Nevada Gaming Board examination confirmed by 888 Holdings

Harrah’s deal requires that regulators look into foreign partners

Friday’s news that Harrah’s Entertainment has requested that the Nevada Gaming Board clear its interactive division’s partner 888 Holdings-Dragonfish for suitability has been followed by confirmation of the move by 888.

The Gibraltar-based online gambling company, which is business partner to Harrah's Interactive in the operation of three UK internet gambling operations, acknowledged to the London Stock Exchange that Nevada gaming regulators would explore its suitability.

In a brief statement, 888 Holdings Ltd., which has been publicly traded on the exchange since 2005, said:

"Harrah's, which is registered with the Nevada Gaming Commission ('NGC'), submitted to the NGC and the Nevada State Gaming Control Board an application for a finding of suitability concerning (Harrah's Interactive Entertainment's) supplier relationship with Dragonfish. The application relates to state law in Nevada that covers Nevada gaming companies conducting gaming outside the state of Nevada."

The Las Vegas-based Gaming Wire publication reports that the application by Harrah's, filed under the Foreign Gaming Act, marks the first time Nevada gaming regulators have been asked to investigate the suitability of an online gaming company that took wagers from American gamblers before the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in 2006.

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