NOVOMATIC AG Group (NOVOMATIC), Europe’s largest gaming technology group, today announced an unconditional ‘best and final’ cash takeover offer of A$1.00 per share for all the Ainsworth Game Technology Limited (“Ainsworth”) shares it does not currently own (“Takeover Offer”).

SiGMA Group has announced it has acquired a majority stake in iGaming Academy, which offers vocational and compliance training in over 25 jurisdictions, to more than 60,000 gaming professionals yearly, for an undisclosed figure.

New York (Reuters) - Ameristar Casinos, one of the few U.S. gaming companies with no presence on the glamorous Las Vegas Strip or Atlantic City, hardly seems like a tempting takeover target, especially amid a gambling slowdown. Yet buyout rumors are swirling around Ameristar, the operator of casinos in such off-the-beaten-track locations as Jackpot, Nevada and Council Bluffs, Iowa.

A new operator is bidding to take over Coventry's Ricoh casino. It was revealed last night that a potential takeover of the Isle of Capri complex is being discussed. There has been speculation for some months over the future of the GBP 36 million casino which opened in July last year. The casino management admitted that they had received interest from a potential purchaser, but refused to reveal any details of the bidder.

Kuala Lumpur - Speculation that Genting Bhd is looking to take over Rank Group Plc remains rife as the UK's second largest bingo and casino operator continues with its share price uptrend. Rank's stock moved up to 99.25 pence at the time of writing yesterday, more than 12.5% up its Monday's close of 88.25 pence. Industry observers believed that one reason why the Genting group could be looking to acquire more of Rank shares is...

Rank, the bingo and casinos group long seen as a possible takeover target, has removed a key obstacle for potential buyers by agreeing a deal to hive off its pension plan. The company is transferring the pension scheme to the investment bank Goldman Sachs, making GBP 20m in cash and avoiding a further £30m in scheduled contributions to the scheme. The pension scheme has 20,000 members, reflecting the fact that Rank was once a bigger company.

Wellington (Reuters) - New Zealand casino operator Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd, which has put itself up for sale, said on Wednesday it had been told by a potential buyer that a compelling offer may be made soon. Sky City, which analysts say could fetch up to USD 2.2 billion, said one party that had been conducting due diligence was interested in pursuing a deal but not yet in a position to to make an offer.

Sydney, Australia - Australian firms Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd. and Macquarie Bank Ltd. Tuesday extended their AUD 1.37-billion takeover offer for Canada's Gateway Casinos business. It was the fourth extension of the bid due to delays in gaining Canadian regulatory approvals. Shareholders in Gateway Casinos Income Fund, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, now have until Nov. 14 to decide on the offer from New World Gaming Partners Ltd., the investment bank's 50-50 joint venture with PBL.

New Zealand casino operator Sky City Entertainment Group confirmed its full-year profit guidance and said it had halted the possible sale of one its casinos pending the outcome of a takeover process. The company said on Friday it was still comfortable with its previously announced forecast of a net profit of between NZD 108.2 million and NZD 110.2 for the year to June 2008, compared with a net profit NZD 98.4 million in the previous year.

New York (Reuters) - Shares in Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc, which owns three casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, rose more than 16 percent on Friday on a report that the company is in takeover talks. The Star-Ledger newspaper, citing three people familiar with the talks, reported on Friday that Trump Entertainment was in preliminary talks with Cordish Co., a real estate development firm that was involved in the development of two Hard Rock-branded hotel casinos.

Shares in Sky City Entertainment Group made strong gains on the share market today, after the company said a potential buyer was trawling through its books. The New Zealand-based gaming and cinema firm said it would also see if any other parties were interested in taking over its business, as the potential buyer conducted due diligence. At 11.09 AEST, Sky City shares were up 26 cents or 6 per cent to USD 4.59.

Providence Equity Partners has looked at buying SkyCity Entertainment. But the US based private equity firm says its tentative interest doesn't meet SkyCity's definition of a potential takeover. A source close to Providence confirmed it had considered SkyCity "as we do with all the deals that are out there". But the level of interest fell short of SkyCity's declaration to the NZX on Friday - a brief note that sent the SkyCity share price soaring and added more than [[NZD]] 400 million to the value of the casino company.