Ladbrokes expands branch network

Ladbrokes bookmakers snapped up a chain of five licensed betting offices in the Roscommon area.

The deal takes the company’s Irish retail network to approximately 200 outlets.

The company said earlier this year that it was hoping to open up to 45 bookmaking shops in Ireland over the next two years.

Managing director Joe Lewins of the company’s Irish operation said the company was identifying sites around Ireland where it has little presence, with a mixture of greenfield sites and acquisitions planned.

No acquisition details were disclosed by the bookmaker.

Ladbrokes made profits of £14m (€20.5m) from its Irish operations in 2006.