Las Vegas, USA: British Telecommunications plc (BT) is at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas this week to launch BT’s innovative casino Biometric Smart Card technology, developed at their world famous Adastral Research and Development Laboratories in the UK.

The secure Smart Membership Cards use biometric testing to authenticate each customer by their fingerprints, as they enter the casino. The technology allows customers to buy gaming credit, issue and redeem gaming chips without the need for cash to change hands on the gaming floor.

Olga Scott, Vice President of Direct Investment at BT eLocations, comments: "Today, gambling and gaming in the UK is a growth industry with almost three-quarters of the UK adult population participating. The proposed UK legislation changes will take this a step further, fully establishing it as a mainstream leisure activity and attracting greater investment from both abroad and within the UK."

The UK Department of Culture is planning to bring before Parliament legislation which will see a complete overhaul of the UK gaming industry. The bill will enable companies to open Las Vegas-style casinos throughout the country, and to install large numbers of slot and electronic gaming machines. It will also abolish the law where people, who want to gamble in casinos, have to become members 24 hours before they want to play, and will enable online gaming operators to set up online gambling sites in the UK, provided that they are licensed.

BT eLocations
BT eLocations assists in finding the right location and providing the right technology solutions for overseas companies, who are looking to set up a new operation in the UK. As part of one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, BT eLocations will be able to offer gaming companies the latest ICT communications solutions, including Biometric Smart Card solutions, eCRM, IP security, mobility and online payment solutions.

Organized by the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions, Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is the pre-eminent show for the world-wide gaming-entertainment industry and takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada between September 16th and 18th 2003. Up to 13,500 delegates and 650 exhibiting companies are expected to attend. The BT eLocations experts can be found at booth 3401 for the duration of the show.

About BT
British Telecommunications plc is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies. BT eLocations (www.bt.com/btelocations), BT’s inward investment unit, assists in finding the right location and providing the right technology solution for companies who are looking to set up a new operation in the UK.

For Further Information
Paul Fisher
pfisher@timcullen.com
Tel: +44 1285 713 776

Contact Information:
BT eLocations
Jenny Marks
01977 59 1892