PartyGaming Could be Taken Private, Reports Suggest

Partygaming, the world's second largest online poker room, rose 1¾p to 29p on speculation that the slimmed down online poker firm will be taken private.  PartyGaming was forced to leave the US market (more than 80 per cent of its market) late last year following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

Mitch Garber, PartyGaming CEO, showed some confidence in the company this week by announcing he was stopping the planned sale of some of his shares in the company.

Rank Group

Rumour mongering was the order of the day in the gaming and leisure sector. Bingo hall and casino operator Rank spun up an 8¾p gain to 92¼p on renewed hopes of a rescue bid from US gambling giant Harrah's Entertainment.

Rank looked about as appealing as a lowly pair of deuces when it issued a shock profits warnings last month, but dealers said Harrah's is still sniffing around even though its recent offer to take a 28% stake was spurned. 

William Hill PLC

Purchase of Own SharesWilliam Hill PLC announces that on 29th November 2007 it purchased 250,000 ofits ordinary shares of 10 pence each at an average price of 501.332 pence pershare. The highest price and lowest price paid for these shares were 503.00pence and 498.50 pence, respectively. It is intended that these shares will becancelled.The timing of the share purchases was as follows:- between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm bought 250,000 ordinary shares at prices

between 498.50 and 503.00 pence per share.Following the above purchases and cancellations, William Hill PLC will have atotal of 348,658,570 ordinary shares (excluding treasury shares) in issue andwill hold 6,468,189 shares in treasury.At its Annual General Meeting held on 17 May 2007, William Hill PLC wasauthorised by its shareholders to purchase up to 35,299,846 of its ordinaryshares (representing 10 per cent. of its issued share capital at the time,subject to certain conditions as outlined in the resolution).Enquiries:Simon Lane, Group Finance Director Tel: 020 8918 3942Fiona Antcliffe/ Deborah Spencer, Brunswick Tel: 020 7404 5959