Ladbrokes profits hit by higher gaming taxes

Bookmaker Ladbrokes has disclosed a 57 per cent plunge in third-quarter earnings after being hit by higher gaming taxes and the costs of a major marketing push.

Ladbrokes said its third-quarter earnings more than halved

The group, which is waiting for regulatory clearance for a £2.3 billion mega-merger with rival Gala Coral, said UK revenues fell 0.7 per cent in the three months to the end of September compared with a year earlier, when it was boosted by the football World Cup.

Stripping this out, revenues were 2 per cent higher.

Ladbrokes posted underlying earnings of £14.3 million, less than half the £33m seen a year earlier, but stressed this reflected investment in a turnaround plan launched earlier this year.

Chief executive Jim Mullen said: “These numbers reflect the first 68 days of activity since we announced our organic plan to aggressively invest and grow our recreational and multi-channel customer base particularly across UK retail, Ladbrokes.com and Ladbrokes Australia.

“It is early in our journey, but today’s results reflect positive initial progress.”

The group has hiked spend on marketing campaigns in the UK, with a focus on television advertising, which is said had helped increase bets staked by 17.5 per cent so far in the football season.

Overall, bets made in its 2,161-strong chain of bookies in the UK rose 1.6 per cent – or by 3.5 per cent with shop closures stripped out – and Ladbrokes said the Rugby World Cup was better-than-expected for the group.

A number of football results went its way, although it saw a number of unfavourable horse racing results, particularly in September.

Online revenues continued to be the star performer, up 6.4 per cent in the third quarter, or 10.5 per cent excluding last year’s football World Cup.

The group shut another eight shops under plans to close 60 throughout 2015.

Its merger with Gala Coral will form a gambling giant with more than 4,000 shops and will see it overtake the UK’s biggest bookmaker William Hill.

The move will give it greater might in the face of new taxes and the need for greater investment in marketing and technology.

It comes amid a wave of consolidation in the sector, with Irish chain Paddy Bower and online gambling group Betfair also set to join forces in a £5bn tie-up.

But Ladbrokes and privately-owned Gala Coral will first have to appease the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) and are likely to have to sell shops to achieve the green light.

Ladbrokes said on releasing its latest update that the merger was “on track”.

Mullen added: “The CMA work is progressing but there is no material news that we can share on that today.”