LAS VEGAS - MGM MIRAGE and Argosy Gaming Company received three Gaming Voice awards each at the second annual American Gaming Association (AGA) Communications Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Goldman, Sachs & Co., held today at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Craig Neilsen, president and CEO of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., was presented the award for Top Performing CEO by HVS Executive Search, a hospitality and human resources consulting firm. The Casino Management Association (CMA) named Alan Feldman, senior vice president of public affairs at MGM MIRAGE, as the Gaming Professional of the Year.

The Arizona Lottery; Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa; Casino Rama; International Game Technology (IGT); Kerzner International; and the Ontario Lottery received one award each.

The AGA Communications Awards recognizes gaming industry leaders for outstanding achievements in corporate and financial communications such as annual reports, advertising campaigns and Web sites.

“As the industry grows, effective communication with customers, shareholders, members of the media and the general public becomes increasingly important, and providing a competitive forum for gaming companies to have their work judged fosters quality communication throughout the industry,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the AGA. “The winners of this year’s Gaming Voice have exhibited the highest quality of corporate and financial communications in gaming, and the AGA is proud to mark their efforts with this distinction.”

More than 130 entries were submitted to the AGA Communications Awards, which were examined by a blue-ribbon panel of judges - experts in the fields of investor relations, public relations, advertising and new media. The accounting firm Piercy, Bowler, Taylor & Kerns of Las Vegas tabulated the judges’ ballots and certified the winners.

More than 200 people, including gaming executives, marketing/public relations directors and gaming analysts, attended the luncheon at the convention center to honor the work of gaming companies, public agencies and their supporting agencies in the categories of best annual report, best broadcast ad campaign, best print ad campaign, best print publication and best Web site - a new category to the 2002 competition. The AGA Communications Awards is held in conjunction with the industry trade show and conference Global Gaming Expo (G2E).

As a principal officer of Ameristar and leading figure at two of the company’s original Nevada properties, Neilsen has been instrumental in expanding Ameristar to six properties in four jurisdictions during the last decade. Neilsen has been credited with developing various Ameristar strategic philosophies.

Feldman is the spokesman for MGM MIRAGE and responsible for all media relations. He also oversees the planning and implementation of all community and government relations programs. Previously, he was vice president, public affairs at Mirage Resorts, Inc., and prior to that, Feldman had a leading position at Hill and Knowlton, the largest public relations firm in the world. Feldman also serves on the National Center for Responsible Gaming board of directors, and on the Athletes and Addictions Task Force at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions.

“After just two years of existence, the AGA Communications Awards has emerged as the premier competition among corporate and financial communication professionals in the industry,” said Steven Kent, vice president, Goldman, Sachs & Co. “As a sponsor of the AGA Communications Awards, Goldman Sachs is proud to support and reward the winners for outstanding communications in gaming.”

Argosy Gaming Company President and CEO James Perry accepted the award for HVS Top Performing Board of Directors on behalf of his company. Gaming Today Publisher Chuck Di Rocco received a special Gaming Voice award for lifetime achievement in communications in gaming, which was presented by Fahrenkopf, master of ceremonies for the event. Di Rocco’s publication, Gaming Today, which reports gaming-related news and events, has been an industry mainstay for more than a quarter century.

The following is a complete list of Gaming Voice award winners, their supporting agencies and the category for which they were honored:

Best Annual Report: Large Cap
Winner:  MGM MIRAGE, Agency: Schadler Kramer Group, Las Vegas

Best Annual Report: Mid-to-Small Cap
Winner: Argosy Gaming Company, Agency: Falk Harrison Creative, St. Louis

Best Annual Report: Gaming Vendor
Winner: IGT

Best Annual Report: Public Agency
Winner: Arizona Lottery

Best Annual Report: International
Winner: Ontario Lottery

Best Annual Report: Overall
Winner: Argosy Gaming Company, Agency: Falk Harrison Creative, St. Louis

Best Consumer Print Ad Campaign
Winners: Kerzner International for “Once Upon Our Time,” Agency: Ground Zero, New York
MGM MIRAGE for “Elephants Fly,” Agency: Schadler Kramer Group, Las Vegas

Best Consumer Broadcast Ad Campaign
Winner: Casino Rama for “Slots,” Agency: Marshall Fenn Communications, Toronto

Best Print Publication: Gaming Company, Corporate Level
Winner: Argosy Gaming Company for “The Argosy Difference,” Agency: Falk Harrison Creative, St. Louis

Best Print Publication: Casino Property, Gaming Supplier/Vendor or Public Agency
Winner: Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa for “Borgata Business,” Agency: Schadler Kramer Group, Las Vegas

Best Web site
Winner: MGM MIRAGE for www.bellagio.com [2]

The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.