News Release

For immediate release                                          December 13, 2001

TECHLINK PREPARES PRODUCTS FOR FURTHER TESTING & DEMONSTRATIONS 

SYDNEY, N.S. -- Techlink International Entertainment Limited will take its responsible gaming products to the next stage of commercialization with assistance from the Government of Canada.

The project will involve the production and demonstration of commercial versions of the company's Hotel Room Entertainment System, Smart Video Lottery Terminal and the Dataceptor - an Internet Gaming device.

The total estimated cost of the project is $1.5 million. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) will make a conditionally repayable contribution of $500,000 through the Business Development Program. The National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) will also make a repayable contribution of $500,000 through the Precommercialization Assistance component. The project is expected to create 13 jobs bringing the company's total employee numbers up to 30.

"This project will create a number of employment opportunities in the knowledge-based sector on Cape Breton Island. The Government of Canada is pleased to offer support and encouragement to local entrepreneurs involved in the research and development of high tech products like these," said Mark Eyking, Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of State for ECBC and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. 

"The potential markets for our products and services are extensive and will bring exciting economic benefits to this region. The support from the Government of Canada will help bring our company to the next stage and closer to bringing those benefits to the community," said John Xidos, President, Techlink International Entertainment Limited. 

The Hotel Room Entertainment System will deliver gaming to a hotel room through a virtual private and secure network. The Performer Smart Video Lottery Terminal is a fully scalable, on-line, remotely upgradeable and monitored, multi-game system designed to directly address the issues of problem and addictive gaming, underage play and slot cheats. The Dataceptor Internet Gaming Device provides governments and gaming regulators with a hardware based Internet gaming solution that, until now, has eluded the marketplace. It has the capability to address the issues of compulsive play, under age play, unattended play security issues and the integrity of the game.

Extensive testing to prove the security and functionality of the devices will be carried out and demonstrated to potential customers as part of the project. 

Since 1994, Techlink has been developing gaming technologies built around a responsible gaming philosophy. The company wants to enable gaming activities to be conducted in a socially responsible manner, providing entertainment without financial or psychological harm. Its gaming products are designed to meet the public demand for more responsible gaming systems and assist governments in operating gaming activities that provide revenues without harming the individual.

Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

A key component of Canada’s system of innovation, the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) is a federal catalyst that links a diverse network of institutions, organizations and programs to help Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs) develop and exploit technology in a competitive, knowledge-based economy.

The National Research Council (NRC) is the federal government agency that supports scientific research, development and innovation in every region of Canada.

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Savoy
Office of the Honourable Robert Thibault
Tel: (613) 941-7291
Fax: (613) 941-7844

Mark Eyking, MP’s Office
Tel.: (902) 567-6275
Fax: (902) 564-2479

Marcie Stanley 
ECBC Communications 
Tel: (902) 564-7876
Fax:(902) 564-3825

Dave Healey,
Regional Director, Maritimes
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) 
National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Tel: (902) 426-6264

John Xidos, President 
Techlink International Entertainment Limited
Tel: (902) 562-6031

Barbara Stead-Coyle
Head of Marketing & Public Relations 
Techlink International
902-562-6031
bstead@techlinkint.com