For immediate release

Vienna, 19 November 2008 --- 4.06 million inhabitants, 143,000 square kilometers and a GDP of 19 billion euro. Welcome to Bashkortostan, an autonomous republic in the Russian Federation, 1,200 kilometers from Moscow at the southern end of the Ural Mountains. A country that is rich in history, with records dating back to the 10th century. And a country with strong potential for the future: Bashkortostan is one of Russia's wealthiest republics with a well-developed infrastructure, oil reserves and a prosperous petrochemical industry.

2007 saw the introduction of new regulations for the gaming market in the Russian Federation including Bashkortostan. To compensate for the loss in tax revenues that resulted from the closure of its existing casinos, the government of the Republic of Bashkortostan decided to introduce its own lottery games. The search for a competent and reputable partner in this endeavor quickly led to Austrian Lotteries. The license was granted, the necessary subsidiaries were founded and by December the first scratch cards ("Lucky Hearts") were launched on the market.

Parallel to this, the partners also set about establishing a network of up to 2,000 sales outlets and installing the necessary technical infrastructure. Bashkortostan already plans to launch a national lottery similar to Austria's "6 aus 45" Lotto in summer 2009 with live televised draws.

According to Austrian Lotteries Director Bettina Glatz-Kremsner, the launch in Bashkortostan is "without a doubt Austrian Lotteries' largest international project for many years". She is also confident about the growth opportunities: "Bashkortostan has a healthy economy and a stable political system the best criteria for success." In line with its number of inhabitants, the new Bashkortostan national lottery will use a "6 from 40" numbers formula.

Although Bashkortostan is a new market, Austrian Lotteries can draw on its own experience in Austria and its network of tried-and-trusted partners in this project. The contract for the production of the lottery terminals was awarded to KEBA, a company based in Linz, Austria and a long-term partner of Austrian Lotteries. Local expertise and know-how is provided by Vadim Pletnev, a successful entrepreneur and owner of the investment company VPB Beteiligungsgesellschaft. A dual Russian-Austrian national, Pletnev serves as trade advisor to the Bashkortostan President and Finance Minister. As Karl Stoss, Chairman of Austrian Lotteries commented: "We are delighted to be working with Vadim Pletnev, whose excellent local knowledge of Bashkortostan will be invaluable in this project."

For further information, please contact:
Martin Himmelbauer
Austrian Lotteries
Phone.: +43 (0)1 534 40 22 326
Mobile: +43 (0)664 810 44 33
www.lotterien.at, www.win2day.at