Online bookmaker 888 is the favourite to take over William Hill's UK and European business and Online Casino return the 87-year-old company to British ownership.
The firm, which has a market capitalisation of _1.5billion, said it was in advanced talks with William Hill's new American owner to buy the non-US parts of the business in a deal worth up to _2billion.
The talks follow the _2.9billion takeover of William Hill by Caesars Entertainment last year.

But the Las Vegas casino only wanted the US operations so put the European business, which includes 1,400 betting shops in the UK and online casinos in Europe, up for sale.




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Changing hands: Online bookmaker 888 said it was in advanced talks with William Hill's new American owner to buy the non-US parts of the business in a deal worth up to _2bn

This prompted a three-horse race between private equity companies Apollo, Online Casino CVC and 888, which is best known for Online Casino slots and casinos.