Rumours of takeovers and mergers continue amongst UK Bookmakers.....
Ladbrokes and Coral open talks on a merger (a Ladbrokes £363m takeover move blocked in 1998 by then Sec for Trade & Industry Peter Mandleson)
Ladbrokes to close 60 stores this year.....to add to the 89 closures last year after a drop in operating profit of 9.3%
William Hill closed 109 stores last year
William Hill are the largest UK Bookmaker - 57% of group revenue comes through retail - they have 2,360 of the total 9,000 stores in the UK employing 12,500 people.
Coaltion relaxed planning laws in 2013 only for this to be overturned prior to the last election
Government also introduced a 20% tax in 2014 on gambling machines.........a tax that has recently jumped to 25% this year in the pre-election Budget
