Shuffle Master's Latest Innovations Take Center Stage At The Australasian Gaming Expo

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Shuffle Master, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select Market: SHFL) ("Shuffle Master" or the "Company") today announced it will Deliver More with a comprehensive range of product innovations during the Australasian Gaming Expo ("AGE") at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, August 21-23, 2012. Product demonstrations will be available at booth #1300.

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"Our commitment to developing products that are designed to deliver more profitability to casino operators and more fun and excitement to players has never been stronger, and our phenomenal lineup at AGE this year proves it," said Adrian Halpenny, President of Shuffle Master Australasia.  "We are confident that no other gaming supplier offers such a wide range of innovations across multiple product categories and our latest innovations underscore how we are uniquely positioned to address the many diverse needs of players and casino operators."

Gavin Isaacs, Chief Executive Officer of Shuffle Master, added, "We have been eagerly anticipating and preparing for this year's AGE and cannot wait to reveal a surprise innovation on Tuesday that we believe will be the highlight of the entire show.  This new product launch represents the collaborative efforts of our engineers, game developers and hardware design teams and is a huge milestone for our team."

The exhibit will highlight key innovations from four of the Company's product categories: electronic gaming machines, utility products, specialty table games, and e-tables. These products will show how Shuffle Master delivers...

...More of an Edge with High-Performance Games for the Equinox™ Cabinet

Since its introduction into the Australian marketplace less than two years ago, the Equinox cabinet has witnessed remarkable success, doubling year-on-year ship share and branching into international markets. This year's lineup will spotlight 10 new titles, including:

Epic Quest™, a new $1 stand-alone progressive that introduces a new jackpot triggering mechanism. During free games, players can win bonus credit prizes and multiple jackpots in a single spin. Epic Quest was designed to resonate with the player base in the NSW hotel market.

88 Fortunes™ incorporates several exciting elements and has already evoked a lot of interest from customers who have received a preview. Features include: "Reelways" where all symbols pay as scatters creating 243 winning combinations, "All Up" gameplay where all lines are in play regardless of bet amount, and a new interactive second screen jackpot feature.

Shuffle Master's slots lineup will also feature: I Ching 5 Jewels™, Eureka Diamond Mine™, Samurai Spirit™, Kelly's Gold™, and a brand new intriguing title, which the Company will reveal at the show. All of the titles offer unique features like new mathematical models, new jackpot triggers, and new themes.

...More Player Engagement with the Super Top Box for Equinox

This add-on for the Equinox cabinet includes four interactive multi-feature games that are randomly triggered.  Jackpot prizes can be won in conjunction with bonus feature games and combine the highly acclaimed Equinox cabinet with a 32" LCD top-box surrounded by a stunning themed trim. Lotus Magic™, which is the newest installment in the Super Top Box series, will be featured at the show.

...More Productivity from New e-Table Developments

Rapid Table Games™ Multi Game builds upon the Company's successful Rapid line of products, which combine a live dealer with a touch-screen betting interface and offer superior game security and increased productivity for casino operators. Rapid Multi Game includes a multigame feature for optimal flexibility, allowing players to choose between Baccarat, Roulette, or Sic Bo without ever having to leave their seats.

Vegas Star Roulette Live™ Multi Game will also be featured at the exhibit. Vegas Star Roulette Live provides all the efficiencies of a fully electronic table with the added benefit of a live electronic wheel and ball.  The compact design can accommodate up to 10 individual player terminals with flexible and configurable bet limits.  Like Rapid Multi Game, each Vegas Star player station allows players to select between four games without ever having to leave their seats. 

The Company's Signature Chair will be highlighted at the show and will feature an LCD touchscreen, ports for mobile phone charging, and multi and single-game support on all Vegas Star and Rapid platforms.  Additionally, the Company will introduce its new 22-inch Widescreen for Vegas Star and Rapid, which adds five inches of display to the original terminals.  Widescreen enables greater player interaction and provides for a powerful and compelling user interface.  It is easy to navigate the player screen and has heightened focal touchscreen sensitivity, making the player experience an easy transition from familiar smartphones.

