Player hits major jackpot in Kansas City

WAUKEGAN, Illinois -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- WMS Gaming Inc., a leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of games and gaming machines to the global gaming industry, announced that it has awarded its 200th Wide Area Progressive (WAP) jackpot since the Company’s debut of WAP gaming machines in 2004. The watershed moment was achieved when, on March 5, a lucky winner from Kansas City, Kan., won a jackpot of more than $600,000 on a MONOPOLY ADVANCE TO BOARDWALK™ slot machine at Harrah's North Kansas City Casino & Hotel, in North Kansas City, Mo. With this win, total jackpot awards for WMS WAP gaming machines has surpassed $115 million.

“Our 200th jackpot payout is a testament to the high level of player entertainment on the WMS WAP games, which create consistent product loyalty from slot players and drive higher coin-in for casino operators,” said Orrin Edidin, President, WMS Gaming. “We continue to build on our proven reputation for coupling innovation and technology with an exciting and dynamic play experience that reflects our ability to anticipate and satisfy players’ expectations.”

Tom Cook, general manager at Harrah’s Casino said, “WMS machines have always been very popular on our floors. It’s a thrill for us to be part of this exciting moment in history and we consider being the home of the 200th WMS Wide Area Progressive payout a truly celebratory occasion.”

The milestone comes in the midst of a true hot streak on WMS WAP slot machines. In late January, the largest WMS WAP jackpot ever, totaling more than $4.9 million, was won on THE WIZARD OF OZ™ RUBY SLIPPERS™ penny slot game at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, Atlantic City, N.J. In February alone, there were five jackpot awards totaling approximately $3.5 million, including WMS awarded WAP jackpots of more than $445,000 on a MONOPOLY™ themed machine at Riverwalk Casino and Hotel, Vicksburg, Miss. ,$600,000 on a POWERBALL® IT’S AMERICA’S GAME® themed machine at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., and $1.4 million on a The Price is Right® Punch-a-Bunch® machine, at Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, in Lemoore, Calif.

With an uncompromising focus on Player Driven Innovation™ in its product development process, WMS combines advanced, groundbreaking technologies and engaging game content to consistently innovate new products and technologies that deliver highly engaging entertainment experiences for slot players. Furthermore, the Company’s unyielding commitment to Unleash Imagination™ creates opportunities for casino operators to increase slot machine coin-in, differentiate their slot floors and benefit from operational efficiencies. New WMS games that highlight the Company’s excellence in creativity and development: include THE PRICE IS RIGHT® The Ultimate Show™,YAHTZEE™, Attack from Mars™/Revenge from Mars™ and MONOPOLY Around the Globe™ games.