Wednesday, May 03, 2006

As reported by the Australian Financial Review: "Poker machine maker
Aristocrat Leisure expects its first-half result to be broadly in line with
the previous corresponding period, despite difficult trading conditions in
Japan. "Aristocrat said strong growth in its non-Japanese business was
expected to compensate for an approximate $30 million fall in pre-tax profit
from its Japanese business in the first half. "The shortfall, reflecting the
transitioning to new industry regulations which had caused short term
uncertainties in the market, affected all competitors, Aristocrat said on
Tuesday.

".Aristocrat chief executive and managing director Paul Oneile said that
while the current situation in the Japanese market was disappointing, the
remainder of the business was likely to post 20 to 25 per cent growth in
segment profit in the first half which compensated for the Japanese profit
shortfall."