U.S. tells Harrah's No

Harrah's Entertainment plans to purchase up to 28 percent of the online gaming group Rank, which would have givem them a significant ownership into the company, in return for Harrah's casino holdings in the UK, seems to have been rejected, according to British tabloid, The Telegraph.

Because of an enforced slot machine removal law and smoking being banned, along with an increased government taxation, Rank's shares have taken a large drop over the past year. Many other groups have been reported as being interested, including Genting in Malaysia and Ladbrokes.

Apollo Management LP and TPG Capital are in the process of buying out Harrah's Entertainment group, so this would have been a positive move on Harrah's part, but unfortunately those plans fell through, due to the taxation changes and smoking ban. Rank, as of yet, refuses to give a statement regarding the matter, as well as Harrah's.

Harrah's Entertainment had recently made statements that they were seeking to open an online casino and felt that online poker was the place they would begin
to make their online presents however as there is no comment from them as of yet it is unlikely they will change their decision to join the other online
operators.