Bookmakers BoyleSports has reconfirmed its interest in scooping up retail shops in the UK after Britain’s competition watchdog said Ladbrokes and Gala Coral must sell around 350 to 400 shops to obtain clearance for their proposed merger.

British bookmaker William Hill gave a frosty response to a proposed takeover bid from 888 Holdings and Rank Group, saying it saw little merit in the merger.

Gaming firm 888 Holdings, whose sites include Pacific Poker and Casino-on-Net, said it achieved record revenues in the final quarter of 2012 and for the year as a whole, driven by its core poker and casino offerings and demand from smartphone users.

Betdaq, the Dublin-based betting exchange company established nearly 13 years ago by Dermot Desmond, looks set to be taken over by British bookmaker Ladbrokes in the coming weeks.

Paddy Power is seeking to aggressively expand its presence in the lucrative online casino games market, saying the opportunities for success rival those already realised in its successful online sports betting business.

888 Holdings, the UK-listed Internet gambling company that supplies services to Caesars Entertainment, rose the most in more than three months in London trading after reports that Ladbrokes is mulling an offer of more than 70 pence per share for the company.

Internet gambling firm 888 Holdings today said takeover talks with Ladbrokes were still ongoing as it bolstered its negotiating position with strong final-quarter sales.

Commodity and banking stocks briefly pushed the FTSE 100 Index past the 5900 mark today before it slipped back again.

The FTSE 100 Index returned above the 5900 barrier today as the London market overcame the impact of the UK's big freeze on travel and retail stocks.

Heavyweight miners dragged the FTSE 100 Index lower today despite another bright session for many top-flight retailers.

The FTSE 100 Index enjoyed its second straight day of gains today as City dealing rooms got into the Christmas spirit.

Online gaming company 888 Holdings posted a 53% drop in bottom-line pre-tax profits but said it expects to return to growth in the fourth quarter.

London's leading share index surged ahead today after investors took cheer from news of lower-than-expected inflation data.

Internet gaming firm 888 Holdings today reported a 36% rise in net gaming revenues in its first full year without any business in the US.

A strong run for firms reporting results this week helped London's blue-chips gain ground today although downbeat economic news from the US took the gloss off the day.

Talks of a possible break-up at Cable & Wireless saw shares in the telecoms group surge by more than 4% today.

The banking sector weighed on the London market today, led by Barclays after it agreed the terms of a merger with Dutch bank ABN Amro.

Betting group Ladbrokes and online gaming firm 888 today said they were no longer in talks regarding a possible deal involving the two firms.

Heavy selling of financial shares saw the London market head towards the 6,000 level today as stocks plummeted around the world.

A massive £36.2bn (€54bn) was wiped off the FTSE 100 Index today after the London market was hit by its biggest fall since May last year.

Gaming company 888 Holdings was facing more questions over its overseas operations today after it emerged French authorities wanted to interview its former chief executive John Anderson.

A fresh round of takeover speculation helped boost the London market today as the Footsie powered through the 6400 barrier during afternoon trading.

The FTSE 100 Index broke through the 6400 barrier before settling near to its opening mark today.

The London market enjoyed a bullish session today as record results from Royal Dutch Shell and bumper earnings figures from AstraZeneca and Rio Tinto pushed blue-chip stocks ahead.

FT publisher Pearson today slid from last week's four-and-a-half-year shares high, despite confirming the business was in line for record profits for the year.

The FTSE 100 Index powered through the 6,200 barrier today to close at its highest level since February 2001.

Shares in gaming group 888 Holdings surged today as investors reacted to the possibility of a £470m (€702.7m) takeover by high street bookie Ladbrokes.

Online gaming companies were on the front foot today amid hopes of consolidation in the battered sector.

London’s leading shares shrugged off fears over North Korea’s nuclear test today as rising oil prices and pharmaceutical firms took centre stage.

Shares in online casino World Gaming were suspended today as the fall-out from new anti-gambling legislation in the United States continued.

London bucked the downward trend for world markets today as investors in the UK reacted calmly to the news of a nuclear test in North Korea.

Consolidation of the online gaming industry kicked off today when internet casino ukbetting declared it was a takeover target.

Shares in beleaguered PartyGaming took a further battering today following a newspaper report which said it would have to negotiate a new loan facility with its banks within 30 days of anti-gaming legislation being approved.

Another miserable session for online gaming stocks took the shine off record profits at Tesco today as the London market dived into the red.

Internet gambling stocks dragged the London market into the red today in the wake of anti-gaming legislation passed in the US.

The value of internet gambling shares plummeted today as the sector’s worst fears about legislation in the United States came true.

Online gaming companies suspended business in the United States today after Congress backed a Bill to outlaw internet gambling.

Insurer Standard Life was given a rough ride on its debut in the FTSE 100 Index today.

High street clothes store Next leapt to the top of the FTSE 100 Index leaderboard today as the London market ended the week on the front foot.

THE chairman of British-based sports betting business Sportingbet was detained by authorities in the US yesterday sending shares in other gambling sites plunging.

The London market dived deep into the red today after gambling stocks were rocked for the second time in two months.

Gambling stocks were rocked for the second time in two months today.