The process of merging PartyGaming Plc and bwin Interactive Entertainment AG ('bwin') has been completed today and the new company has formally re-registered its name as 'bwin.party digital entertainment plc'. The Company's ordinary shares of 0.015 pence each have today been de-listed and re-admitted to the premium segment of the official list and commenced dealing on the London Stock Exchange’s main market. A total of 439,209,325 new Shares have today been issued in the form of dematerialised depositary interests and credited in CREST for onward transfer to the relevant securities accounts of former bwin shareholders no later than 1 April 2011. As a result of this issue of new Shares, the Company now has 852,271,026 Shares in issue.

As a result of the merger completing, the following appointments to the Company's board of directors have taken effect from today: Simon Duffy, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board; Norbert Teufelberger, Co-Chief Executive Officer; Joachim Baca, Chief Operating Officer; Per Afrell, Independent Non-Executive Director; Manfred Bodner, Non-Executive Director; Helmut Kern, Independent Non-Executive Director; and Georg Riedl, Non-Executive Director.

Commenting on the completion of the merger, Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the Co-CEOs, said: "We are delighted that our merger is now complete so that we can start with the integration of our businesses and capturing the synergies we have already identified. As we make the transition from unregulated to regulated markets we have an excellent opportunity to capitalise on our market-leading positions in sports betting, poker, casino and games as well as bingo."

Simon Duffy, the newly appointed Chairman of the Board, commented: "Congratulations to bwin.party's directors and employees on managing the merger through to completion. This is a landmark day for the online gaming sector and bwin.party is now in a position to leverage its combined resources to take maximum advantage of regulating markets and the exciting opportunities in the real money gaming and digital entertainment sectors." (E-03.31.11)

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