<Page>


      As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2001
                                                       Registration No. 333-____

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                  ---------------------------------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                  ---------------------------------------------

                                WORLD GAMING PLC
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

     ENGLAND AND WALES                                     NONE
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                         (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                  IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

THE CIBC BANKING CENTRE, OLD PARHAM ROAD
PO BOX 3265, ST. JOHN'S, ANTIGUA, WEST INDIES              N/A
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                (ZIP CODE)

                                WORLD GAMING PLC
                             2001 SHARE OPTION PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                                 MICHAEL AYMONG
                    The CIBC Banking Centre, Old Parham Road
                        PO Box 3265, St. John's, Antigua
                 Tel: (268) 480-1657 / Facsimile (268) 480-1656
           (NAME, ADDRESS , INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
            INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                        COPIES OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:

                             JEFFREY R. HOULE, ESQ.
                             Greenberg Traurig, LLP
                        1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1200
                                McLean, VA 22102
                 Tel: (703) 627-1300 / Facsimile: (703) 749-1301

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<Table>
<Caption>
=====================================================================================================================
                                                       Proposed Maximum        Proposed Maximum
  Title of Securities to be        Amount to be        Offering Price          Aggregate            Amount of
        Registered                 Registered          Per Share               Offering Price       Registration Fee
=====================================================================================================================
<S>                               <C>               <C>                    <C>                   <C>
Ordinary Shares                    15,000,000(1)               (2)             $26,572,804             $6,644
(Pounds) 0.002 par value*
=====================================================================================================================
</Table>


* Represented by American Depositary Shares in the form of American Depositary
  Receipts

(1)  Comprised of shares issuable pursuant to options under the Registrant's
     World Gaming plc 2001 Share Option Plan (i) which replaced options
     issued under the option plan of Starnet Communications International
     Inc. (the Registrant's predecessor registrant), (ii) granted to
     employees and contractors of the Registrant, and (iii) not yet granted.

(2)  The offering price per share for shares described in footnotes (1)(i)
     and (1)(ii) are based on the weighted average exercise price of the
     options therefor. The offering price per share for shares described in
     footnote (1)(iii) are based on the average of the high and low sale
     prices of the American Depositary Shares, each representing one (1)
     ordinary share of the registrant, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board
     on September 17, 2001.

<Page>



                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


         The information required by Part I is included in documents sent or
given to participants in the World Gaming Plc 2001 Share Option Plan ("Plan") of
World Gaming plc, an England and Wales corporation ("Registrant"), pursuant to
Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.




<Page>


                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.       INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     We hereby incorporate by reference in this registration statement the
following documents:

(a)  Starnet Communications International, Inc. (the Registrant's predecessor
     registrant, "Starnet") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April
     30, 2000.

(b)  All other reports filed by Starnet and the Registrant pursuant to Section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, since
     the end of the fiscal year covered by the document referred to in (a)
     above.

(c)  The description of the Registrant's ordinary shares contained in the
     Registrant's registration statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the
     Securities and Exchange Commission on May 23, 2001.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which
indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for the purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent a
statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which
also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.       DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.       INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

Not applicable.

ITEM 6.       INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     English law does not permit a company to indemnify a director or an
officer of the company or any person employed by the company as an auditor
against any liability that, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach
to him in respect of negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in
relation to the company, except liability incurred by such director, officer or
auditor in defending any legal proceedings (whether civil or criminal) in which
judgment is given in his favor or in which he is acquitted or in certain
instances in which, although he is liable, a court finds that such director,
officer or auditor acted honestly and reasonably and that, with regard to all
the circumstances, he ought fairly to be excused and relief is granted by the
court. English law enables companies to purchase and maintain insurance for
directors, officers and auditors against any liability that would otherwise
attach to them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach
of trust in relation to the company. Registrant's articles of association
entitles every director, secretary or manager of Registrant, to be indemnified
by Registrant against liabilities incurred during the discharge of his or her
duties where judgment is given in his or her favor or if the claim is disposed
of where he or she has not been found to have been in material breach of his or
her duty.


<Page>


ITEM 7.       EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

Not applicable.

ITEM 8.       EXHIBITS

4.1  Memorandum of Association of World Gaming plc (Incorporated herein by
     reference from the registrant's Registration Statement on Form F-4, SEC
     File No. 333-48280 filed on October 19, 2000, Exhibit 3.1).

