Last week, PocketFives reported that William Hill was in talks to purchase its live and online gaming rival 888. One week later, those talks appear dead, according to eGaming Review and a regulatory filing, after the two sides were unable to overcome “a significant difference of opinion.”

A statement released by 888 to the financial world on Monday explained, “Due to a significant difference of opinion on value with a key stakeholder, it has not been possible to reach agreement on the terms of a possible offer and the Board of the company has agreed with William Hill to terminate discussions.” Whether talks will restart at any point remains to be seen.

According to eGaming Review, the Shaked family, a major stakeholder in 888, has been holding out for an offer of 300 pence per share, whereas the two sides had been talking about a purchase price of “200 pence plus a 3 pence dividend per share,” according to the regulatory filing.

eGaming Review added that 888 would continue to forge on despite the setback: “888 Chief Executive Brian Mattingley (pictured above) said the operator would now ‘look forward with confidence’ and that the company continued to trade in line with expectations.”

888’s stock predictably retreated with news that William Hill had ended takeover talks. At the time of writing, its shares, which are traded in London, stood at 153 pence apiece, down 17 pence on the day, or 10%. It had been trading south of 120 pence per share as recently as August and jumped almost 30 pence per share the day the offer became public.

According to Bloomberg, 888’s stock had been down 18% earlier in the day, the company’s biggest intraday drop in four years.

William Hill’s stock, which is also traded in London, was flat at the time of writing at 386 pence per share.

The transaction could have had major ramifications in the US, as 888 has a branded online poker site and powers WSOP.com in New Jersey, provides the backend for all three regulated Delaware sites, and is rumored to be jump-starting its All-American Poker Network in Nevada this year.

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