Casino group in takeover

06.09.2006, Lesen Sie hier den Bericht über «Casino group in takeover»

LIVERPOOL-based casino operator Stanley Leisure was in the spotlight today after it said it was considering a takeover approach. Its shares soared almost 20% yesterday, valuing the Dale Street firm at £570m, after investors gambled on a bidding war.

The sector has been gripped by consolidation talks in recent weeks and the approach for Stanley came days after Las Vegas casino giant Harrah's Entertainment agreed to buy London Clubs International for £279.3m. That was a blow for Stanley, which had announced in June that it was considering a £634m merger with London Clubs.

Harrah's, the world's largest gaming company, was also linked with a bid for Stanley, although talk in the City today said Mecca Bingo owner Rank could be interested.

Stanley Leisure today said it had received "a proposal concerning a possible offer which the board is currently evaluating." Shares in the company - which owns Crockfords, The Colony Club, The Mint and The Palm Beach casinos in London and 41 other sites in cities including Bristol, Liverpool and Birmingham - lifted 19% or 130.5p to 811p. Consolidation of the industry has been on the cards in the UK since the shake-up of gaming laws paved the way for 'super-casinos'.

Stanley Leisure has reported a surgeinvisitors to its provincial casinos on the back of the deregulation, which lifted the rule forcing new punters to register 24 hours in advance and scrapped limits on jackpot prizes. The company last year refurbished its Renshaw Street casino and is developing a new casino at its Dale Street headquarters.

Takeover speculation and improved trading since the gaming laws were relaxed has helped boost its share price from 418p in January 2005 to a high of 875p earlier this year. Reports last month said Harrah's wanted to buy both London Clubs and Stanley Leisure.

But Rank has also been linked with Stanley Leisureas the two companies are the only listed gaming firms in the UK. Rank is concentrating on gaming and is considering the sale of its Hard Rock Cafe business. Sep 5 2006 By Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo

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Las Vegas liegt im Westen der USA im Bundesstaat Nevada und ist das Glücksspiel-Paradies von Amerika.

Las Vegas hat rund 100 Spielcasinos. Im Bundesstaat Nevada sind sogar über 300 Spielcasinos registriert. Die grössten Casinos sind das Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Venetian / Palazzo, Wynn / Encore, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay.

Weitere bekannte Casinos sind das Mirage, frühere Heimat von Siegfried und Roy, das Luxor in Form einer Pyramide oder das Casino Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, in welchem jährlich die Pokerweltmeisterschaft (World Series of Poker WSOP) durchgeführt wird.

Die bekanntesten zwei Strassen sind der Las Vegas Boulevard, welcher auch als Las Vegas Strip bezeichnet wird. Daneben ist die Fremont Street eine gut besuchte Casino-Meile, wo beispielsweise das legendäre Casino Binion's (vormals Binion's Horseshoe) seine Spiele anbietet.

Las Vegas erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von 340 km2 und hat rund 650'000 Einwohner.

--- Ende Artikel / Pressemitteilung Casino group in takeover ---


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