Merger may result in online gambling giant

British online gambling operators bwin and PartyGaming apparently are considering a merger than potentially would create an online gaming giant worth more than $3 billion.

UK regulators are expected to request confirmation from the companies that they’re formal merger talks. Since paying a $105 million settlement to the U.S. Department of Justice to close a long-running inquiry, PartyGaming has bought World Poker Tour assets online bingo company Cashcade for $150 million. Analysts have been predicting consolidation of global online gambling operators in anticipation of the opening of the U.S. market.