RENO, Nev., Feb 20, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Argosy Gaming (NYSE: AGY) has signed an agreement with IGT, a subsidiary of International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT), to purchase up to 4,000 new EZ Play(TM) gaming machines and retrofits for up to another 1,000 existing IGT machines over the next two years to help facilitate a complete changeover to ticket payouts at its six casinos in the Midwest and southern United States.

"Our target is to offer the convenience of ticket-in ticket-out technology to our guests on 100% of our gaming machines by the end of calendar year 2004, pending regulatory approval," said Richard J. Glasier, President. "This new technology offers operational efficiencies for our company, but most importantly it improves customer service."

IGT's EZ Play(TM) machines include standard reel spinning slots, video slots, poker machines and multi game machines that accept coins or currency, offer multi denomination wagering functionality and are equipped with ticket printers which dispense vouchers to players when they cash out.

The new machines are compatible with almost every new ticket system available today and will operate at the Argosy casinos in conjunction with existing ATI Quickets(TM) module of the OASIS(TM) Casino Management System to offer players the latest in customer service and convenience. Players can insert the dispensed tickets into other compatible machines, hold them for future play or convert them to cash via various options without the hassle of handling coins or waiting for hopper fills.

More than 100,000 machines (over 10% of all machines in operation domestically) offer ticket payouts, and the number is growing quickly. Argosy joins other major casino companies including Park Place Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Horseshoe Gaming, Station Casinos, Coast Resorts, and others who have already made, or are making, the switch to ticket equipped machines.

"We're pleased to support Argosy Gaming in their upgrade program and excited by the growing demand for our EZ Play(TM) machines," said Tom Baker, President and CEO of IGT. "But most of all, we are thrilled by the player response to tickets."

Argosy is a leading owner and operator of riverboat casinos and related entertainment and hotel facilities in the Midwest and southern United States. Argosy owns and operates the Alton Belle Casino in Alton, Illinois, serving the St. Louis metropolitan market; the Argosy Casino-Riverside in Missouri, serving the greater Kansas City metropolitan market; the Argosy Casino-Baton Rouge in Louisiana; the Belle of Sioux City in Iowa; the Argosy Casino- Lawrenceburg in Indiana, serving the Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan markets; and the Empress Casino Joliet in Illinois serving the greater Chicagoland market.

IGT is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of microprocessor-based gaming and lottery products and software systems in all jurisdictions where gaming and lotteries are legal.

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