Arriva Card reaches milestone

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Less than six months after initial introduction, holders of the Arriva Card, the first credit card designed for use in casinos, have completed more than $15 million in cash advance transactions at 800-plus leading casinos whose ATM, cash advance and check cashing services are provided by Global Cash Access (NYSE: GCA), parent of Arriva Card, Inc.

As a result, these casinos have benefited from an additional $15 million in the hands of responsible gamers, according to GCA.

To date, the average in-casino cash advance done on an Arriva Card is significantly larger than those done on all other credit cards. More specifically, Arriva Card cash advance transactions at casino ATM machines are 115% larger, and "signature-based" cash advance transactions are 72% larger, than these kinds of transactions with other cards.

Further, even though the Arriva Card is in the early stages of marketing, casinos have seen significant percentages -- in some cases more than 16% -- of cash advance transactions coming from Arriva Cards.

The larger size of cash advance transactions done with Arriva Cards results from Arriva's better terms for casino patrons, generous rewards program, and ability to provide immediate access to credit, according to Arriva Card, Inc.

"This is exciting for casino patrons as well as for casinos that are GCA customers. We've made nearly $30 million of additional credit available to responsible gaming patrons. We believe these patrons, and the casinos, are turning to Arriva because we treat them better than other credit cards do. We provide better terms for credit worthy customers, and we don't penalize for cash advance transactions, as virtually all other credit cards do," said Todd Smith, vice president for card services at Global Cash Access, Inc., parent of Arriva Card, Inc.

Arriva Card gives casino patrons with strong credit and in-casino cash advance histories more access to cash -- and at better terms -- than they'd typically have with traditional credit cards.

"We know that in-casino cash advances are entertainment purchases, like that of a theater ticket, fine dining experience or hotel room, and not desperation loans, like other cash advances often are. Accordingly, we reward customers for using Arriva responsibly; we don't levy penalties and extra fees," said Mr. Smith.

For example, most credit cards charge higher rates for cash advances than they charge for retail purchases; begin charging interest immediately after the transaction (as opposed to giving a grace period like with retail purchases); don't give reward points for cash advances; restrict cash advances to only a portion of the credit line; and generally don't apply monthly payments against cash advance transactions until the retail purchase balance is paid off.

Arriva takes a different approach. Arriva Card:

* Offers a true grace period on cash advances.

* Gives reward points for cash advances -- unlike typical credit cards.

* Allows cash advances of the entire Arriva Card credit line.

* Charges lower fees and interest rates on cash advances than many credit cards.

Arriva Card is a product of Arriva Card, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GCA). CIT Bank is the issuer of the card, and Arriva Card, Inc. is the administrator and servicer of Arriva Card accounts.

The Arriva Card can be used in the 800-plus casino locations in the U.S. and Caribbean that are GCA customers.