Playboy Opens Site With Casino Games

Playboy Enterprises Inc.’s Playboy.com Inc. Internet unit said it started PlayboyCasino.com to take bets on electronic roulette, blackjack and other casino games.

The Web site will be managed by Ladbrokes EGaming Ltd., the online gambling unit of British hotel operator Hilton Group, Playboy.com said. Ladbrokes also manages PlayboySportsBook.com, which takes bets on sports. The publisher of Playboy magazine also owns PlayboyRacingUSA.com, for wagering on horse racing.

Chicago-based Playboy is trying to tap a worldwide online gambling market that Bear Stearns Cos. recently estimated will be worth as much as $5 billion by 2003.

PlayboyCasino.com won’t take bets from the U.S. or other countries where gambling on the Internet is illegal.