Great Canadian Gaming Reaches Agreements in Principle for Transition Funding for Horse Racing at Georgian Downs and Flamboro Downs

RICHMOND, BC, March 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Great Canadian Gaming Corporation [TSX:GC] ("Great Canadian" or "the Company") today announced that it has signed agreements in principle with the Government of Ontario for transition funding.  This funding will provide support to continue horse racing at the Company's Georgian Downs and Flamboro Downs racetracks beyond March 31, 2013 as Ontario's horse racing industry adapts to a more sustainable model.

The letters of intent set out the key terms for transitional funding and the expected number of race days, which will form the basis for formal transfer payment agreements. Once completed, the formal agreements will be subject to approval by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

"Today's announcement is good news for the future of horse racing in Ontario," stated Mr. Howard Blank, Great Canadian's Vice President of Communications, Entertainment and Responsible Gaming.  "We are pleased to be able to welcome live horse racing fans to our properties."

"Ontario's horse racing and breeding industries are an important part of a healthy economy in Ontario," stated Ms. Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Agriculture and Food for the Province of Ontario.  "We will continue to work in consultation with the industry partners for the long-term good of the industry and the province."

Once formal transfer payment agreements have been signed with the Government of Ontario and once definitive lease agreements for the Ontario properties have been signed with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Company will need to re-evaluate its assumptions used in the recent long-lived asset impairment tests for these properties. Based on the terms of the letters of intent for the transfer payment agreements (along with the letters of intent for the lease agreements), we continue to expect the Company's Ontario properties' EBITDAs will decline as compared to the levels realized in 2012.  However, the Company expects that it may need to record long-lived asset impairment reversals for Georgian Downs and Flamboro Downs.

ABOUT GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Washington State.  The Company's 17 gaming properties consist of ten casinos, including one with a Four Diamond hotel resort, four horse racetrack casinos, and three community gaming centres. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had approximately 4,000 employees in Canada and 600 in Washington State. Further information is available on the Company's website, www.gcgaming.com.

DISCLAIMER

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" or statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation.  Forward-looking information is based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions that were made by the Company in light of its historical trends and other factors.  All information or statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information including statements that address expectations, estimates or projections about the future, the Company's strategy for growth and its objectives, expected future expenditures, costs, operating and financial results, expected impact of future commitments, the future ability of the Company to operate the Georgian Downs and Flamboro Downs facilities and their profitability, expectations and implications of changes in legislation and government policies.  Forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", or similar expressions.  Such forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and may involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

Although forward-looking information is based on information and assumptions that the Company believes are current, reasonable and complete, they are subject to unknown risks, uncertainties, and a number of factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors may include, but are not limited to: terms of operational service agreements with lottery corporations; changes to gaming laws that may impact our operational service agreements; pending, proposed or unanticipated regulatory or policy changes; the Company's ability to obtain and renew required business licenses, leases, and operational services agreements; unanticipated fines, sanctions and suspensions imposed on the Company by its regulators; impact of global liquidity and credit availability; adverse tourism trends and further decreases in levels of travel, leisure and consumer spending; competition from established competitors and new entrants in the gaming business; dependence on key personnel; the Company's ability to manage its capital projects and its expanding operations; the risk that systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to meet regulatory requirements or to support current and expanding operations; potential undisclosed liabilities and capital expenditures associated with acquisitions; negative connotations linked to the gaming industry; First Nations rights with respect to some land on which we conduct our operations; future or current legal proceedings; construction disruptions; financial covenants associated with credit facilities and long-term debt; credit, liquidity and market risks associated with our financial instruments; interest and exchange rate fluctuations; non-realization of cost reductions and synergies; demand for new products and services; fluctuations in operating results; and economic uncertainty and financial market volatility. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.  These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form for fiscal 2012, and as identified in the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are based will occur. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date, and is expressly qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements in this press release.  Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise forward-looking information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except as required by law.

The Company has included non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("non-IFRS") measures in this press release. EBITDA, as defined by the Company, means earnings before interest and financing costs (net of interest income), income taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, equity investment loss and other, litigation settlement, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, and foreign exchange loss and other. EBITDA is derived from the consolidated statements of earnings (loss), and can be computed as revenues less human resources expenses and property, marketing and administration expenses.

Readers are cautioned that these non-IFRS definitions are not recognized measures under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS, and should not be construed to be alternatives to net earnings determined in accordance with IFRS or as indicators of performance or liquidity or cash flows. The Company's method of calculating these measures may differ from methods used by other entities and accordingly our measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities or in other jurisdictions. The Company uses these measures because it believes they provide useful information to both management and investors with respect to the operating and financial performance of the Company.

ON BEHALF OF

GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION

"Original Signed By Rod N. Baker"

_____________________
Rod N. Baker
President and Chief Executive Officer

GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION [TSX:GC]
Suite #350 - 13775 Commerce Parkway
Richmond, BC
V6V 2V4
[phone]
Website: www.gcgaming.com

SOURCE: Great Canadian Gaming Corporation

For investor enquiries:
[email protected]
or
Ms. Tanya Ruskowski
Executive Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
[phone]

For media enquiries:
Mr. Howard Blank
Vice-President, Communications, Entertainment & Responsible Gaming
[phone]