This one hit the markets running today. Despite negative publicity it was well supported so I jumped in for a small holding--anyone else joining in?? I am hoping for a good run up before the shorters get going.

Having bought at 30p I'm biased, but spread is still tight....I agree there is uncertainty over any Merger - but wonder if that isn't doing "something" rather than nothing? For, it doesn't increase the number of players, just moves them about and in all probability some are registered on both Sites.
/
About the UK Government:
The Politic Show on BBC2, ran with the Ascot-story and comments on the US heavy-hand were rife, indeed it has more to do with US-Election than saving Americans from their addictions ....and I read that PRTY has plans to offer so-called Free gambling on things that aren't covered by the new (US)Laws.

In the UK, the Government sees the US-law issue as dictating internal policy and we know UK Gov is keen to have "SuperCasinos" ( but Why? - to add to the UK TAX-take!)....so arranging some framework that is acceptable to Europeans and Asia "might" ward-off any further encroachment of UK Sovergnity

However, comments (here) about PRTY Bosses and the Lauch Money are worrying - perhaps these Execs need to be removed from Office....(US - help!)...to be replaced by a reigeme where Players' Losses don't ruin their fun.
This is a business that is a "route to loot" - there is nothing to manufacture and distribution is "almost free" .....so DO NOT BE Greedy, should be their cornerstone/Motto.........as to the SP......Dunno - maybe it was overvalued - maybe it's oversold......OR, NOT?..... PRTY recovered from a recent Low - so 29/30 is already higher+steady than it was......

I'm Holding ....for some more news.
Have they had an AGM...did anyone go, ...what was the mood?

hangon,

Outlook may be less gloomy if Democrat controls both houses and perhaps even a Democrat president.

My opinions on PRTY are just that, opinions.

I avoided the float and investment because I sensed excessive naked greed. TOO much was being taken off the table. Ordinary punters usually carry the risk and provided riches to a few.

Very cautious. Still waiting for sub-20p before making a decision. Not fussed if I miss out. With low overhead and running costs, PRTY should always be profitable, as long as you can trust the integrity of the executives and staff not to line the pockets of themselves, their relatives and associates first.

Again, all IMHO, NAG, DYOR ...

take over on cards,

who says and even if so, at what price? ...... cannot see any way that PRTY merits even its current market cap of 1.2 billion - can you?

In the F.T. 4th Nov:
"An insider said PRTY was losing interest in 888 & was looking at strategic deals, with some of BWIN's empire & smaller size bingo & casino companies thought to be among it's targets".

and if you read that comment properly, it is all unsubstantiated waffle

Ouch! I don't think Roger Blitz, the Leisure Industries correspondent to the F.T. is going to take kindly to that comment. :o)
And surely unsubstantiated rumour is what fuels the M & A gravy train!!!

Grub Street serves it up .... the lemmings tuck in

Journists play a game of use and be used. The questions is why the insider wants us Joe punters know of this piece of news, anonymously, and why now.

IMHO, is it more likely 888 rejected the approach because it does not want to play second-fiddle or junior to PRTY who once had a commanding lead in market capitalisation and number of players. It is now a even playing field. PRTY has only one strength left - cash. PRTY probably wants to get a bargain or two, but hey, why should anyone sell at a bargain basement price to a company still sitting on lots of cash?

All IMHO, NAG, DYOR ...

888 to be bought by Labrokes.. 145p asking price a share...SBT.PRTY TO ROCKET TO MORO

I think PRTY should continue with its business and look for opportunities to buy clients ONLY if the price is right. Ladbrookes is a well-known co with similar interests (albiet in hard sites), so buying 888 is probably a sensible move.

Does anyone know the price Ladbrookes is paying for 888's (Customers+Cash, )?
- That might help to establish a rough figure for PRTY -
I agree with axdpc, ( 888 wouldn't like PRTY merger.) However, to say PRTY has only cash is over-simplification - They still have customers, still have cash rolling-in and they are on Ch5 TV most (late)nights. I think they have a reasonably decent business, even without the thick-jam that was US punters.

Anyone know what the situation is with the UK Gov....or was that posturing so the US magnate can run the M-Dome?
(Er, I thought the Dome was paid-for from our Lottery Funds - so how could our Government sell it?....must be me!)

I'll say it again ...... why would anyone think PRTY was worth anything like 1.2 billion?

Money and power know no loyality. Poker punters can switch at a click.

Dome is worse than a scandle. Physically, dome is probably a good site for a casino.


What's PRTY's shares in issue?

4,000 million .... so now you know from where i got market cap of 1.2 billion .... cannot be worth anything like that

cynic, I see your point. Assume cash of 200M = 5p per share. The rest is ???
Annual profit without US?
Hhhmmm, fair price of 10p??

pretty much my point, though i am not nearly brave enough to go short without a lot more thought (i am incpabale of research and analysis as many here will tell you)

It is also neither difficult nor expensive to set up an online operation from scratch ...

For gambling operation with hard assets, it might be more advantageous to set up a
customised online operation leveraging existing assets. Punters will switch quick enough when the advertisements start.

axdpc

It is also neither difficult nor expensive to set up an online operation from scratch


you say that but betfair has recently decided to go it alone and launch an independent poker site. To do so they actually bought pokerchamps (a small barely used site) and relaunched it as betfair poker. they have made a complete balls up of it and succeeded in losing a large amount of their previously loyal customer base due to poor software with a lot of problems and lack of reliability. They had an online Q&A session regarding the problems tonight - however they had to cancel it as all their staff were working on trying to get the site back up from its afternoon crash lol

Fundamentalist,

Explanations ...

From scratch I meant a bespoke system, not one bought, with warts, bugs, incorrect and incomplete documentations, from another company.

Not expensive because, IMHO, a system can be built for a few million GBP (less than 10M). An online poker system has fewer issues and costs concerning inventory, perishables, warehouses, logistics ... 10M is well within the financial means of companies like Ladbroke.

Not difficult because some part of the system can be built from components readily available, free or for a modest fee.

The single most important factor, also the most difficult, for success or failure is in obtaining and retaining conscientious, competent, honest and dedicated staff.

axdpc

fully understand what you were saying - my post was a bit tongue in cheek as to how easily companies do get it wrong and also how easy it is for a poker site to completely alienate its customer base (which ultimately is is most of its value)

as someone who plays a lot of online poker i have a fair understanding of the business and have hence been very bearish on PRTY since the day it floated