Harrah’s Entertainment announced this week that it received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board for the proposed acquisition of Harrah’s by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P. and TPG Capital. The transaction remains subject to approval by other jurisdictions in which Harrah’s subsidiaries operate and other conditions to closing set forth in the agreement and plan of merger entered into on December 19, 2006.

Harrah’s Entertainment announced it received approval from the Indiana Gaming Commission for the proposed acquisition of Harrah’s by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P. and TPG Capital. The transaction remains subject to approval by other jurisdictions in which Harrah’s subsidiaries operate and other conditions to closing set forth in the agreement and plan of merger entered into on December 19, 2006.

Las Vegas (AP) - Station Casinos has cleared its final hurdle to going private. The Las Vegas-based company's USD 5.4 billion buyout has won approval from the National Indian Gaming Commission, according to regulatory filings submitted Friday. The Indian commission's approval clears the way for the $ 90 per share buyout to close early next week, possibly by Tuesday, the filing said. Station agreed in February to a buyout offer by an investor group that includes members of the company's founding family.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes has pulled out of long-running talks over a potential GBP 450m acquisition of online gambling group 888 Holdings, saying America's crackdown on internet gaming had made any deal much too complicated. Shares in 888 fell 4¾ to 117¾p after Ladbrokes said that "the parties have amicably agreed to discontinue talks". Ladbrokes firmed 1½ to 405p.