Gardaí are investigating the armed robbery of a bookmakers in Louth this evening.

Rank Group and 888 have submitted a formal £3.6bn offer for William Hill as the duo press ahead with plans for a three-way merger.

Thirty-five jobs will be lost and 18 shops closed after the directors of Hacketts bookmakers decided to place the business in liquidation.

Bookmaker William Hill has warned over profits after its online trading was hit and the group suffered the "worst" Cheltenham horse racing results in recent history.

Ladbrokes Ireland generated operating profits of £2.5m (€3.5m) in the first half of this year, unchanged from the same period last year.

A survival plan for Ladbrokes bookmakers in Ireland has been approved by the High Court.

Betting firms Ladbrokes and Gala Coral have agreed a merger to create a £2.3bn gambling giant.

Bookmakers are fearing a final day plunge on Tony McCoy’s last Cheltenham Festival rides after the retiring champion got off the mark on day three of the meeting.