Online poker giant PartyGaming announced it was taking over two of its four partners and cutting ties with a third, putting pressure on the remaining partner, Empire Online.

The move comes as PartyGaming prepares to launch its new, upgraded service – with the online firm buying Multipoker for $14.5 million (£8.3 million) and swallowing up most of IntertopsPoker for around $4 million (£2.3 million).

"We now look forward to the launch of the Party-branded integrated platform in the first half of 2006