Exhibit 99.1

Global Cash Access Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Las Vegas, NV – August 7, 2012 – Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE:GCA) announced today financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012.

Second Quarter 2012 Highlights

·                  Operating income increased 125% quarter-over-quarter to $16.0 million

·                  EBITDA increased 68% quarter-over-quarter to $20.1 million

·                  Net income per share, on a diluted basis, increased 450% quarter-over-quarter to $0.11

·                  Cash EPS increased 92% quarter-over-quarter to $0.23

“We are very pleased with the Company’s performance in the second quarter and for the first half of 2012.  The Company is performing well in all segments and we continue to execute our plans and strategies.  GCA continues to be well positioned for the second half of 2012,” said Scott Betts, CEO of Global Cash Access.

“I am also pleased to announce that the Company has executed a letter of intent with Live Gamer.  Live Gamer is a leading independent wallet, analytics and media supplier for the social gaming space worldwide,” said Scott Betts, CEO of Global Cash Access.  “Our proposed alliance with Live Gamer will combine GCA’s casino cash management expertise with Live Gamer’s cutting edge technology platform, expertise and player knowledge as a leader in the social and play-for-fun industry.  We believe this alliance will position GCA well to develop integrated solutions as the social and Internet gaming markets continue to rapidly evolve.  This approach acknowledges the importance of understanding the current trends in social gaming as we think about the Internet for our industry.”

Second Quarter 2012 Results

Revenues were $147.5 million for the second quarter 2012, as compared to revenues of $135.1 million for the same period in 2011.  The overall increase in revenues was primarily due to the MCA asset acquisition coupled with modest organic growth in the Company’s base business.  Operating income was $16.0 million for the second quarter 2012, an increase of 125%, as compared to $7.1 million for the same period in 2011.  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) (see Non-GAAP Financial Information below) were $20.1 million for the second quarter 2012, an increase of 68%, as compared to $12.0 million for the same period in 2011.  The increase in EBITDA for the second quarter 2012 was primarily a result of both the October 1, 2011 enactment of the Durbin Amendment and its impact on the interchange rates paid by the Company on its debit card transactions, as well as the MCA asset purchase.  Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) (see Non-GAAP Financial Information below) were $21.4 million for the second quarter 2012, an increase of 50%, as compared to $14.3 million for the same period in 2011.

Income before income tax provision was $11.9 million for the second quarter 2012, an increase of 376%, as compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2011.  Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.11 for the second quarter 2012 (on 67.4 million diluted shares), as compared to $0.02 for the same period in 2011 (on 64.1 million diluted shares).  Cash EPS (see Non-GAAP Financial Information below) was $0.23 for the second quarter 2012, an increase of 92%, from the $0.12 for the same period in 2011.

2012 Outlook

The Company reaffirms its prior outlook for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, as Cash EPS is expected to be between approximately $0.76 and $0.82 and Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between approximately $73.0 million and $77.0 million.  In addition, the Company now estimates that cash outlays for its expected capital expenditures to be between $9.0 million and $12.0 million, as compared to the Company’s prior estimate of between $6.0 million and $8.0 million.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host an investor conference call to discuss its results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 today at 5:00 p.m. ET. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (877) 941-2068 or for international callers by dialing (480) 629-9712.  A replay will be available at 8:00 p.m. ET and can be accessed by dialing (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international callers; the PIN is 4552097.  The replay will be available until August 14, 2012.  The call will be webcast live from the Company’s website at www.gcainc.com under the Investor Relations section.

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Non-GAAP Financial Information

In order to enhance investor understanding of the underlying trends in our business and to provide for better comparability between periods in different years, the Company is providing EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash Earnings and Cash EPS on a supplemental basis. Reconciliations between GAAP measures and Non-GAAP measures and between actual results and adjusted results are provided at the end of this press release. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash Earnings and Cash EPS are not measures of financial performance under United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Accordingly, they should not be considered a substitute for net income, operating income, basic or diluted earnings per share or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements included in this press release, other than statements that are purely historical, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “going forward,” “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “seek,” “estimate” and similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation: (a) our belief we are well positioned for the second half of 2012; (b) our beliefs about our proposed alliance with Live Gamer and the social and Internet gaming landscape; (c) our estimates of 2012 Cash EPS and Adjusted EBITDA and the assumptions upon which they are based; (d) our assumption that there will be a modest improvement in the gaming industry for 2012; (e) our assumption for 2012 that cash outlays for capital expenditures are expected to be between approximately $9.0 million to $12.0 million; and (f) our belief that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Cash EPS are widely-referenced financial measures in the financial markets and our belief that references to the foregoing are helpful to investors.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or assumed, including but not limited to the following: the timing and the extent of a recovery in the gaming industry, if any; our ability to enter into a definitive and binding agreement with Live Gamer on commercially reasonable terms, or at all; gaming establishment and patron preferences; national and international economic conditions; changes in gaming regulatory, card association and statutory requirements; regulatory and licensing difficulties; competitive pressures; operational limitations; gaming market contraction; changes to tax laws; uncertainty of litigation outcomes; interest rate fluctuations; inaccuracies in underlying operating assumptions; unanticipated expenses or capital needs; technological obsolescence; and employee turnover.  If any of these assumptions prove to be incorrect, the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements regarding our future results of operations are unlikely to be realized.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to additional risks and uncertainties set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K on March 12, 2012, and are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We do not intend, and assume no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

About Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc.

Las Vegas-based Global Cash Access, Inc. (“GCA”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc., is a leading provider of cash access products and related services to over 1,000 casinos and other gaming properties in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and Asia. GCA’s products and services provide gaming patrons access to cash through a variety of methods, including ATM cash withdrawals, point-of-sale debit card transactions, credit card transactions, check verification and warranty services, and Western Union money transfers. Through Western Money Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary, GCA is a leading manufacturer and distributor of cash handling devices and related software. GCA also provides products and services that improve credit decision-making, automate cashier operations and enhance patron marketing activities for gaming establishments. With its proprietary database of gaming patron credit history and transaction data on millions of gaming patrons worldwide, GCA is recognized for successfully developing and deploying technological innovations that increase client profitability, operational efficiency and customer loyalty. More information is available at GCA’s website at www.gcainc.com.

SOURCE: Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc.

2

GLOBAL CASH ACCESS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(amounts in thousands, except par value)

(unaudited)

3

GLOBAL CASH ACCESS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(amounts in thousands, except per share)

(unaudited)

4

GLOBAL CASH ACCESS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

5

GLOBAL CASH ACCESS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO CASH EARNINGS

AND OPERATING INCOME TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

(unaudited)

Notes:

1.  For the six months ended June 30, 2011, there were approximately $3.4 million of non-recurring expenses that impacted Cash EPS by approximately $0.05.

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GLOBAL CASH ACCESS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED SEGMENT INFORMATION AND OTHER DATA

(unaudited)

(amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)