4.2  Articles of Association of World Gaming Plc.

4.3  World Gaming plc 2001 Share Option Plan.

5.1  Opinion of Altheimer & Gray

23.1 Consent of HJ & Associates, L.L.C.

23.2 Consent of Altheimer & Gray - included in Exhibit 5.1

ITEM 9.       UNDERTAKINGS

(1)  The Registrant hereby undertakes to file, during any period in which offers
     or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
     statement to include any material information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
     material change to such information in the registration statement.

(2)  The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any
     liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment
     shall be treated as a new registration statement relating to the securities
     offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
     treated as the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)  The Registrant hereby undertakes to file a post-effective amendment to
     remove from registration any of the securities being registered that remain
     unsold at the end of the offering.

(4)  The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
     liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's
     annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee
     benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities
     Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
     statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
     the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(5)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
     of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
     the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
     Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
     Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
     expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
     claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
     by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
     controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
     action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
     controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
     Registrant will,

<Page>

     unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
     controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
     question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
     expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
     issue.


<Page>



                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada on September 13, 2001.

                                       World Gaming plc

                                       By: /s/ MICHAEL AYMONG
                                       --------------------------------------
                                       Michael Aymong
                                       Chief Executive Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.

Date: September 13, 2001       By:  /s/ MICHAEL AYMONG
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Michael Aymong
                               Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 6, 2001        By:  /s/ RODNEY DAVIS
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Rodney Davis
                               Chief Financial Officer

Date: September 7, 2001        By:  /s/ CLARE ROBERTS
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Clare Roberts
                               Director

Date: September 7, 2001        By:  /s/ NICHOLAS JACKSON
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Nicholas Jackson
                               Director

Date: September 6, 2001        By:  /s/ JASON BOLDUC
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Jason Bolduc
                               Director

Date: September 6, 2001        By:  /s/ WOLF BERGELT
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Wolf Bergelt
                               Director

Date: September 5, 2001        By:  /s/ FRED HAZELL
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Fred Hazell
                               Director
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WORLD GAMING PLC", "cik": "0001126599", "assigned-sic": "7371"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-70056", "film-number": "1743604"}, "business-address": {"street1": "CIBC BANKING CENTER PO BOX 3265", "street2": "OLD PARHAM RD ANTIGUA , WEST INDIES", "phone": "2684801650"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "CIBC BANKING CENTER PO BOX 3265", "street2": "OLD PARHAM RD ANTIGUA WEST INDIES"}}
As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2001
                                                       Registration No. 333-____

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                  ---------------------------------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                  ---------------------------------------------

                                WORLD GAMING PLC
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

     ENGLAND AND WALES                                     NONE
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                         (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                  IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

THE CIBC BANKING CENTRE, OLD PARHAM ROAD
PO BOX 3265, ST. JOHN'S, ANTIGUA, WEST INDIES              N/A
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                (ZIP CODE)

                                WORLD GAMING PLC
                             2001 SHARE OPTION PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                                 MICHAEL AYMONG
                    The CIBC Banking Centre, Old Parham Road
                        PO Box 3265, St. John's, Antigua
                 Tel: (268) 480-1657 / Facsimile (268) 480-1656
           (NAME, ADDRESS , INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
            INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                        COPIES OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:

                             JEFFREY R. HOULE, ESQ.
                             Greenberg Traurig, LLP
                        1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1200
                                McLean, VA 22102
                 Tel: (703) 627-1300 / Facsimile: (703) 749-1301

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=====================================================================================================================
                                                       Proposed Maximum        Proposed Maximum
  Title of Securities to be        Amount to be        Offering Price          Aggregate            Amount of
        Registered                 Registered          Per Share               Offering Price       Registration Fee
=====================================================================================================================
Ordinary Shares                    15,000,000(1)               (2)             $26,572,804             $6,644
(Pounds) 0.002 par value*
=====================================================================================================================
* Represented by American Depositary Shares in the form of American Depositary
  Receipts

(1)  Comprised of shares issuable pursuant to options under the Registrant's
     World Gaming plc 2001 Share Option Plan (i) which replaced options
     issued under the option plan of Starnet Communications International
     Inc. (the Registrant's predecessor registrant), (ii) granted to
     employees and contractors of the Registrant, and (iii) not yet granted.

