Google to Take Over party?

Google is rumoured to be planning a takeover of online betting firm party.

The rumored price of the takeover, 200p (pence) per share, would be nearly twice the price of what party shares are currently running for on the London Stock Exchange.

The Daily Mail reported that party, which has seen its stock price slowly slide downward over the past few years, is being eyed by Google for a potential takeover.

According to speculators, the developments surrounding new online gambling legislation in the US may be prompting Google to join the online gambling industry. Three states (Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware) have already passed legislation which will legalize online casinos and other states are likely to follow suit. party has already made plans to service the new American online casino market.

But the rumors do not end there; it is further rumored that Google might take over British gaming company William Hill, should the takeover of party not work out. William Hill is one of the biggest online gambling companies in Europe with no presence in the United States.

party has been at the forefront of the launch of the online gambling industry dating back to the early days of online gaming and poker. The company was also dominant in the unregulated US market, but withdrew from that market when the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 2006 was passed.