Campbell, Youbet Renew Harness Endorsement Deal for 2005; Legendary Dr

    Business Editors

    WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 2005--Youbet.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBET) said today that it has renewed its landmark endorsement contract with harness driver John Campbell for the 2005 racing season. Campbell is harness racing's all time leading money earner who, along with a group of fellow drivers, broke new corporate sponsor ground last year by featuring Youbet advertising on his uniform.
    Youbet made a concerted effort to build its harness racing business in 2004. The company aggressively sought and won the right to carry live broadcasts of races from the vast majority of harness tracks that participate in the sport's Grand Circuit and then used Campbell's name recognition as part of an intense marketing campaign to help introduce bettors to standardbred racing and give the sport a try.
    The company's broad-based program paid off in a 20 percent increase in Youbet's Dollar volume of harness wagers in 2004 and an influx of new harness racing enthusiasts. The upturn was good news for participating harness tracks as more than nine out of every ten Youbet-booked wagers came from bettors outside of the tracks' source markets.
    According to Youbet CEO Chuck Champion, Campbell's exclusive endorsement helped elevate the company's standing in the harness industry. "When John agreed to display our colors, it definitely strengthened our position among fans and track operators," he said. "What is more, the affiliation helped us to attract additional interest in the sport and in the online products we offer to support it."
    "People who wouldn't normally have a chance to experience standardbred racing saw it live on our website and bet on it in real time," Champion said. "And once our customers got a taste of the excitement, they came back for more."
    "Youbet is helping to increase the exposure of harness racing by bringing the racing product to new fans," Campbell said. "They are making wagering more convenient and more accessible."
    "John has what all good spokespersons have: history and enthusiasm," Champion said. "We feel privileged to have him on the Youbet team and we are proud to have his voice behind our effort to build interest in harness racing around the country."
    "When used in connection with a well-conceived marketing effort, our Standardbred Stars program is effective at delivering value to sponsors," observed Charles Geffen of Branding Rights, LLC, Campbell's agent. "The success of the Youbet initiative supports the point."
    Terms of the contract, which extends through the end of 2005, were not released.
    Youbet.com is the largest Internet provider of thoroughbred, quarter horse and harness horse racing content in the United States. Members have the ability to watch and, in most states, the ability to wager on vast majority of all major domestic horse racing content via Youbet.com's exclusive closed-loop network. Youbet.com members enjoy features that include commingled track pools, live audio/video, up-to-the-minute track information, real-time wagering information, phone wagering and value-added handicapping products.
    Youbet.com is an official online wagering platform of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby. Youbet.com operates Youbet.com TotalAccess(TM), an Oregon-based hub for the acceptance and placement of wagers. More information on Youbet can be found at www.Youbet.com.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements containing expressions such as "may," "will," "project," "might," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," potential," "continue" or "pursue" or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology used in Youbet's press releases and in its reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Youbet's actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release. Although Youbet believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from these expectations. From time to time, these risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors include, without limitation, the following: the timely development and market acceptance of new products and technologies; our ability to secure financing on terms acceptable to us; our ability to control operating expenses; increased competition in the advance deposit wagering business; a decline in the public acceptance of wagering; wagering ceasing to be approved in jurisdictions where Youbet currently operates; the limitation, conditioning or suspension of any of Youbet's licenses; increases in or new taxes imposed on wagering revenues; loss or retirement of key executives; and a decline in the general economy. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Youbet does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

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CONTACT: Youbet.com Jeff Franklin, 818-668-2100 or Beacon Advisors Hud Englehart, 312-222-5801

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA KENTUCKY OREGON INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS ADVERTISING/MARKETING ENTERTAINMENT GAMING MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Youbet.com, Inc.

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