Global Cash Access Wins Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Award with ACM, The Gaming Industry’s First Completely Web-Enabled Financial Center

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 16, 2000–Global Cash Access (GCA), a supplier of cash access, financial management and customer relationship marketing technologies to the gaming industry, has been awarded the Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Products/Services Award 2001 by Casino Journal for GCA’s latest product offering, the Automated Cashier Machine (ACM\\\(SM)).

The ACM represents a major breakthrough in the way gaming patrons access their funds in a casino. The ACM machine is a web-based “virtual cashier” that lets patrons access cash and meet entertainment needs in one financial center. The ACM was demonstrated at the World Gaming Congress and Expo and had overwhelming reviews by the casino industry, according to Kirk Sanford, GCA chief executive officer.

“We are extremely proud of this award,” said Sanford. “We pride ourselves on delivering the best technology to the gaming industry, and winning this award is tremendous reinforcement of our efforts. Our commitment to developing major innovations is an integral part of who we are, and the industry can continue to expect leading-edge products and services from Global Cash Access.”

Using a secure, Internet-fed system that minimizes transaction times, the ACM offers a complete center for ATM services, debit and credit card cash advance, personal check cashing and casino credit. The ACM also supports Western Union money transfer, cashless gaming, and Entertainment Source, which provides show information and dispenses event tickets.

With the ACM, Global Cash Access is the first company to bring facial biometrics recognition to the gaming industry. This state-of-the-art technology uses digital images to identify users in less than one second with 99.9% accuracy. Patrons must enroll the first time they use the ACM, but the process is simple. The ACM takes the patron’s picture, and the patron then proceeds to the cage for one-time identification verification. After a patron is identified for the first time, all subsequent transactions can be done immediately at the ACM, without the use of traditional security measures.

An extraordinary design that looks like no other cash access machine, the ACM is easily modified through the Internet to use the above screen monitor, which is customized to reinforce brand image and advertise shows and events. Properties also can use the ACM to sell their own programs and events.

The ACM is one of 20 products and services to receive the prestigious Casino Journal Award, which have been presented for four years. The award-winning products will be honored at the American Gaming Summit, to be held January 11 & 12, 2001, at Bellagio in Las Vegas. Attendees of the show will evaluate all 20 products, and through a voting process elect one to receive the Best of Show Award and be named the “Most Innovative Gaming Product 2001” at the keynote lunch at the American Gaming Summit on January 12. The ACM honor marks the second time GCA has earned the Top 20 award, with the first coming in 1998 for the 3-in-1 Casino Cash Plus ATM.

Global Cash Access was formed in 1998 and is a joint venture of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC - news) and M&C International, Inc. Providing access to the gaming industry’s largest patron database, Global Cash Access uses Internet technologies to deliver funds transfer, financial management and customer relationship marketing services to more than 1,000 gaming properties nationwide.