Major casino operator Harrah’s has made a huge step into the UK market by buying London Clubs International for over half-a-billion dollars (£279m). London Clubs properties changing hands include swanky casinos Fifty and The Sportsman in London, and The Rendezvous in Brighton.

As gambling deregulates in the UK, the deal spells good news for poker, as Harrah’s, the largest casino operator in the world, is a fierce promoter of the game. It also owns and runs the World Series of Poker, which takes place at its Rio Casino, Las Vegas.

Competition is also heating up to run Britain’s first super-casino. Leading contender Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has courted controversy by starting building work on a casino within the Millennium Dome before an official decision has been made. Who said the Dome was a bad idea?