Rumors Abound -- U.K.-based bookmaker William Hill is mulling a takeover bid for leisure company Rank Group, reports the Observer. The paper claims that William Hill, Ladbrokes and a number of other U.S. groups have expressed interest in the company, which is in the midst of selling its Hard Rock Café business for an estimated $986.8 million. Rank is due to update the market on trading this week, including the progress of the Hard Rock chain.
Lucky Stars -- Online poker continues to flourish in the wake of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Last weekend, Poker Stars' Sunday Millions drew 6,687 players, offering $1.3 million in total prizes with a $187,236 first-prize. Full Tilt drew 2,187 players for its Sunday $350,000 Guaranteed tournament, offering a $437,400 prize pool with $80,461 awarded to its top finisher--360 players finished in the money. Bodog's $100,000 Guaranteed event drew 954 players and offered a $25,000 first prize--81 finished in the money.
Freedom Frize -- Software provider Playwize announced today that it has signed a promotion and distribution agreement with Partouche Interactive, the interactive division of Partouche, the France-based casino operator.
Launched -- Interactive Systems Worldwide subsidiary Global Interactive Gaming (GIG) today announced the launch of enhanced in-run live betting products in conjunction with Sportingbet. GIG will provide software and services which allow Sportingbet to offer play-by-play betting across different sporting events. Meanwhile, Sweden-based B2B Poker--a 24h Poker network company--announced today that it has signed an agreement with online sports book 3Bwin. The B2B-3Bwin integration will begin "shortly," and online poker will be launched in 2007 to 3Bwin's network of 600,000 "gaming-interested Europeans," B2B said in a prepared statement.