The prospects were there to begin with.  Now, it seems that the takeover of ailing online poker room, Empire Online, by Party Gaming is looking more like a reality.  There was original interest from Party Gaming a few months ago, but no formal commitment.  At one point in time, it seemed that one of the biggest online sportsbooks in the business, Sportingbet, would be buying Empire out for £790 - sending Empire's stock soaring to 287 pence per share.  However, that deal did not go through, leaving Party Gaming as the greatest possibility to do the takeover.

Party Gaming still has not given any formal commitment; However, they are in preliminary talks.  Despite the fact that party Gaming incurred a fantastic gain in quarterly revenue of nearly 32% over last quarter, Empire is struggling to stay afloat.  Much of this drop is due to the announcement that Party Gaming will not be letting Empire members to use their tables anymore in the near future.  In what would seem like a dastardly plan to put an end to their competition, Party Gaming is doing quite well, and is in a very good position to buyout Empire Poker.

Right now, Empire is slated to be worth £365 million - a drastic drop from the price negotiated with Sportingbet.  However, some financial analysts are predicting that Empire will sell for even less than that.  Even though Party Gaming could easily afford such a price tag, Empire is very desperate at the moment, and really has no collateral to enter negotiations or demands.  Empire's employee base currently exists of approximately forty marketing personnel, which Party Gaming has surely taken note of.  To pay the amount that Empire is actually worth would be an act of charity, not good business.