John Brackenbury joins Isle of Capri

BILOXI, Miss., January 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISLE) announced today the election of John Brackenbury, C.B.E., of London, England, to its board of directors. Brackenbury joins the company's board as it continues its expansion into the United Kingdom as the first U.S. company to have received approval to own a casino in that country.

As a result of his election, the majority of the company's board of directors will now consist of independent directors.

Brackenbury, who has worked in the United Kingdom hospitality and leisure industry since 1955, currently holds several board positions with U.K. companies. He previously was chairman and major owner of Pubmaster, Britain's third largest tenanted pub company, for more than a decade.

He is also chairman of Business in Sport and Leisure, which is currently compiling responses for the U.K. Gaming reform, chairman of the Hospitality Training Foundation, senior non-executive director of SFI Group PLC, chairman of Avanti Communications and director for Holsten PLC. He also serves as chairman elect of People First, the sector skills council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries.

Brackenbury is owner of Brackenbury Leisure Ltd., a leisure industry consulting firm. During Brackenbury's career, he spent many years with International Distillers and Vintners and served as a founding director and shareholder of the Happy Eater for 16 years. He also held the position of chief executive of Marriott Watney International, a company formed to bring the Marriott Corporation into Europe.

In 2000, Brackenbury was honored with the Commander of the British Empire award for his services to tourism, education and employment. A native of London, England, Brackenbury is a member of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Charter, Lord's Taverners and the British Institute of Innkeeping.

"Changing the board composition to a majority of independent directors is an important step and is reflective of our growth as a company. We are excited that John has chosen to join our Board. He brings a wealth of experience in the leisure and entertainment industry and will bring invaluable advice and experience to our expansion in the United Kingdom," said Bernard Goldstein, chairman and chief executive officer of the company.

Brackenbury said, "Having been instrumental in bringing the Marriott Corporation into Europe, I look forward to advising the Isle of Capri on their strategy and development within Europe."

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., the leader in regional gaming, owns and operates 17 riverboat, dockside and land-based casinos at 15 locations, including Biloxi, Vicksburg, Lula and Natchez, Mississippi; Bossier City and Lake Charles (two riverboats), Louisiana; Black Hawk (two land-based casinos) and Cripple Creek, Colorado; Bettendorf, Davenport and Marquette, Iowa; and Kansas City and Boonville, Missouri. International locations include Freeport, Grand Bahama and Dudley, England. The company also operates Pompano Park Harness Racing Track in Pompano Beach, Florida.

This press release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to change. These forward-looking statements may be significantly impacted, either positively or negatively by various factors, including without limitation, licensing, and other regulatory approvals, financing sources, development and construction activities, costs and delays, weather, permits, competition and business conditions in the gaming industry. The forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein.

Additional information concerning potential factors that could affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations and expansion projects, is included in the filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2003 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 26, 2003.

  Contacts:  Allan B. Solomon, Executive Vice President-561.995.6660             Rex Yeisley, Chief Financial Officer-228.396.7052             Lori Hutzler, Director of Corporate Communications-228.396.7031             Web site:  http://www.islecorp.com/