LONDON & WAUKEGAN, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Reflecting its consistent focus on Changing the Game™for casino operators and their slot customers, WMS Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE:WMS), will debut over 100 WMS and Orion Gaming products at the International Gaming Expo 2010 (Earls Court 2: Booth #3400) in London, January 26-28, each enabled with innovative, proprietary technologies and player-appealing game content. The product line-up on display at the International Gaming Expo (IGE) is a testament to WMS’ proven and expanding ability to address worldwide gaming markets with new and next-generation products that are driving consistent global market share gains.

Brian R. Gamache, chairman and chief executive officer of WMS, stated, “WMS’ success in leveraging our ‘Culture of Innovation’ to drive the development of products that simultaneously deliver measurable value for casino operators and new, unparalleled gaming experiences for players will be readily apparent to attendees at IGE 2010. Our ability to address the specific needs of an increasing number of international markets with leading technology platforms and a broader portfolio of games is driving our international market share gains. The result is more WMS and Orion games on casino slot floors around the world than at any time in our history. By providing global casino operators and slot players with games that create dynamic player experiences, including the more than 100 exciting games on display at IGE, we expect to further our international market presence.”

IGE 2010 Product Highlights

WMS will demonstrate over 100 products at IGE 2010. Each product has been developed through an extensive process that leverages the Company’s Player Driven Innovation™to ensure the consistent delivery of high player-appeal game dynamics. The following are highlights of products WMS will display at IGE this year:

• 79 games from WMS, its most ever for international markets, including 39 unique titles on the popular Bluebirdâ„¢2 platform; 30 titles enabled with next-generation capabilities for WMS’ four foundational technology platforms and the international introduction of the Bluebird xDâ„¢ gaming cabinet
• 26 games featured on Orion’s new Helios gaming cabinet including Orion’s popular Game Pack™multi-game offering; the networked gaming Glamour Cashâ„¢ series and Group Winsâ„¢ titles offering community gaming bonus round experiences

Helios Gaming Cabinet and Platform

One of the highlights of IGE 2010 will be the display of Orion’s new Helios gaming cabinet, which features the choice of either a single or dual screens for high-resolution game graphics. The Helios cabinet addresses specific international markets where leading gaming entertainment is in demand, but at popular prices, to create an appealing, value-featured solution. Helios addresses this demand with an attractive gaming cabinet and great game content at a lower price point than found in premium cabinet offerings. Helios is powered by the robust N-Able™platform and delivers Orion’s diverse library of popular, player-appealing standalone and multi-game products. The cabinet includes high-resolution video and high-quality audio and can be configured in multiple denominations and languages based on player selections. The Company will showcase 26 titles at IGE 2010 on the Helios gaming platform.

Gamache commented, “The Helios gaming cabinet is very clear evidence of WMS’ ability to remain true to our core principle of leading through innovation, while delivering products that meet the specific dynamic needs of our customers and markets around the world. In many international markets, our network-enabled Bluebird2 gaming device has already achieved a strong and growing share of the slot floor. For those markets where a value-priced offering would allow casino operators to generate an appropriate return on their investment, Helios is the perfect solution. By delivering products with unique gaming experiences that consistently generate high player appeal in an attractive and appropriately priced platform, WMS is furthering its ability to expand our presence in international markets.”

New products in the Helios cabinet on display at IGE 2010 include:

• Group Wins - Group Wins addresses the Community Gamingâ„¢ segment of the slot floor, bringing the excitement of a table game environment to the slot floor by allowing players to play collaboratively and enjoy game excitement together. Orion’s Group Wins offerings at IGE 2010 will feature the Pirates of the Golden Shores™and Wolf Trailâ„¢ series, with the Venetian Romanceâ„¢ and Sexy Mermaids™games
• The Game Pack series is a versatile multi-game product series, which provides operators with the ability to deliver a number of games in one cabinet. The multi-game pack offers 5 new games in one machine providing the player with more options by allowing them to change games by simply pressing the “Change Game” button at the bottom of the screen. Four game sets will be on display at IGE 2010
• Glamour Cash - Orion Gaming’s networked gaming product continues to gain market appreciation and new games this year take the entertainment experience to a whole new level. Four new titles will be on display at IGE 2010 (Nubian Goldâ„¢, Imperial Dragonsâ„¢, Samba Paradeâ„¢ and Lucky Leprechaunsâ„¢). Glamour Cash is a 5-level local-area mystery progressive product that enriches the player experience with prizes that can transport them to a whole new world of glamour. The Glamour Cash mystery progressive is randomly triggered and the prize level (diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire or amethyst) is awarded based on the sum of numbers that appear on each reel
• Orion Deluxeâ„¢ - Creating a captivating visual experience with high-resolution game graphics through dual screen video monitors on the Twinstar™II and Helios platforms and available on the Twin Hitâ„¢ Dual-level Progressive system, four new titles will be featured at IGE 2010 (Temptation Queen™II, Splash™II, Mexican Gold™II and The Three Musketeersâ„¢). There is sure to be a lot of excitement for the players who unearth the hidden treasures and prizes of Ancient Egypt in Temptation Queen II and join The Three Musketeers to foil the King’s evil rival.
• AnyWay™and AnyWay Plus™- Orion’s AnyWay series of games, in which players purchase reels instead of lines, debuted at last year’s international show and is back this year with two new games. AnyWay Plus advances the game play of the AnyWay series by offering the player more winning combinations, with up to 1,024 ways to win through scatter pay combinations and a highly volatile game experience. This enhanced game play feature makes its debut at IGE 2010 with two new games, Hummingbirdsâ„¢ and Luau Paradiseâ„¢

In addition to products specifically addressing international markets, WMS will debut at IGE 2010 nearly 80 games for the global market that demonstrate the Company’s ability to build on its leadership position in the development of games that deliver unrivalled player experiences and reflect its commitment to offer new games simultaneously in multiple global markets. The majority of these games will be featured on the Company’s Bluebird2 gaming platform which debuted for international customers at IGE 2009 and which continues to gain increasing traction in global markets since its introduction in late 2008. WMS will also debut for international customers the Bluebird xD gaming cabinet, one of the best-received new gaming products at the recent G2E gaming show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The innovative Bluebird xD gaming cabinet establishes an entirely new level of player entertainment experience through engineered advancements in cabinet functionality designed to take advantage of the unique game content enhancements enabled by networked gaming applications.

Thirty games enabled with next-generation capability for WMS’ four foundational technology platforms - Community Gaming, Adaptive Gamingâ„¢, Transmissive Reels™technology and Sensory Immersion Gaming - will be on display at IGE 2010, including: THE WIZARD OF OZ™Ruby Slippers™an entirely new product that extends this iconic brand by combining the visual and audio excitement of WMS’ Sensory Immersion platform on the Bluebird2 gaming cabinet delivering a wide-screen, high-definition trip down the yellow brick road. In addition, 37 games for WMS’ popular Innovation, Hot Hot Super Jackpotâ„¢, Bonus Bank, Max Winâ„¢ and G+â„¢ video reel series will be on display as will games featured for the recently introduced G+ 5x4 and G+ High Denom series. A total of 24 three- or five-reel Transmissive Reels games will be on display. Finally, WMS will debut 8 unique games for the emerging Italian VLT gaming market at this year’s show.

Further highlighting its future vision and track record for delivering industry leading content, applications and technology innovation to create new player engagement opportunities, WMS also will debut its capabilities and solutions that harness the scale of the Internet to pursue online wagering opportunities in the United Kingdom. This initiative is expected to launch in fiscal 2011 (subject to regulatory approval and in compliance with The Gambling Act of 2005).

Gamache noted, “WMS has been fortunate to attract some of the brightest and best talent in the gaming industry and we look forward to expanding our presence in the UK marketplace and delivering our innovative content through new distribution channels.”

Gamache concluded, “One of the keys to WMS’ ongoing success is our ability to offer customers around the world the best games in the industry that feature entertainment experiences never before offered on the casino slot floor. Growing our international market share is one of WMS’ five strategic priorities and our proof points demonstrating progress against our strategic initiatives continue to grow. We expect our product previews at IGE 2010 to garner an even greater level of interest and enthusiasm from our international customers than the already tremendous level of acceptance our products have gained worldwide from both customers and players - once again demonstrating that WMS is leading the industry in Changing the Game.”

Product names mentioned in this release are trademarks of WMS and its subsidiaries, except for the following:

G2E is a trademark of Reed Elsevier Inc. and the American Gaming Association.

THE WIZARD OF OZ and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Turner Entertainment Co. (10)

About WMS Industries

WMS is engaged in serving the gaming industry worldwide by designing, manufacturing and marketing video and reel-spinning gaming machines, video lottery terminals, and in gaming operations, which consists of the placement of leased participation gaming machines in legal gaming venues. WMS is proactively addressing the next stage of casino gaming floor evolution with its WAGE-NETâ„¢ networked gaming solution, a suite of four platform technologies and system applications designed to increase the revenue generating capabilities and operational efficiency. More information on WMS can be found at www.wms.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning our products, plans, strategies, outlook, pending regulatory matters and future business performance. Forward-looking statements may be typically identified by such words as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any or all of our forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Consequently, no forward-looking statements may be guaranteed. Factors which could cause our actual results to differ from expectations include (1) delay or refusal by regulators to approve our new gaming platforms, cabinet designs, game themes and related hardware and software; (2) a failure to obtain and maintain our gaming licenses and regulatory approvals; (3) an inability to introduce in a timely manner new games and gaming machines that achieve and maintain market acceptance; (4) a decrease in the desire of casino customers to upgrade gaming machines or allot floor space to leased or participation games, resulting in reduced demand for our products; (5) a reduction in capital spending or interruption in payments by casino customers associated with business weakness or economic uncertainty that adversely affects our customers' ability to make purchases or pay; (6) a reduction in play levels of our participation games by casino patrons; (7) cancellation or modification by customers of new gaming machine or participation orders; (8) a software anomaly or fraudulent manipulation of our gaming machines and software; (9) a failure to obtain the right to use, or an inability to adapt to rapid development of new technologies; (10) an infringement claim seeking to restrict our use of material technologies; and (11) the unfavorable outcome of any legal proceedings in which we may be involved from time to time. These factors and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations are more fully described under “Item 1. Business-Risk Factors” and “Legal Proceedings” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009 and our more recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Source: WMS Gaming Inc.