The United Kingdom’s second-largest bookmaker by market share, Ladbrokes, reported a £42.3 million loss for the year to December 31, the first-ever full-year loss in the company's history. Shares in Ladbrokes rose by 7.6 percent at one stage, before ending 6 percent up as investors were buoyed by strong fourth-quarter figures.
Ladbrokes, which made a profit of £37.7 million in 2014, pointed the finger of blame at higher gambling duties, investments in the business made by its chief executive Jim Mullen, and shop closures.
Increased taxes and gambling machine duties cost the company an extra £50 million compared with 2014, while costs related to its merger with Gala Coral weighed in at £17.