Ladbrokes and Gala Coral confirmed in separate statements late yesterday (Monday) evening that they are in talks over a possible merger. The two parties said that the proposed deal would involve Ladbrokes and Gala Coral-operated Coral Retail, Eurobet Retail and the company’s online businesses. The Financial Times newspaper reported that the talks are not at an advanced stage and there remain issues over the price and the corporate structure of the merged operation, although Ladbrokes chief executive officer Jim Mullen would lead the combined group. Ladbrokes said that the proposed new group would seek a listing on the main market…

The odds on betting chain Boylesports successfully buying Ladbrokes’ Irish operations from examinership are probably pretty long. Based on the vast majority of examinership processes, the incumbent owners tend to come out the far side still in possession of the business. This is especially true where the owner is a large British business, rather than a smaller entity in some kind of financial trouble. We have seen several cases during the recession where the Irish operations of a larger international plc have gone into examinership – usually under the heavy load of onerous property leases. And they have come out…

Irish independent bookmaker Boylesports has been granted permission to launch a challenge over Ladbrokes’ plans to restructure its business in Ireland, amidst talk of a possible takeover bid for the operation. As reported by iGaming Business, Boylesports last month was linked with a bid for Ladbrokes Ireland after the latter announced it was to undertake a review of its operations in the country following heavy losses in 2014. Ladbrokes has been working with High Court-appointed examiner Ken Fennel on a rescue plan that could lead to the closure of up to 60 of its betting shops in the country, which…

Ladbrokes Sportsbook & Racebook has begun the roll out of “Cash Out,” allowing its mobile customers the chance to close their position on a bet ahead of the final result. The roll out follows the successful introduction of the functionality on the Ladbrokes “My Accas” product in April. Customer reaction has been good with over 25,000 players using the facility since its introduction. “Cash Out” is now available on 18 markets across 15 sports with football, tennis, cricket, snooker and darts all covered. The plan is to extend into further markets on an ongoing basis over the summer. Launching the…

iGaming Business – Bookmaker Ladbrokes has moved to capitalise on this summer’s Fifa World Cup by launching a bespoke Facebook application designed to facilitate a daily community derived from bets on the national team football tournament. According to Thedrum.com, the BIG Score app is a crowd-sourced, free-to-play, accumulator-style betting competition that allows players to grow a community pot by selecting one of five daily bets on which to wager. Once a player has entered their virtual bet, they will be entered into a prize draw for that day. The overall winner of the betting competition will be awarded £5,000 while…

Birmingham Mail – A Birmingham gambling addict who lost £10,000 in a decade-long betting spree went on the rampage after frittering away his last £230. Hassan Yousaf smashed up a roulette machine with a stool, causing damage put at £6,000 at a Birmingham bookies. The 26-year-old lashed out at Ladbrokes branch in Green Lane, Small Heath, just a year after being convicted over a similar attack at a bookies in Manchester. After the first vandal attack, Yousaf told police he had gambled away £10,000 on fixed odds machines since he was 16. He told Birmingham Magistrates’ Court he was not…