Anyone holding these? Evil K drove the price right down and now they seem to be recovering---are they worth considering now they seem to have sorted out their finances?

Interesting. I will watch and see how market reacts tomorrow, could be pretty good?

Sold at 42p happy with small profit, will defo watch and see how it develops

I think considering todays trade, SBT has held its own very well ! I think there may be some news on the horizon for them. (could they be up for a takeover perhaps !)

my only blue one today! results look positive-the fight back is continuing.

Possible Offer

The Board of Sportingbet has noted the recent press speculation and confirms
that it has received a very preliminary approach which may or may not lead to an
offer for the entire issued share capital of Sportingbet.

If a firm offer is a possibility anyone any ideas of what price the company may be taken out at?

VIENNA (AFX) - BWIN Interactive Entertainment said it is in 'very preliminary' talks to buy Sportingbet Plc.

The Austrian online betting company said these talks 'may or may not lead to an offer'.

The Independent reckons it will be 64 pence cash.

"At current share prices BWIN has a market capitalisation of almost 1 bln eur, while Sportingbet has a market cap of around 380 mln eur (260 mln stg). According to BWIN, as of Sept 30 the company had liquid assets of just under 66.7 mln eur, so well over 320 mln eur would have to be raised for any acquisition to take place.

Sveceny could give no timeframe on when the deal might progress, or a decision on a capital increase or possible financing would be made."

64p seems cheap, but haven't yet done the proper calculation.

news out today - in money am newspapers news - rumour of the day on sportingbet. talk that sporting index is mulling a counter bid. this news is in the times newspaper thismorning. it will be interesting to see what the bid is going to be.

Am now hearing on the rumour trail that 87p is the target. Just rumour, nothing solid.

.87 pence that would be absoluteley wonderful if it comes off.

FILL YA FRIGGIN BOOTS!#

UK gaming takes on Europe
By Mark Choueke, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 11:52pm GMT 10/03/2007



Britain's leading gaming companies intend to use a ruling from a top European court to fight for greater freedom to operate around Europe.

The Continent's state-owned monopolies have so far been reluctant to open their markets to foreign competitors. Many such monopolies are being challenged in a variety of courts by individual British bookmakers, online gaming firms and betting exchanges. If the $100bn (51.7bn) European gambling market were opened up to allow foreign competitors to trade freely it could be worth $140bn by 2012, said experts.

The UK companies said last week's European Court of Justice (ECJ) "Placanica" ruling that Italy's restrictions on Liverpool firm Stanley International Betting were discriminatory and out of step with EU law, will prove vital in their individual battles. The ECJ ruled that countries can write their own rules on gambling, but if they allow gambling companies to operate, they cannot discriminate against or restrict licensed competitors from abroad.

advertisement
Ladbrokes is currently fighting on four fronts, challenging Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Holland over trade restrictions. A spokesman said: "We are looking at how we can use Placanica to fight our cases. The market has to be prised open, the judgement makes it difficult for nation states to bring criminal proceedings against us."

Gala Coral chief executive Neil Goulden said the ruling brings the UK "one step closer to breaking down the European protectionists".

Betfair, the betting exchange, is currently trying to break into Germany where the authorities fear entry of foreign companies may encourage sporting corruption and financial fraud.

But Betfair managing director Mark Davies said all the UK companies fighting for free trade are not only well regulated but also "a million miles ahead" of the European monopolies in crime prevention. "Our British gambling brands can share our methods of crime detection with others in Europe if they allow us in. Betfair has a fraud and integrity team 60-people strong. Their reluctance to let us in has more to do with each country wanting the UK kept out to allow them time to develop their own gambling services and products which are less developed than ours," he said.

Warwick Bartlett, lead partner at Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, predicts the European market will be worth up to $140bn by 2012 if restrictions on trade are removed. "What the Europeans are saving in revenue by protecting state monopolies is less than the earnings they could rake in through tax revenue, jobs and foreign exchange if they lifted restrictions."

The EU commissioner for internal market and services Charlie McCreevy said the judgment will have "an important bearing on other EU countries."

hi there all, the gaming sector has made some good gains this week. I am holding shares in 888, sportingbet and partygaming. Lets hope that bwin does not drag its feet too long with their offer for sportingbet, even though they are in early stages.

has to be no better than evens that you will lose money in this sector

janet..snap!

I hold 888 & SBT. Certainly think with consolidation & possible takeover speculation that the odds of making money in this sector are in our favour.
We just have to keep our eye on the ball & take sensible profit.

or stay out altogether and just watch the fun in both directions

does anyone know why the gaming stocks have fallen today. They have dropped quite a large percentage for today. I cannot find any bad news anywhere.

could be because the market in general thinks they're crap or at best, the wrong sector ..... add to that that Dow looks to be heading south today (and just maybe for the next 2/3 days)