Sportech Plc released its preliminary results for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Financial Highlights included:

-Gross win revenue increased by 20 percent to £71.8m (2007: £59.6m),

-adjusted operating profit* increased by 20 percent to £22.6m (2007: £18.8m),

-adjusted profit before tax* increased by 39 percent to £16.8m (2007: £12.1m),

-adjusted earnings per share* of 12.0p (2007: 13.4p),

-retained profit and earnings per share (after significant amortisation and exceptional costs) of £5.1m (2007: £8.1m) and 5.1p (2007: 12.8p) respectively,

-committed banking facilities in place until 2017,

-net bank debt (after a year of significant exceptional costs) reduced by £3.3m to £83.2m (2007: £86.5m) and

-debt to EBITDA ratio reduced in the past 3 years from 5.3 times to 3.5 times, further significant reductions expected given the cash generative nature of the business.

Strategic and operational highlights included:

-Successful launch of The New Football Pools and relaunch of the Football Pools business with new and enhanced products, private leagues and a community-based, football predictor website,

-since the start of the football season to the end of 2008, Sportech has been a net recruiter of customers across our football gaming products (including a solid start to our online customer recruitment), in a reversal of the trend seen consistently since 1994,

-Vernons Pools ("Vernons") physical integration completed ahead of schedule - operational and financial synergies have exceeded management’s initial forecasts,

-modernization of many aspects of the business nearing completion which will result in a total upgrade and integration of the technology suite arising from partnerships with Scientific Games and Orbis,

-global marketing and distribution agreement signed with 888 Holdings Plc ("888") to promote Sportech’s football pools and other e-Gaming products to the UK and worldwide customer base of both companies and

distribution for a selection of football pools products launched across the Ladbrokes betting shop estate in December 2008; more agreements to follow.

* Adjusted profit figures stated pre exceptional costs, amortisation of acquired intangibles and other noncash interest.

"2008 was another year of major transformation in delivering Sportech's turnaround strategy, with significant investment and management time being devoted to upgrading and modernising the Group's products, technology and routes to market," said Ian Penrose, Sportech Plc CEO.

"The result has been a vastly improved offering. As well as retaining our existing players and re-engaging with former customers, our new distribution channels and strategic marketing partnerships have enabled us to target new and younger players."