As international operators stake their claim in the UK gaming industry the market appears to anticipate further action. Stanley Leisure shares have risen above the price offered by Malaysian Genting International, as speculators await possible rival bids for Britain’s largest casino operator. The suggestion that Harrah’s Entertainment might make a counter bid to add Stanley casinos to its agreement to buy those of London Clubs International (LCI), has yet to be realised - but in the midst of rapid changes to the UK gambling scene all things remain possible.

With little probability of any significant growth in the US gaming industry, the giant Las Vegas operators seem to be hovering in the wings for opportunities abroad. Macau will see no further casino concessions in the near future and only two operators will succeed in capturing the Singapore market. The rest of Asia has yet to offer opportunity, although countries including Japan and Thailand could do so in the future. Las Vegas Sands, which has been selected for the Marina Bay Integrated Resort in Singapore and has ongoing casino developments in Macau, may not be looking to increase its empire by buying a UK operator but it does have an interest in several regional casino projects.

Harrah’s Entertainment has large-scale projects in Spain and Slovenia and with its proposed purchase of LCI will own casinos in London, South Africa and Egypt as well as further large casinos being developed in the UK. So far the gaming operator second only to Harrah’s in size has remained silent, but some analysts are predicting that MGM Mirage might make an offer for that other UK gaming company said to be ripe for takeover, Rank. Should this be the case then it would leave Gala Coral, expected to list in 2008, as the only one of the present four big UK casino operators not yet within sight of foreign ownership. (E-09.13.06)

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