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?

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.

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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)

monday mm treeshake...usual tactics

keep ya eye on BET...1m t-trade at close

I'm back in for a few today after selling on the spike. I'm waiting for the counter bid fun to start!

good move...me too..also don't forget 888 results out in a few days

Last Updated: Tuesday, 13 March 2007, 00:12 GMT

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Gambling ads ban to be scrapped

Adverts will still be banned during programmes aimed at under 18s
A ban on TV and radio adverts for casinos, betting shops and online gambling sites is to be scrapped.
The new rules will come into operation in September as part of the Gambling Act 2005.

Adverts will be banned during shows aimed at under 18s - and anyone who appears to be under 25 cannot be shown gambling on TV or on radio.

Minister for Sport Richard Caborn said the Government would monitor the changes and step in if problems arose.

Advertisers must stick to a code of practice. They must not, for example, depict gambling as a solution to debt.

Mr Caborn said the restrictions were needed to protect children and other vulnerable groups.

Adverts must not show gamblers behaving in a way which is irresponsible or could lead to "financial, social or emotional harm".

And as with alcohol, anyone promoting gambling must not link it to sexual success or enhanced self-image.


We hope the outcome of these new standards will be to encourage people to see gambling as fun and entertaining rather than as a way of making your fortune

Nicola Crewe-Read
GamCare


Mr Caborn welcomed the new codes, saying: "They set out clearly what is and isn't acceptable advertising practice for all gambling operators, while making sure that the protection of children and vulnerable people is a central consideration of all advertising campaigns."

He insisted that the government would monitor the reforms carefully and would step in if problems arose.

"If they are insufficient to ensure proper public protection, the government will consider using its additional powers to impose further restrictions," Mr Caborn said.

Possible sanctions

The rules were drawn up by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP).

They will be policed by the Advertising Standards Authority and any breach could be referred to the Gambling Commission or the regulator Ofcom who could impose sanctions.

Nicola Crewe-Reade, from addiction counselling service GamCare, also backed the changes.

"We hope the outcome of these new standards will be to encourage people to see gambling as fun and entertaining rather than as a way of making your fortune," she told the BBC News website.

Until now, the UK National Lottery has been exempt from restrictions applied to other forms of gambling.

do as maestro says; fill yer boots with gaming stocks ..... or cement .... result will prob be much the same

VIENNA (AFX) - BWIN Interactive Entertainment said that acquiring Sportingbet would help the company overtake PartyGaming as the UK market leader in online gaming, BWIN CEO Norbert Teufelberger told the German business magazine 'Focus Money'.

Teufelberger said that BWIN would benefit from the effects of significant synergies if a purchase of Sportingbet were to go through, although he refused to provide a specific figure for any potential savings.

BWIN confirmed on March 3 that it is in 'very preliminary' takeover discussions with Sportingbet."

cynic gets it wrong again..what a loserrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

cynic just does not like gaming shares. He likes a few minos and the rest all in gold solid stocks. which there is nothing wrong with that all to ones own. I still have prty 888 and sbt. Good luck.