Ladbrokes said profits from continuing operations, excluding high roller activity, increased 13 per cent in the first four months of 2008.
The bookmaker said profit from high rollers was £40 million over the period. In Ladbrokes’ 281 betting shops in Northern Ireland and the Republic, revenue growth was 43 per cent.
The company said the integration of the 54 shops purchased in the North from Barney Eastwood was proceeding well with all shops now rebranded as Ladbrokes.
Ladbrokes said it is not yet seeing any evidence of a consumer downturn but remains mindful of general economic conditions. The group said UK retail gross win increased 11 per cent, with over-the-counter gross win up 4 per cent on strong growth in football turnover.
It said there was a small decline in horse gross win against tough comparatives, with the major festivals generally positive despite the Grand National race result.
Ladbrokes said machine gross win was up 26 per cent while telephone betting net revenue fell by 5 per cent, excluding high rollers.
Ladbrokes said its UK retail cost increased 12 per cent over the period, reflecting the cost of evening opening across more than 95 per cent of its estate and the additional costs of Turf TV.
It reiterated its expectation for full-year costs to grow by 8 per cent, or 4 per cent on a like-for-like basis. Ladbrokes added it continues to expect full-year profitability in 2008 to be in line with 2007 at internet arm eGaming.
The division saw net revenue growth of 24 per cent during the period, with customer sign-ups growing 27 per cent and unique active customers increasing 18 per cent.
Agencies