LADBROKES REPORTS POSITIVE THIRD QUARTER

Operating profit soars 128 percent, boosted by a successful football World Cup
 
Ladbrokes investors will be pleased with the UK gambling group's third quarter 2010 results released this week, which report a 128 percent rise in operating profit over the same period last year, thanks in no small part to a successful football World Cup in June-July.
 
Management reported that the group is well on schedule to meet its full year targets, and that a higher net revenue performance, aided by lower operating costs, has combined to create a profit of GBP51.1 million in the quarter.
 
The latest interim results show a substantially more promising performance than the lacklustre results posted at the half-year mark.
 
World Cup betting helped push the groups net revenues excluding high rollers up by 12 percent, with e-gaming making a significant contribution through net gaming revenues that grew by 17 percent across sportsbook, casino and bingo operations.
 
Online poker again disappointed, declining 27 percent, with management flagging to the advantage held by major companies prepared to risk operating in the lucrative US market.
 
UK retail operational revenues were up 12 percent. 
 
Recently appointed chief executive Richard Glynn said: “Our job is to make sure that we are as efficient as possible and that our outlets are as attractive as possible."
 
He cautioned that the next year would be "tough", but said that the growth rates achieved in the third quarter gave Management confidence that Ladbrokes is on track to meet its full year expectations.
 
“Ladbrokes has a great brand and a strengthened management team determined to drive operational improvements going forward," said Glynn. "Though much remains to be done, I am encouraged by the progress we are making across the Group and I look forward to updating the market in February 2011.”