RUMOR: MGM MIRAGE IN TALKS TO TAKE OVER PARTY POKER

From bankers involved, we hear a rumor that MGM Mirage is eyeing a possible buyout of online gaming site PartyGaming.

PartyGaming, which runs PartyPoker, recently closed accounts to United States players as a result of President Bush signing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

PartyGaming is in talks of its own to merge with 888 Holdings, operator of Pacific Poker, which also shut out U.S. players.

Five years ago, MGM Mirage was in development with WagerWorks for online casino content (excluding online poker) to test games for an eventual pay online casino site. Games were free to play and awarded points that could be traded in for prizes such as free rooms, buffets, and shows (we played those online slots to snag our first free rooms at New York New York). MGM Mirage has since let go of WagerWorks to slot manufacturer IGT.

Whether this takeover actually goes through is still to be determined. One thing’s for sure: we wouldn’t discount Harrah’s from the running.