Online casino signs deal with UK ISP

Friday, April 19, 2002 | 10:56 a.m.

BTopenworld, British Telecommunications' Internet service provider, announced it has signed a partnership with an online casino that will be partially owned by Las Vegas locals casino operator Station Casinos Inc.

Station signed a pact earlier this year to acquire 50 percent of Sun Online Ltd., holder of an online gaming license from the Isle of Man, a British dependency. Sun Online has an operating Internet casino named after its Bahamas-based casino resort, the Casino Atlantis; however, the site bars bets from American players.

If approved by regulators, the Sun-Station deal is expected to close by the third quarter.

BTopenworld operates an Internet gaming website that doesn't directly offer gambling, but provides links to selected partners. The online Atlantis casino is BTopenworld's selected online casino gambling site; similar partnerships have been signed with online sports betting, lottery and bingo operators.

British Telecom is Britain's dominant provider of local and long distance telephone service.