In a move designed to enhance the guest experience at all of its properties, MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGG) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) to provide for ticket-in ticket-out technology using IGT EZ Pay™ ticket payouts on its slot machines throughout its major casino resorts.
Under the agreement, MGM MIRAGE will install EZ Pay™ systems at The Mirage, New York-New York, Treasure Island, Bellagio, MGM Grand and Golden Nugget in Las Vegas; Primm Valley Resorts in Nevada; MGM Grand in Detroit; as well as Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS. Installation of the systems, approximately 7,000 new gaming machines and retrofits of existing compatible machines, is underway and scheduled to be completed by summer 2003.
The installation of EZ Pay™ is a further enhancement to a dramatically upgraded slot product and experience just now becoming available at MGM MIRAGE through the advent of the company's new Players Club loyalty rewards system.
"MGM MIRAGE properties have developed a reputation for excellent customer service and extraordinary entertainment experiences," said Robert H. Baldwin, President and CEO of Mirage Resorts, and the executive in charge of implementing this initiative for the Company. "By using ticket technology in combination with our cutting-edge Players Club loyalty programs, we will further enhance our leadership position in the gaming industry."
Ticket payouts provide players with the added convenience of not having to hassle with handling coins when they cash out and provide less interruption of play due to coin fills on machines. Recent surveys indicate that 80 percent of players prefer tickets to coins.
"The advent of EZ Pay™ ticket payouts allows employees additional time to interact with customers, thus increasing the overall player experience. As a result, customers' acceptance of the ticket payout systems during field trials has been exceptional," Baldwin said.
MGM MIRAGE has a history of leadership and innovation in slot machine play characteristics and technological support. In 1993, the company was the first to implement its patented cashless technology at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and its own in-house progressive slot system (Fast Buck). The Company also recently launched Quicksilver, which is a multi-property multi-denomination progressive that offers nickel, quarter and dollar slot machines on the same link.
In addition, the company's new Players Club program tracks slots and table game play into a single account so players can quickly earn complimentary services and cash for their play at eight participating MGM MIRAGE properties.
Membership in the program is free, and several competitive advantages of Players Club include the fact that the full picture of a customer's casino play is captured -- for both slots and table games. This rewards customers for their total casino play at the company's casinos. Also the system's technology in the 18,000 slot machines will recognize a customer's activity in real time so that customers can be rewarded for their patronage immediately.
With Players Club, customers ultimately benefit from their play by affording themselves the opportunity to enjoy the many facets of the company's premier collection of resort-casinos by redeeming the rewards they accumulate.
"The combination of Players Club and EZ Pay™ provides MGM MIRAGE customers with the ultimate level of service, speed and rewards in the industry," added Baldwin.
MGM MIRAGE is an entertainment, hotel and gaming company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, which owns and/or operates through subsidiaries 15 casino properties. Its U.S. holdings include: Bellagio, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino - The City of Entertainment, The Mirage, Treasure Island, New York - New York Hotel and Casino, the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino and 50% of Monte Carlo, all located on the Las Vegas Strip; the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas; Whiskey Pete's, Buffalo Bill's, the Primm Valley Resort and two championship golf courses at the California/Nevada state line; the exclusive Shadow Creek golf course in North Las Vegas; the Golden Nugget in Laughlin, Nevada; the Beau Rivage resort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; and the MGM Grand Detroit Casino in Detroit, Michigan. The Company is a joint venture partner in Borgata at Renaissance Pointe, a resort under development in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Internationally, MGM MIRAGE owns and operates the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Darwin, Australia.
For more information on MGM MIRAGE and its operating subsidiaries, visit our website at www.mgmmirage.com.
Statements in this release which are not historical facts are "forward looking" statements and "safe harbor statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and/or uncertainties, including risks and/or uncertainties as described in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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. For more information on International Game Technology, visit their website at http://www.igt.com/. Statements in this release that are not historical facts may be "forward looking" statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These matters involve risks and uncertainties. More information on factors that could affect the business and financial results of International Game Technology is included in the company's Annual Report, on Form 10-K, and in other public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Make Your Opinion Count - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X37303621
SOURCE: MGM MIRAGE
CONTACT: Investment Community, James J. Murren, President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer, +1-702-693-8877, or Media, Alan Feldman,
Senior Vice President Public Affairs, +1-702-891-7147, both of MGM MIRAGE
Web site: http://www.igt.com/
Web site: http://www.mgmmirage.com/