a much larger menu of game themes," Fernandez said. "If the game they would like to play is not available on a particular machine, we can still cater directly to the customer. We can allow the customer to choose from all of the games on the server, I can go back to the office, download the theme the player wants, and return to him and say 'you're ready to go.' We're thrilled to be able to move past the days of once-per-year theme conversions. We're also thrilled with the flexibility the sbX™ Tier One scaled package affords us. It's nice to know that as a mid-size house, we can tap into some of the same advantages a property like ARIA has."

sbX™ is currently installed at ARIA at City Center and Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. The sbX™ Tier One package is currently installed at Ameristar St. Charles Casino Resort, Barona Resort and Casino, FireKeepers Casino, MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City Casino Hotel, and IP Biloxi Casino Resort. And on an international scale, sbX™ is currently installed at Casino d'Evian in France and will install this spring at Grand Casino Helsinki in Finland, and Casino di Venezia and Casino de la Valee, both in Italy.

"We view sbX™ in the same respect as application-based content that you can currently download for your mobile computing devices," Kevin Parker, director of casino operations at Colusa Casino, said. "This allows us the flexibility to offer a wide array of base games while simultaneously offering the customer games on demand. Plus, the use of the AVP® platform, in conjunction with IGT's multi-layer display, allows us to offer both video and reel content on the same machine at the same time. This affords our customers the ability to change from one very distinct gaming experience to the other, seamlessly, while never leaving their chairs.

"And because sbX™ is built upon GSA standards and protocols, our future with this product is wide open. Through sbX™, we could eventually tap into all kinds of developers for content using this 'plug and play technology,' much like we do today for our phones and home computers. The opportunities are substantial for Colusa, our players and sbX™."

sbX™ is built on GSA open protocols, providing the gaming industry with a total GSA-compliant solution. GSA-compliancy means IGT adheres to a set of protocols agreed upon by the industry. These protocols enable systems and products from a variety of manufacturers to integrate from the moment a casino operator launches them.

"Colusa Casino is cutting edge and progressive," said Eric Tom, IGT executive vice president of sales and marketing. "The tribal commitment to innovation is extraordinary, and their foresight into the future of gaming is paramount. They've recognized the need for sbX™, and we can't wait to watch this customer reap the benefits of this progressive and industry-changing product. Congratulations, Colusa."

About IGT

International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products worldwide. More information about IGT is available at www.IGT.com.

SOURCE IGT