Empire Online Limited 18 October 2005 Empire Online Limited ("Empire Online" or "the Company) Trading Update The Company announced on 10 October 2005 a separation in the gaming platform used by PartyGaming players and that used by "skins" of PartyGaming. Since that date, the Company has seen a slowdown in rake generated by EmpirePoker.com. Growth in new player sign-ups at the Empire Online network as a whole has remained strong. The Company now expects Empire Online's net profit for 2005 to be approximately 10 per cent. lower than consensus market estimates for the twelve months ended 31 December 2005. The impact on Empire Online is on the value of the existing customer database of EmpirePoker.com and not on the value and number of new sign-ups across the Empire Online network. Empire Online is confident that the growth strategies it has in place across its trading platforms, such as Noble Poker and Club Dice, along with growth in new player sign-ups across the Empire Online network, will deliver substantial net profit growth in 2006 (albeit at lower levels than previously expected) and beyond. The Company will take all measures to protect its revenues and continue the strong growth in new player sign ups reported in the Q3 Trading Update. CEO Noam Lanir commented "The trend rate of growth at Empire Online remains strong and we will continue to grow ahead of the industry. Due to the talent of the team in place at Empire Online and the opportunities for organic growth and consolidation in the industry I am very confident of the enduring future of this company." Enquiries: Empire Online +357 (2) 5 847 700 Noam Lanir, Chief Executive Officer Andrew Burns, Chief Financial Officer Andrew Burnett Citigate Dewe Rogerson +44 (0) 20 7638 9571 Simon Rigby Sarah Gestetner Ged Brumby This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange