Well, we got nothing. The Times Online reported last month that Party Poker have been talking to Gigamedia, who are the owners of Everest Poker, about a possible buyout. Of Everest by Party, by the way, not the other way around.

On the face of it this seems like a very strange partnership.

These are two very different business, albeit that both are in the very same industry, namely online poker.

Party Poker is the old giant of the online game, while Everest Poker is the up and comer.

Party Poker is weighed down with their corporate-ness and that weight stops them from being dynamic and spontaneous in an ever changing marketplace, while Everest Poker seems to be a clearly focused, energetic and dynamic, forward thinking company.

Further to that, Party Poker is dealing with the fallout of the Department of Justices invasive probe into their pre-UIGEA actions, while Everest has no such problems, being clearly focused on getting their product out to their non-American player base in as many local languages as possible.

This would certainly seem like a marriage made in hell.

Party’s previous history of operating skins or separate poker rooms is not one of unqualified success, a la Empire Poker.

But the recent change of administration in America, and the imminent Franks bill, are just the circumstances to make this seem like a good move to both parties involved. From Everests point of view, the legalization of online poker in America would drastically change the marketplace where they currently are well placed. Any room that can get American traffic will get the European traffic to follow.

From Party’s side, being able to concentrate on the newly opened American market with their core poker room, while still having a strong presence in the European market with Everest, could be an ideal situation. And of course, having the skilled people that come with Everest to operate the poker room would be a major step forward for a company that is burdened with overpaid and less that competent staff from the good old days.

The only thing in this deal for Everest, as far as I can see, is the money.

In general though, I think that this can not be a good thing for the online poker scene. Everest is a good, well run business, climbing up the ranks of the top 10 trafficked poker rooms, with a growing player base and what seems like a clear idea of where they are going.

Whereas Party Poker is … well, none of the above.