WMS Gaming Secures License to Manufacture JUMBLE Branded Gaming Devices; Expands Participation Gaming Machine Product Line With First Game in Puzzle Pays Series.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 25, 2000

WMS Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries inc. (NYSE: WMS), announced today a licensing agreement with Chicago-based media conglomerate Tribune Media Services, a unit of Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB), that gives WMS Gaming the exclusive rights to develop and market gaming machines based on JUMBLE(R). Known to newspaper readers, crossword and puzzle fans as "that scrambled word game," JUMBLE, first introduced over 45 years ago, is featured in more than 600 newspapers daily reaching more than 70 million readers. WMS Gaming will premier its first version of JUMBLE in Nevada casinos late in the first quarter of fiscal 2001 subject to regulatory approval. WMS Gaming anticipates announcing the second game in the Puzzle Pays(TM) series in the next few weeks.

"JUMBLE will be the first in a series of several new participation games called Puzzle Pays from WMS Gaming and extends our successful strategy of licensing high profile consumer brand names such as Monopoly(R) for the development of entertaining gaming machines," said Brian R. Gamache, President and Chief Operating Officer of WMS Industries. "Each game in the series will feature a highly recognizable puzzle game at its core. In addition to expanding our innovative product line, the Puzzle Pays series allows WMS Gaming the opportunity to further increase our share of the participation market and generate recurring revenues. While each game remains true to the central puzzle theme it will also bring an established identity and awareness level of its own that we feel increases the overall potential for the series."

Mr. Gamache continued, "As one of the most identifiable puzzle brands in North America, JUMBLE has a large and enthusiastic player base. WMS Gaming's team of top game designers are taking this well-recognized brand and designing a video gaming product that entertains players by simulating the actual elements of the game, translating to longer game play and more profits for casino operators. The JUMBLE theme gives us a multitude of future game possibilities allowing us to build a long-term franchise based on this licensed product line."

"JUMBLE was created in 1954 and has been a popular daily feature in newspapers ever since," said Elyce Goldstein, Director of Licensing for Tribune Media Services. "We have undergone an extensive campaign to expand the JUMBLE product to include JUMBLE puzzle books, a Web site and Breakfast Club. Premiering JUMBLE in casinos as a video slot is a perfect match from a demographic standpoint, allowing WMS the opportunity to reach its key customers with a new product while Tribune Media Service does the same. We look forward to working closely with WMS to maximize media and promotional opportunities."

JUMBLE Game Play

The first version of JUMBLE is a nine-line, five-reel video slot with dual-screen technology featuring a 17" or 19" monitor in a standard upright or slant-top format with a large full-color flat panel display in the top box. The game is based on the scrambled word game and features the JUMBLE Bee character with a cast of supporting bee characters. The reel symbols include portions of the JUMBLE logo, bee characters, a dictionary, and letters of the alphabet.

JUMBLE includes two distinct interactive bonus games. The Swap Bonus is played in conjunction with the base games. The top screen displays a traditional JUMBLE puzzle and beehive. Three animated BUZZ symbols or queen bee symbols in a scatter pattern can activate the Swap Bonus. With three BUZZ symbols, a bee flies out of the hive and then picks one of the five words in the JUMBLE puzzle. The bee will swap two letters in that word. If the bee places one or both of the letters in the correct position to unscramble the word, the player is awarded a multiplier. When a word is completed the player picks one of the letters in the word to reveal one of the multipliers behind the letters. When three or more queen bee symbols trigger the bonus round, the queen will pick a word and automatically unscramble the entire word. The player then picks the word bonus in the same manner.

The second screen bonus is triggered when the letters JU-MB-LE line up on the three middle reels to form a PICTURE PAY(TM). The game show bonus round then starts with host Buzz Buzzby and hostess Queeny Monroe. The player chooses bee characters in the audience to help them solve the JUMBLE puzzle. Each bee character can either help the player by giving them a letter in the puzzle or giving them a special tile that increases their potential winnings. The bonus round ends when the player completes a word in the JUMBLE puzzle.

WMS Gaming Inc. is headquartered in Chicago (800/932-3021) with offices serving Las Vegas (702/257-7020), Atlantic City (609/569-0100), Biloxi, MS (228/396-3711), California (877-WMS-GAME), Denver, CO (303/216-2945), Kansas City, MO (816/413-8700), Reno, NV (775/827-6617), British Columbia (604/272-3935) and Ontario, Canada (416/485-4725) and Barcelona, Spain (34-93-594-8720).

WMS Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc., designs, manufactures and markets video and reel-spinning gaming devices and video lottery terminals.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning future business conditions and the outlook for the Company based on currently available information that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the financial strength of the gaming industry, the expansion of legalized gaming into new markets, legislation and regulatory changes in existing gaming markets, the development, introduction and success of new games and new technologies and the ability to maintain the scheduling of such introductions, the ability of the Company to qualify for and maintain gaming licenses and approvals, the outcome of certain legal proceedings to which the Company is a party and other risks more full described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

JUMBLE(R)is a trademark of Tribune Media Services.(c)2000 Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

MONOPOLY(R)is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc.(R)&(c)2000 Hasbro Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.