Casinos Austria International reports strong results for 2006

Revenues (win, registered tips, entrance) at its 63 international casino operations rose by 12.1 % year-on-year to a record 990 million euros (while in 2005, operations rose 883 million euros), with guest numbers for the period growing by 2.5 % to 16.6 million, compared to 16.2 million euros in 2005.

Casinos Austria International reported yet another year of strong growth, with the double digit increases offering further proof of the performance and growth potential of its operations worldwide. The increased productivity and profitability reflects the intensified efforts in the individual casinos as well as the corporate focus on strong growth areas and locations.

Highlights for the 2007 business year at Casinos Austria International included the Gala Opening of Grand Casino Brussels in the Belgian capital in January, the award of the license for the new casino in the central Chilean city of Los Angeles in July, the announcement of two further casinos in South Africa in November and the acquisition of a majority shareholding in its long-term partner in Argentina, ENJASA, in December.

All in all, Casinos Austria International can look back on a very successful year. In addition to the successful measures to increase productivity and profitability, important steps were also taken in a number of markets to ensure continued future growth. Given the strong potential in its existing operations and strategic growth opportunities established through its new projects in Brussels, Belgrade, South Africa and South America, the company is very optimistic about the future.

In the same period, aggregate total revenues for the Casinos Austria Group (Casinos Austria AG, Casinos Austria International, Austrian Lotteries, CAST, win2day.at, tipp3 and WINWIN) increased by 10.2 % to a record 3.35 billion euros, while in 2005 it was 3.04 billion, boosted by strong growth in its international casino and domestic lottery, internet gaming, sports betting and video lottery activities.

Revenues (win, registered tips, entrance) from the Group’s casino sector activities (i.e. the 63 Casinos Austria International operations and the 12 casinos in Austria operated by the parent company Casinos Austria AG) increased by 7.6 % from .17 billion euros in 2005 to a record 1.26 billion euros in 2006. Together these 75 casinos in 18 countries and on board 10 cruise ships welcomed some 19 million visitors, a rise of 2.7 % year-on-year, and employed a total of 10,545 staff.

2007 has already begun on a positive note with continued growth in Casinos Austria International’s existing operations and new developments in a number of key markets, including further acquisition projects in Europe, Asia and South America. Preparations are currently in full swing for the launch of phase one of Casino Beograd in the Serbian capital at the end of June, while work is also well underway in Chile for the opening of Casino Los Angeles in 2008.

The concession agreements with Discovery Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises were extended in the first quarter, while Silversea Cruises announced it would be adding another ship to the Casinos Austria International fleet in the second quarter.