BoyleSports queries sale of Coral and Ladbrokes shops

BoyleSports, the Irish betting services firm, is to “communicate its concerns” to Britain’s Competition Authority after losing out in the race to land more than 350 betting shops being offloaded to make way for the merger of industry giants Ladbrokes and Gala Coral.

It was announced yesterday that UK bookmakers Betfred and Stan James have reached agreement to buy the 359 Ladbrokes and Coral betting shops for a combined £55.5m (€61m).

The sale of the shops is a key element in the merger of the two businesses, which received regulatory approval in the summer.