Red Hawk Casino Opens to the Public at 7 p.m. on Wednesday December 17

PLACERVILLE, CA--(Marketwire - December 17, 2008) - The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is pleased to announce that its Red Hawk Casino officially opens to the public at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17. Located near Placerville, Calif., off the new Red Hawk Parkway exit on Highway 50, just 20 minutes east of Sacramento, Red Hawk Casino blends a full complement of gaming excitement with the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada Foothills. The 278,000 square-foot facility features 2,000 slot machines and 75 table games, six restaurants, four bars, a gift shop, and more than 3,000 lighted and covered parking spaces. Red Hawk Casino is the only casino located on the Highway 50 corridor between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, Nev. Guests must be 21 years of age to gamble.

Reflecting on the Shingle Springs Band's journey to open Red Hawk Casino and complete the Red Hawk Parkway Interchange which provides access to the casino and its Rancheria, Tribal Chairman Nicholas H. Fonseca commented, "Our journey to self-reliance has been filled with many challenges, but the resolve and determination of our Members, coupled with support of our manager Lakes Entertainment, has enabled us to realize a dream long in the making. It is with great pride that we celebrate this momentous occasion as we move closer to achieving self-reliance with each passing day."

Lyle Berman, Chairman and CEO of Lakes Entertainment (NASDAQ: LACO), which worked closely with the Shingle Springs Band on the development and ongoing management of the casino, added, "Every detail of the property -- from the architecture and finishing treatments to the variety of games and services, reinforces that Red Hawk Casino features the best of gaming in California. We congratulate Chairman Fonseca and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians for their perseverance on this project. The opening of the new Highway 50 interchange and Red Hawk Casino is an important step forward on their road to self-reliance."

Built into the hillside on the Shingle Springs Rancheria, Red Hawk Casino features heavy timber, stone, stucco and various design elements that pay homage to the Shingle Springs Band and the rugged beauty of the Sierra Foothills. The casino employs 1,750 people and is one of the largest employers in El Dorado County. Leading up to its opening, more than 20,000 job seekers applied for positions at Red Hawk Casino.

In describing Red Hawk Casino's opening night festivities, Red Hawk Casino General Manager Peter Fordham, said, "From our 88,000 square feet of gaming space featuring a wide variety of table games and slots to our fine and casual dining options and live entertainment, Red Hawk Casino truly has something for everyone. The atmosphere on opening night will be absolutely electric. Guests will be treated to performances from movie and television star Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts band, the amazing violin triplets Alizma, and a myriad of other entertainers including fire jugglers and magicians. 7 p.m. on December 17 at Red Hawk Casino marks the start of the evening you won't want to miss!"

Upon entering the casino on the main level, guests are encouraged to visit the Red Hawk Rewards Club to enroll in Red Hawk Rewards, the ultimate player loyalty club. Enrollment is free and enables players to earn points for free slot play, merchandise in the gift shop, Kids Quest® hourly child care, and any of the casino's six restaurants. Club members are also eligible for discounts, invitations to special events and thrilling promotions.

The main level of the casino is home to Red Hawk's High-Limits area and lounge. The area contains high-limit table games with some of the highest limits in the region. It also features a wide variety of slots ranging from $5 to $1,000 per spin. The High-Limits area is also appointed with an opulent lounge and bar that caters to the discriminating tastes of premier gamblers.

The rest of the casino floor contains table games including Single Deck Blackjack, Double Deck Pitch Blackjack, Fortune Pai Gow, Mystery Card Roulette, Three-Card Poker, World Poker Tour® All-in Hold'Em, Let It Ride, and Midi Baccarat. Red Hawk Casino is also offering a new, exclusive game called Blackjack Switch, which allows players to play two hands at once with identical wagers. Players have the option to keep their hands as they were dealt or switch their second card, which could potentially allow for a more favorable outcome.

In addition to table games and slots, the casino's main level is home to three of Red Hawk Casino's signature dining options including: Wai Sushi and Seafood featuring fresh nigiri sushi, sashimi and hand-rolled maki; Pearl Asian Cuisine, offering an eclectic blend of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese dishes; and Two Rivers Café for those in need of a quick snack or coffee break.

Anchoring the main level of the casino is the Stage Bar, which provides nightly, free entertainment. Scheduled to appear on opening night is Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts band. Additionally, various regional bands will perform nightly on the Stage Bar. Acts scheduled to appear include Steel Breeze on December 18 and 19; Whiskey Dawn on December 20 and 21; Garage Boys from December 22 - December 28; and The Basix from December 29 - January 4, 2009.

Also on the main level is Red Hawk Traders, the official gift shop for Red Hawk Casino, which features artwork, jewelry and unique merchandise, as well as Red Hawk Casino apparel including hats, t-shirts and sweatshirts. Basic sundries including snacks, candy and books are also available.

As guests descend to the lower level of Red Hawk Casino, they will find additional gaming areas and even more dining options, many of which offer spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada Foothills. The lower level is also entirely smoke-free.

Anchoring the lower level is Red Hawk Casino's signature restaurant, Henry's Steakhouse which exemplifies dining at its finest. Henry's offers a selection of prime, natural and Wagyu steaks, local seafood, lamb and poultry, with 90 wines by the glass and more than 450 labels by the bottle. Wines at Henry's have been carefully selected from Napa, Sonoma, and El Dorado counties, along with wines from around the world.

Additional restaurants on the lower level include: Koto Grille, a casual, rustic grill offering American and Mexican foods with an extensive beer list; and the Waterfall Buffet with live-action cooking stations and a vast selection of fresh foods.

Red Hawk Casino also features four entertainment bars that cater to everyone from wine aficionados and sports fans, to those looking to enjoy live music.

Also located on the lower level are Kids Quest and Cyber Quest, which are supervised children's entertainment facilities that feature hourly child care services for children six weeks to 12 years-old.

Parking at Red Hawk Casino is free for casino guests. Visitors can opt for complimentary valet parking or can choose to park in the multi-level parking garage, which features more than 3,000 lighted and covered parking spaces. Visitors are encouraged to car pool to Red Hawk Casino as large crowds are expected throughout opening week.

An official grand opening celebration is planned for Thursday, January 22 at 6 p.m. More information about the grand opening celebration will be announced at a later date.

For more information on Red Hawk Casino, please visit www.redhawkcasino.com or call 1-888-5REDHWK (888-573-3495).

About Red Hawk Casino

Red Hawk Casino is owned by the Shingle Springs Tribal Gaming Authority, an instrumentality of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. It is located near Placerville, Calif., off the Red Hawk Parkway exit of Highway 50, just 20 minutes east of Sacramento. Red Hawk Casino is managed by Lakes Entertainment, Inc. and blends a full complement of gaming excitement with the natural beauty of Northern California. Red Hawk Casino features approximately 2,000 slot machines, 75 table games, six restaurants, four bars, and lighted, covered parking. Please play responsibly. You must be 21 years of age to gamble. More information can be found at www.redhawkcasino.com.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: David Gutierrez Dresner Corporate Services (312) 780-7204 dgutierrez@dresnerco.com Joshua Taustein Dresner Corporate Services (312) 780-7219 jtaustein@dresnerco.com Sara DeNio Dresner Corporate Services (312) 780-7223 sdenio@dresnerco.com