EDITH Cashless Gaming Kiosk Set to Transform Cash Access on the Gaming Floor; Honored as One of the Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Products

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2006--As cashless gaming gains momentum with gaming establishments and their patrons and with the ultimate goal to create a true cashless environment, the gaming industry is taking notice of EDITH (Electronic Debit Interactive Terminal Housing), which has been recognized as one of Casino Journal's Top 20 Most Innovative New Gaming Technology Products of 2005. The competition honors technological excellence in the gaming industry.

EDITH is a compact kiosk placed at the end of a row of slot machines where it occupies less than one-square-foot of space and allows casino patrons to purchase slot, or ticket-in ticket-out (TITO), vouchers with their debit card. EDITH was developed by QuikPlay, LLC, a joint venture formed by Global Cash Access (GCA), a leading provider of cash access products and related services to the gaming industry, and International Game Technology (IGT).

"EDITH was nominated because of its unique design, innovative implementation and potential to impact casino cash access operations as patrons become more accustomed to increased convenience when using their debit cards and slot vouchers. We created EDITH in partnership with IGT to take advantage of ticket-in ticket-out technologies that have proliferated across slot floors," said Tom Sears, executive vice president business development for GCA. "We believe cashless gaming is a major trend and we're continuously developing innovative technologies that will result in significant cost savings for operators."

EDITH is reliable and simple to use. Gaming establishment patrons simply insert and remove their debit card, enter their personal identification number (PIN) and request an amount. Upon approval of the transaction, a bar-coded slot voucher is then dispensed from EDITH's voucher printer. An optional receipt is also provided upon the patron's request. The bar-coded slot voucher may then be inserted into a TITO-enabled slot machine or redeemed at a cashier station.

In recent years TITO systems have gained popularity among gaming establishment patrons, who appear to prefer the convenience of slot vouchers over coin and waiting for cash payouts at the game. This increase in slot voucher volume has resulted in a significant decrease in cash handling costs for gaming establishments. QuikPlay believes that EDITH will decrease gaming establishments' cash handling costs even further.

EDITH was developed with similar functionality to one of its sister products, Ticket-Out Debit Device (TODD), which allows patrons to access funds without leaving the machines they are playing. When a slot machine is equipped with TODD technology, the patron swipes their debit card and enters their PIN and the requested amount on a terminal mounted on the slot machine. Upon approval of the transaction, the patron's funds are either credited to the slot machine for play at that machine or a bar-coded slot voucher is dispensed, which may be used at any TITO-enabled slot machine at the gaming establishment.

EDITH and TODD both support GCA's responsible gaming Self Transaction Exclusion Program (STEP), which allows patrons to exclude themselves from access to their own funds from cash access devices in the GCA network, or set a daily limit for withdrawal from such cash access devices. Limits may also be set on a system-wide basis by casino operators and by state authorities.

EDITH is currently in the final stages of the certification process of Gaming Laboratory Institute, Inc., and upon certification, QuikPlay expects to install the first EDITH kiosks at Casino Pauma, a Native American gaming establishment located in Pauma Valley, Calif.

Casino Journal's Top 20 Most Innovative New Gaming Technology Products of the Year award is now in its ninth year. A panel of four expert judges evaluated this year's entries and chose the 20 finalists, which will be featured in Casino Journal's June issue. The award-winning products will be showcased at the Gaming Technology Summit, May 24-26, 2006, at the Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino. Conference attendees will vote for their favorite products and services from the Top 20 finalists, and the top three products will be honored during a luncheon on May 26.

It is the sixth time a GCA or QuikPlay product has earned the honor. GCA earned its first Top 20 award in 1998 for the Casino Cash Plus 3-in-1 ATM, and the most recent in 2004 for QuikCash Plus(TM) (QCP) Web and 3-in-1 Enabled QuickJack(TM) Plus. Other GCA products that have been honored include the Automated Cashier Machine (ACM). QuikPlay ATM, which is now known as TODD and is a QuikPlay product, has also earned recognition from Casino Journal.

About QuikPlay, LLC

QuikPlay is a limited liability company organized on December 6, 2000, and owned 60 percent by GCA and 40 percent by IGT. IGT is one of the largest manufacturers of gaming equipment in the United States. QuikPlay was formed to develop cash advance capabilities to gaming patrons at or near the point of play. As GCA is the managing member of this entity, its financials have been consolidated in the consolidated financial statements of Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc., the parent company of GCA, for all periods presented.

About Global Cash Access, Inc.

Las Vegas-based Global Cash Access, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GCA), is a leading provider of cash access products and related services to approximately 960 gaming properties and other clients in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and the Caribbean. GCA's products and services provide gaming establishment patrons access to cash through a variety of methods, including ATM cash withdrawals, POS debit card transactions, credit card cash advances, check verification and warranty services and Western Union money transfers. GCA provides products and services that improve credit decision-making, automate cashier operations and enhance patron marketing activities for gaming establishments. With its proprietary database of gaming patron credit history and transaction data on millions of gaming patrons worldwide, GCA is recognized for successfully developing and deploying technological innovations that increase client profitability, operational efficiency and customer loyalty. More information is available at GCA's Web site at www.globalcashaccess.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any statement or implication that the gaming establishments named in this press release will continue to use the products or services described in this press release. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that, if realized, could materially impair Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc.'s results of operations, business, and financial condition. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (a) the termination of one or more of the contracts with gaming establishments described in this press release, and (b) the factors discussed from time to time in reports filed by Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. does not intend, and undertakes no obligation to, update or qualify any of the forward-looking statements made herein.

CONTACT:
Investors:
Global Cash Access, Inc.
Harry C. Hagerty, 702-262-5003
hhagerty@gcamail.com
or
Media:
Katcher Vaughn & Bailey
Kristi Gooden, 615-248-8202
kgooden@kvbpr.com

SOURCE:
Global Cash Access, Inc.