Hard on the heels of earlier reports in the UK media that Ladbrokes
was making acquisition overtures to Party Gaming and other major online
gambling groups comes news from Reuters that PartyGaming is in talks
to buy part of Internet betting company bwin.com of Austria.
The Reuters report quotes an "unnamed source close to the
talks" as saying: "It is a logical extension from PartyGaming
buying Gamebookers in August."
PartyGaming bought online sports betting business Gamebookers (soon
to be re-branded Party Bet) from Trident Gaming Plc for Euro 102 million
($130 million) and is apparently also looking at other deals, including
smaller online bingo and casino operators, the source told Reuters.
PartyGaming was recently alleged to be in talks to buy fellow online
gambling operator 888 Holdings. 888 subsequently said "it has
had various preliminary discussions with third parties following suspension
of its U.S. activities," but didn't say with which firm and added
that there's no certainty a deal will be reached.
Last Saturday, The Financial Times reported that Ladbrokes has held
preliminary talks with 888 Holdings and PartyGaming and "is
understood to be taking an interest in some of Austrian-based Bwin's
operations."
The transaction talks come in the wake of the U.S. legislation banning
Internet gambling financial transactions for American players.