Shuffle Master and Chartwell announce expanded license agreement

LAS VEGAS, Nevada and CALGARY, Canada, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 - Shuffle Master, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select Market: SHFL) (“Shuffle Master”) and Chartwell Technology Inc. (“Chartwell”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (TSX: AYA) today announced an amendment to their Sublicense and Online Gaming Agreement. The amendment will allow Chartwell to expand the markets it can offer software based on Shuffle Master proprietary table games.

Under the amendment Chartwell has secured rights to offer Shuffle Master’s popular Three Card Poker™ game to legal regulated online operators in the British Isles, including the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, which together comprise one of the world’s largest online gaming markets.

The amendment builds on a 2009 licensing agreement, under which Chartwell also secured rights to market software based on other Shuffle Master’s proprietary games, including Dragon Bonus®, Let it Ride®, Fortune Pai Gow Poker®, Casino War®, and Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em™.

“We believe that one of our key strengths is our intellectual property and our agreement with Chartwell is another example of leveraging our content across as many channels as possible, including iGaming,” said Gavin Isaacs, Chief Executive Officer of Shuffle Master. “We are pleased to offer the most popular specialty game of all time to this very important online market and we will continue to actively seek more licensing deals for our brands.”

“We have been extremely proud to work with Shuffle Master in bringing some of the world’s most popular land-based casino games to our rapidly expanding portfolio of gaming options,” commented Darcy Krogh, VP Business Development of Chartwell. “The opportunity to partner with such a well-respected North American gaming brand is fundamental to our focus on developing one of the most comprehensive gaming platforms for the delivery of the best gaming content to the regulated online gaming industry.”

About Shuffle Master, Inc.

Shuffle Master, Inc. is a leading global gaming supplier committed to making gaming more fun for players and more profitable for operators through product innovation, and superior quality and service.  The Company operates in legalized gaming markets across the globe and provides state-of-the-art, value-add products in five distinct categories: Utility products, which include automatic card shufflers and roulette chip sorters; Proprietary Table Games, which includes live games, side bets and progressives; Electronic Table Systems, which include various e-Table game platforms; Electronic Gaming Machines, which include video slot machines; and newly introduced iGaming, which features online versions of Shuffle Master’s table games, social gaming, and mobile applications. The Company is included in the S&P Smallcap 600 Index.  Information about the Company and its products can be found on the Internet at www.shufflemaster.com, or on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About Chartwell

Chartwell, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amaya Gaming Group Inc., specializes in the development of leading-edge gaming platforms and content for the Internet, wireless and other remote access devices. Chartwell’s Java and Flash based software products and games are designed for deployment in gaming, entertainment, advertising and promotional applications. Chartwell does not participate in the online gaming business of its clients. Chartwell’s team of highly trained professionals is committed to delivering the highest quality software and maintaining its leading edge through continuous development and unparalleled customer support. You may also visit our website at www.chartwellgames.com where you can also click to follow the company on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for the latest news.

About Amaya Gaming Group Inc.

Amaya is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sale of technology based gaming solutions for the regulated gaming industry worldwide. For more information please visit www.amayagaming.com

Shuffle Master Forward Looking Statements:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements included in this release other than statements that are purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation: Shuffle Master’s intellectual property or products may be infringed, misappropriated, invalid, or unenforceable, or subject to claims of infringement, invalidity or unenforceability, or insufficient to cover competitors' products; Shuffle Master’s products that are developed may not achieve commercial success in the very competitive marketplace in which Shuffle Master operates; Shuffle Master operates in a highly regulated industry and is dependent on its products and the operations of its customers to be lawful and regulated in the jurisdictions in which it and its customer’s operate; the success of its customers and risks that impact Shuffle Master’s customers, including a change in demand for gaming or a change in gaming laws, regulations and rules, may adversely impact Shuffle Master; and Shuffle Master competes in a single industry, is subject to industry fluctuations and a continued downturn in general worldwide economic conditions, in the gaming industry or a reduction in demand for gaming may adversely affect Shuffle Master’s results of operations. Our beliefs, expectations, forecasts, objectives, anticipations, intentions and strategies regarding the future, including without limitation those concerning expected operating results, revenues and earnings are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: Shuffle Master’s inability to accurately gauge the commercial appeal of its products; unanticipated changes in the laws, rules or regulations governing gaming and iGaming; and unexpected changes in the market and economic conditions and reduced demand for or increased competition with Shuffle Master’s products. Additional information on risk factors that could potentially affect Shuffle Master’s financial results may be found in documents filed by Shuffle Master with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Shuffle Master’s current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its latest annual report on Form 10-K and are based on information available to Shuffle Master on the date hereof. Shuffle Master do not intend, and assume no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Shuffle Master disclaims all responsibility and assumes no obligations for all statements made herein by Chartwell.

Amaya Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements included herein, including those that express management's expectations or estimates of our future performance constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except as required by law, Amaya does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.