...More Cutting-Edge Technology with New i-Table™ Innovations

Installed in over 15 casinos in North America, the i-Table Roulette^™ features a roulette table with a live wheel, ball and dealer, and has an identical footprint to a traditional table, while providing the added functionality and benefits of electronic wagering. I-Table Roulette's central display screen replicates a felt layout and virtual betting stations resolve all bets accurately and instantaneously enhancing security, accuracy, and speed.  I-Table Roulette has stunning graphics, an intuitive interface, and its inherent game-integrity enhance the experience for both the player and the dealer.   

i-Table™ for Specialty Games combines the excitement of Shuffle Master's specialty table games with a live dealer, live cards, and an electronic betting interface. All payouts are automatically reconciled, eliminating dealer errors that commonly occur due to complex pay tables, thus increasing game accuracy, security, and speed. Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em(SM), and blackjack for i-Table will be featured at the show.

...More Security through Enhanced Utility Offerings

Shuffle Master's card shufflers are renowned to deliver productivity, profitability, and security; the new MD3^™ card shuffler is no exception. Using proven optical card-reading technology, the MD3 scans and verifies pre-shuffled baccarat and blackjack decks right at the table. Featuring an innovative platform and gripper system, the MD3 counts and shuffles up to eight decks of cards quickly and quietly, with significantly reduced wear and tear. The MD3 also features an optional on-board ticket printer that produces a receipt of the deck verification results right at the table.

Other Utility offerings highlighted at the show include the one2six multi-deck continuous shuffler; iDeal shuffler for single-deck specialty games; the iScore baccarat viewer; the Deckmate shuffler for poker; and the Easy Chipper D chip sorter.

...More Fun with Popular Specialty Table Games Brands

Free Bet Blackjack and Face Up Stud Poker will be front and center in the booth, in addition to House Money, Shuffle Master's newest blackjack side bet. House Money adds an exciting new dimension of decision-making to the traditional game of blackjack. Players have the ability to add some or all of their side bet winnings into their regular blackjack bet. This allows players to control their own destiny and operators benefit from a greater house advantage and blackjack hold.

About Shuffle Master, Inc.

Shuffle Master, Inc. is a leading global gaming supplier committed to making gaming more fun for players and more profitable for operators through product innovation, and superior quality and service. The Company operates in legalized gaming markets across the globe and provides state-of-the-art, value-add products in five distinct categories: Utility products, which include automatic card shufflers and roulette chip sorters; Proprietary Table Games, which includes live games, side bets and progressives; Electronic Table Systems, which include various e-Table game platforms; Electronic Gaming Machines, which include video slot machines; and newly introduced iGaming, which features online versions of Shuffle Master's table games, social gaming, and mobile applications. The Company is included in the S&P Smallcap 600 Index. Information about the Company and its products can be found on the Internet at www.shufflemaster.com, or on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements included in this release other than statements that are purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation: our expectation that our products will perform as they are designed to do and to and will meet the profitability, performance and innovation expectations; our anticipation that all of our products and game titles will be accepted in all of our markets, will be commercially successful or will be in-demand by casinos and their customers; our strategy and ability for innovation and exploitation of our brands and intellectual property across all of our product lines, including our Shuffle Interactive content; our belief that the requirements of our privileged licenses will not be changed, altered or revoked in a manner that would impact our ability to conduct our business or market our products as currently conducted or as we anticipate doing so. Our beliefs, expectations, forecasts, objectives, anticipations, intentions and strategies regarding the future, including without limitation those concerning expected operating results, revenues and earnings are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: our unanticipated inability to accomplish our innovation objectives or our inability to accurately gauge the commercial appeal of our products; unexpected changes in the market and economic conditions and reduced demand for or increased competition with Shuffle Master's products; increased infringement on Shuffle Master's intellectual property or proprietary brands; unanticipated changes in the laws, rules or regulations governing gaming and iGaming.

™ and SM notices signify a mark owned or registered by Shuffle Master company in the United States and elsewhere.

SOURCE Shuffle Master, Inc.