International Game Technology


                        INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY TO
                      ACQUIRE SODAK GAMING FOR $230 MILLION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    CONTACT:    Maureen Imus
March 11, 1999                                       IGT
                                         TELEPHONE:  (775) 448-0127
                                         CONTACT:    Darren Brandt
                                                     Sodak Gaming, Inc.
                                         TELEPHONE:  (917) 359-0990

     (Reno, Nev.) International Game Technology (NYSE "IGT") and Sodak Gaming,
Inc. (NASDAQ "SODK"), announced today that they have signed a definitive
agreement for IGT to acquire Sodak, a distributor of casino gaming products and
software systems to Native American casinos and gaming operators in the United
States.

     A wholly-owned subsidiary of International Game Technology will merge with
Sodak for $10 per share in cash, totaling approximately $230 million. The
transaction is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals,
Sodak shareholder approval and IGT obtaining the financing required to fund the
acquisition. In addition, it is expected that Sodak will divest itself of its
wholly-owned Miss Marquette Iowa riverboat, and its 50% joint venture interest
to develop a gaming riverboat in Louisiana in order to satisfy a condition of
closing. The holders of a majority of the common stock of Sodak have agreed to
vote in favor of the merger. The transaction is expected to close in the second
half of calendar 1999.

     Sodak will operate as an independent subsidiary of IGT and remain
headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota. Following the merger, Roland Gentner
has agreed to continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Sodak for at least one year.

     Cautionary statement for purposes of the "safe harbor" provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release is forward
looking and represents IGT's and Sodak's expectations or beliefs concerning
future events. IGT and Sodak caution that the forward-looking statements in this
release involve risks and uncertainties and are qualified by important factors
which could affect the planned acquisition including, without limitation,
failure to obtain regulatory approval or the required financing, changes in
general economic conditions and changes in the assumptions used in making such
forward-looking statements. Other factors which could affect IGT and Sodak are
discussed in greater detail in each company's periodic filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

     IGT is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of
microprocessor-based gaming products and software systems in all jurisdictions
where gaming is legal.