(2)  The offering price per share for shares described in footnotes (1)(i)
     and (1)(ii) are based on the weighted average exercise price of the
     options therefor. The offering price per share for shares described in
     footnote (1)(iii) are based on the average of the high and low sale
     prices of the American Depositary Shares, each representing one (1)
     ordinary share of the registrant, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board
     on September 17, 2001.
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

         The information required by Part I is included in documents sent or
given to participants in the World Gaming Plc 2001 Share Option Plan ("Plan") of
World Gaming plc, an England and Wales corporation ("Registrant"), pursuant to
Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.       INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     We hereby incorporate by reference in this registration statement the
following documents:

(a)  Starnet Communications International, Inc. (the Registrant's predecessor
     registrant, "Starnet") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April
     30, 2000.

(b)  All other reports filed by Starnet and the Registrant pursuant to Section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, since
     the end of the fiscal year covered by the document referred to in (a)
     above.

(c)  The description of the Registrant's ordinary shares contained in the
     Registrant's registration statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the
     Securities and Exchange Commission on May 23, 2001.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which
indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for the purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent a
statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which
also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.       DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.       INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

Not applicable.

ITEM 6.       INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     English law does not permit a company to indemnify a director or an
officer of the company or any person employed by the company as an auditor
against any liability that, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach
to him in respect of negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in
relation to the company, except liability incurred by such director, officer or
auditor in defending any legal proceedings (whether civil or criminal) in which
judgment is given in his favor or in which he is acquitted or in certain
instances in which, although he is liable, a court finds that such director,
officer or auditor acted honestly and reasonably and that, with regard to all
the circumstances, he ought fairly to be excused and relief is granted by the
court. English law enables companies to purchase and maintain insurance for
directors, officers and auditors against any liability that would otherwise
attach to them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach
of trust in relation to the company. Registrant's articles of association
entitles every director, secretary or manager of Registrant, to be indemnified
by Registrant against liabilities incurred during the discharge of his or her
duties where judgment is given in his or her favor or if the claim is disposed
of where he or she has not been found to have been in material breach of his or
her duty.
ITEM 7.       EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

Not applicable.

ITEM 8.       EXHIBITS

4.1  Memorandum of Association of World Gaming plc (Incorporated herein by
     reference from the registrant's Registration Statement on Form F-4, SEC
     File No. 333-48280 filed on October 19, 2000, Exhibit 3.1).

4.2  Articles of Association of World Gaming Plc.

4.3  World Gaming plc 2001 Share Option Plan.

5.1  Opinion of Altheimer & Gray

23.1 Consent of HJ & Associates, L.L.C.

23.2 Consent of Altheimer & Gray - included in Exhibit 5.1

ITEM 9.       UNDERTAKINGS

(1)  The Registrant hereby undertakes to file, during any period in which offers
     or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
     statement to include any material information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
     material change to such information in the registration statement.

(2)  The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any
     liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment
     shall be treated as a new registration statement relating to the securities
     offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
     treated as the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)  The Registrant hereby undertakes to file a post-effective amendment to
     remove from registration any of the securities being registered that remain
     unsold at the end of the offering.

(4)  The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
     liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's
     annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee
     benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities
     Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
     statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
     the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(5)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
     of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
     the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
     Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
     Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
     expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
     claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
     by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
     controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
     action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
     controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
     Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
     controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
     question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
     expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
     issue.
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada on September 13, 2001.

                                       World Gaming plc

                                       By: /s/ MICHAEL AYMONG
                                       --------------------------------------
                                       Michael Aymong
                                       Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.

Date: September 13, 2001       By:  /s/ MICHAEL AYMONG
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Michael Aymong
                               Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 6, 2001        By:  /s/ RODNEY DAVIS
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Rodney Davis
                               Chief Financial Officer

Date: September 7, 2001        By:  /s/ CLARE ROBERTS
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Clare Roberts
                               Director

Date: September 7, 2001        By:  /s/ NICHOLAS JACKSON
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Nicholas Jackson
                               Director

Date: September 6, 2001        By:  /s/ JASON BOLDUC
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Jason Bolduc
                               Director

Date: September 6, 2001        By:  /s/ WOLF BERGELT
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Wolf Bergelt
                               Director

Date: September 5, 2001        By:  /s/ FRED HAZELL
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Fred Hazell
                               Director