New Research Confirms Safety Of Paulson Gaming Chips

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gaming Partners International Corporation (NASDAQ: GPIC) (GPI), a leading manufacturer and supplier of casino currency and other table game supplies, released today the results of a recently concluded scientific test regarding the safety of Paulson(R) gaming chips in a casino environment. The scientific study conducted by Exponent, Inc., a multidisciplinary scientific and engineering consulting firm that performs in-depth scientific research and analysis throughout the world, was commissioned by GPI as a result of a November 7, 2007 report aired by a local Phoenix, Arizona television station claiming that Paulson gaming chips contain dangerous levels of lead and pose a health hazard. Exponent concluded that, under the scenarios evaluated, it is unlikely that the handling of Paulson gaming chips would produce any significant health risk to the players or dealers.

GPI President and Chief Executive Officer, Gerard P. Charlier, said, "Exponent recreated a gaming environment complete with blackjack tables, players, and dealer and monitored the routine handling of the Paulson chips by the players and dealer as well as sampled the air around the gaming table." He continued, "We are very pleased with the test results which are consistent with our position that when used as intended there is no unacceptable risk to either casino employees or playing public pertaining to the amount of lead in Paulson chips."

The testing protocol involved successive sessions of blackjack games with the dealer and players participating under a simulated casino environment. The test was conducted in the Exponent facility in Menlo Park, California under the supervision of experts from the Exponent firm including both toxicologists and exposure assessment experts. Dr. Rick Reiss presented the findings to company officials and Arizona Department of Health Services officials last week.

Mr. Charlier added, "Our product has been used, almost exclusively, in gaming casinos for over 40 years and, as one would expect, without a single case where our chip was described as a danger to employees or patrons. The hysteria created by the unfortunate portrayal of the Paulson gaming chip required that we take these extraordinary steps in order to provide independent evaluations of the safety of our product."

Dr. Rick Reiss who authored the presentation of the results of the tests said, "Under the scenarios we evaluated, it is extremely unlikely that routine handling of Paulson chips by dealers or players would produce an unacceptable exposure for players or dealers." Commenting further on the tests, Dr. Reiss concluded, "Based on air sampling results, there is no basis for concern that the use of these gaming chips results in any elevated or unacceptable exposure to airborne lead particles."

Paulson chips had been produced for decades using formulas that contained lead monosilicate as one of the many compounds used in the manufacturing process. In 1998, Paulson chips were reformulated as a precautionary measure to substantially reduce the amount of lead in chips and to include compounds that were essentially lead-free. Tests conducted on chips manufactured this year demonstrate that the current version of the chips contain a barely perceptible lead level in the parts per million range which may be occurring naturally in plastics and other components that make up the gaming chip.

About Gaming Partners International Corporation

Gaming Partners International Corporation, or GPI, manufactures and supplies (under the brand names of Paulson(R), Bourgogne et Grasset(R) and Bud Jones(R)) gaming chips including low frequency and high frequency RFID chips, jetons and plaques, low frequency RFID readers, wheels, table layouts, playing cards, dice, gaming furniture, table accessories and other products that are used with casino table games such as blackjack, poker, baccarat, craps and roulette. GPI is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, with offices in Beaune, France; San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Gulfport, Mississippi. GPI sells its casino products directly to licensed casinos throughout the world. For additional information about GPIC, visit our web site at www.gpigaming.com

Forward-looking Statement

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as the expected growth potential and success of the RFID- embedded casino currency market and the ability of GPI to capitalize on any such growth opportunities. Forward looking statements are inherently subject to material risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from these forward-looking statements include: any litigation, action by regulators, continued adverse publicity, negative shifts in the public perception of our products, liability, and/or loss of business resulting from the safety or perceived safety of our products, failure of the industry to accept our RFID technology, any patent infringement issues, the development of competing technologies by our competitors, the failure of any supplier to timely deliver key raw materials for any of our significant products, any customer cancellation of a significant order included in our backlog, any domestic or international terrorist incidents, and any unexpected taxes, regulatory, charges, costs or difficulties in the operations of our business in multiple jurisdictions or the manufacturing of our products, as well as other risks and uncertainties referred to in GPI's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other subsequent reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the results of the test regarding lead exposure are an extremely positive development, the Company recognizes that they do not necessarily eliminate the risks of possible litigation, action by regulators, liability, continued adverse publicity, and loss of business which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations. GPI undertakes no duty or obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release.

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    For Gaming Partners International:
    Gaming Partners International Contact:  KCSA Contacts:
    Laura McAllister Cox                    Todd Fromer / Lee Roth
    702-384-2425                            212-896-1215 / 1209
    lmcox@gpigaming.com                     tfromer@kcsa.com / lroth@kcsa.com