Gambling firms hopeful of escaping ban

Online casinos soared in value today amid signs of growing opposition to legislation which would outlaw internet gambling in the United States.

Shares in Party Poker firm PartyGaming surged 11% to give the company a market capitalisation of £5.76bn (€8.25bn) – £580m (€831m) higher than last night – while shares in mid-cap rival 888 Holdings were 9% higher, boosting its value by £67m (€96m) to £812m (€1.1bn).