Internet casino planned

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 | 11:39 a.m.

Playboy Enterprises Inc., owner of the valuable Playboy brand, announced today plans to launch an online sports book and casino by mid-2001.

PlayboySportsBook.com will be launched in partnership with Ladbrokes, one of Britain's largest bookmakers and an operator of online gambling operations. The book will have safeguards to prevent bets from being taken from the United States, Playboy said.

Bets will be taken on a variety of American sports, as well as events including elections and Playboy's Playmate of the Year. The companies expect to add casino games at a later date. Playboy said it was attracted by the size of the non-American casino gaming market, which it estimated at more than $1.5 billion a year.

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