AUSTRALIA'S PBL CHOOSES STARGAMES AS SUPPLIER FOR NET CASINO.

MELBOURNE, Feb 11 Asia Pulse - Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd (ASX:PBL) (PBL) has picked gaming software group Stargames as a supplier to its Vanuatu-based internet casino site CrownGames.

Under the deal Stargames will supply games already developed for its Australian gaming machine sales and develop exclusive new games for PBL.

Stargames will also be able to earn recurring revenues from the deal.

"This agreement represents an important extension to Stargames' existing gaming business with the PBL organisation," said Stargames managing director John Rouse.

Backed by PBL's Crown Ltd offshoot, Stargames is currently developing a series of electronic game tables, such as Rapid Roulette for Australian and international casinos.

Stargames also supplies its PC3 gaming machines to Crown Casino in Melbourne.

Stargames expects to install the first of its games on the CrownGames internet casino site in the first half of this year.

Crowngames.com has been designed to simulate a real life casino experience, enabling gamblers to play both slot games and table games (such as blackjack and baccarat) on the internet.

But in order to comply with government regulations, Australian, New Zealand and US residents will be denied access to Crowngames.com.

Instead PBL will target gamblers across Asia, already familiar with the Crown brand name through its Melbourne-based casino.