Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Online gambling group 888 Holdings PLC, which is in talks with bookmaker
Ladbrokes about a possible sale of the business, said Tuesday that net
gaming revenue at its non-U.S. operations rose 20 percent in the third
quarter. Income from non-U.S. business rose to US$38 million (?29.6 million)
in the three months through Sept. 30 compared with US$32 million in the same
period a year earlier, the company said in a statement. 888 is trying to
prop up its business after the United States effectively banned Internet
gaming. The company was among several London-listed gaming groups to close
or sell their American business after U.S. Congress added to an unrelated
bill a provision that would make it illegal for banks and credit-card
companies to settle payments for online gambling sites. "Despite the
suspension of our real money gaming operations in the U.S., following the
enactment of the Safe Ports Act in October 2006, our business continues to
be sound and exhibit healthy growth in non-U.S. regions," Chief Executive
John Anderson said.