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.

Yep agreed got out with a small gain cyners.

All about legislation in the US.

Party Gaming and Bwin will retain brand names after merger.

Party Gaming, which runs the reputed poker portal Party Poker, recently announced the final terms of its merger with Bwin, another gaming giant. The merger has been long anticipated by the poker industry who are waiting to see what inroad the newly merger enterprise will make. The merger is expected to be completed by the first quarter of the year 2011 and so far all those on board the two companies see nothing but opportunities for growth. This merger will create one of the worlds largest officially listed gaming businesses.

Norbert Teufelberger, the Co-CEO of Bwin appeared to be very optimistic about the merger and commented, The online gaming industry is going through a phase of consolidation, making market players size and geographic diversification more crucial than ever. Our products and target markets complement one another perfectly, and we can continue to expand our technology lead in all key product segments: sports betting, poker, casino, bingo, and games.

Both Bwin and Party Gaming have decided to keep their brand names, rather than opting for one of the two or going in for something totally new. The newly merged company will have a worldwide market and will be able to use the power of both its brands to push profits. The company will function under the brand name of bwin.party digital entertainment plc. In the merger the shares have not been evenly divided and it would appear that Bwin has the majority. Shareholders of Bwin will be happy to know that the shares have been split 51.7 percent (for Bwin) and 48.3 percent (for Party Gaming).

Jim Ryan, who is the current CEO of Party Gaming will team up with Teufelberger and head the newly merged enterprise. Ryan sees this as a great business opportunity for expansion. This is a transformational opportunity for both our companies to create the worlds largest listed online gaming business. With market-leading positions in poker, sports betting, casino, and games, the enlarged group will have a winning formula to exploit the growing online gaming market, supported by a strong balance sheet, significant cash flow generation, and a highly experienced management team, he said.

Despite retaining their brands, the management will be headed under one umbrella and the new company will function as one unit. The newly joined enterprise will operate out of Gibraltar and is now listed on the London Stock Exchange. However, since the company is so large, Bwin will still hold on to its offices in Austria.

At last after 3 weeks got my charting gear and problem sorted out. Right first up PRTY will we get a bounce on the chart from the recent weakness. Im hoping so and had a few earlier today, thats a fairly established resistance/support line so law of averages says after a while it will be broken.

You have jinxed PRTY, goldfinger.

another serious stinker, and prob one to short, not that is shall

You are now a serious shorter, cynic.

not short here unfortunately, but as i mentioned before, i have never liked this sector as have never understood why even a mutt-head would want to chance his arm against some serious professionals who frequent these places

190p now, any takers???

Yep looks that way hlyeo, its been on a rotten run lately.

Top stock pick for 2011 From Daniel Stewart.......

PartyGaming (LON:PRTY) Target price 295 pence (current price 192 pence)

The online gaming group is valued at 295 pence a share, giving more than 50 percent upside from the current share price. Analyst Michael Campbell reckons may struggle in the poker arena, where the likes of Full Tilt and Poker Stars are piling on the competitive pressure.

However he reckons this will be more than offset by the performance of Partys bingo and casino offering.

Campbell adds: Partys merger with BWIN results in the largest online gambling business across a number of product verticals. Its the largest European Poker business across Europe and occupies top spot in casino, whilst sharing the spoils with Betfair in the sports betting vertical, though Betfair's model is distinctly different to the Party-BWIN model.