Shares were first sold at 116 pence in June 2005 and peaked at 179.5 pence the following month, analysts said.
 
Like many others, the Internet poker company stopped taking online bets from the U.S. a year ago. But, in the 12 months since the passing of President Bush's restricting Internet gambling law, PartyGaming's financial performance has been "in line" with managers' expectations for the year and for in the fourth quarter of 2007.
PartyGaming is ``confident'' about prospects for the year, a spokesman said. A more detailed announcement on the fourth-quarter performance will be made on Jan. 30 and annual earnings will be released on March 5.
The online gaming company's U.S. sales were impacted last year by the passage of a law aimed at barring offshore gambling Web sites. PartyGaming, which owns www.partypoker.com, increased investment outside the U.S. this year to rebuild its customer base and to advertise casino games.

Licensing deals

The company recently signed a licensing agreement with Paramount Pictures to create online games based on the films Top Gun, The Godfather, Saturday Night Fever and Mission: Impossible. This is generating buzz in Hollywood, and, the expectation that the U.S. restrictions on Internet gaming will no longer matter to the industry in the coming months. 
The new games will be available next year, according to Mitch Garber, chief executive of PartyGaming  “Popular brands are a differentiating factor in online gaming and this alliance will enhance and distinguish the quality of PartyCasino’s offer," said Garber.

PartyGaming is following the success of previous branded slot games such as Hitman, Tombraider, The Osbournes and the Marvel superhero collection, experts said.

There is other positive news for the firm as well. This month, PartyGaming bought sites from Empire Online Ltd. and Intercontinental Online Gaming to replace lost revenue. The company last month signed an agreement with Germany's RTL Television to introduce a poker players Internet site. 

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