Paddy Power-Betfair shares fell by over 2%, before recovering, on analyst concerns that an expected surge in online revenue may not materialise and that competitors may outpace its growth.

Shares in Paddy Power-Betfair jumped by over 3% on the back of reports linking the Dublin-based betting and gaming services group with Australian online betting firm CrownBet, writes Geoff Percival.

The Irish division of UK betting services group Ladbrokes-Coral grew net revenue by 4% - to £19.8m (€21.5m) – in the first half of this year.

The Irish operations of British betting services group Ladbrokes managed to grow revenues by 3% last year, on a reported basis, despite seeing the amount of money spent in its outlets fall as the size of its retail estate declined.

BoyleSports is actively looking for further acquisition opportunities in Ireland and Britain on the back of expanding its presence in Leinster.

Betting giant William Hill said full-year profits would be at the top end of its target as plans to turn around its struggling online business began to bear fruit.

The gods sent the sun yesterday — well, kind of — as the real racing business of the week arrived: the Galway Plate.

Bookmakers BoyleSports has reconfirmed its interest in scooping up retail shops in the UK after Britain’s competition watchdog said Ladbrokes and Gala Coral must sell around 350 to 400 shops to obtain clearance for their proposed merger.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes and Gala Coral will have to sell between 350 and 400 shops to win clearance for their UK merger, the British competition regulator has said.

England winning the Euro 2016 soccer championships in France is the biggest single risk to Ladbrokes’ profit this year, chief executive Jim Mullen said.

Patrick Mullins expects today’s Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr to be “pivotal” as the race to be crowned British champion trainer enters its final throws.

Officials at Chepstow are optimistic Saturday’s Coral Welsh Grand National will go ahead after being given the green light to move the feature event to a slot earlier in the afternoon.

Net revenue fell by 16.6% at the Irish division of British betting giant Ladbrokes in the third quarter of the year.

Bookmaker William Hill said it took a £44 million hit from changes to the way the British Government taxes online betting and gambling machines as it reported a slide in half-year profits.

A gunman opened fire at a cinema in Louisiana, killing two people and injuring at least seven others before fatally shooting himself; Hiqa has identified a number of areas of non-compliance at a hospital in Cork; Katie Taylor has responded to Billy Joe Saunders who said women "are there for sex"; and two lads pull off the most epic photobomb live on SkyNews. Here’s today’s lunchtime irishexaminer.com round-up.

British betting company Ladbrokes has announced more rationalisation plans, aimed at reducing costs further and allowing for a greater digital-based investment drive.

It really is silly season in Britain, with all sorts of people calling for horses to be disqualified should the winning jockey transgress the whip rules.

TV presenter Caroline Flack has secured two perfect 40 scores in “one of the closest finals in Strictly’s history”.

Any horse called John F Kennedy, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was always destined to attract more than normal attention.

A bookmaker has suspended betting on One Direction splitting up amid speculation that Harry Styles is preparing to embark on a solo career.

Bookmakers had their noses in front in the betting stakes after a dramatic day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Tom Scudamore feels a more generous pace in Saturday’s Wessex Youth Trust Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot could finally get the best out of the wayward Grands Crus.

Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their baby son would be called George Alexander Louis.

Bookmakers say Andy Murray’s heroics on Centre Court at SW19 mean the Briton is a shoo-in for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Declaration Of War has jumped to a prominent position in the betting for Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown after owners Coolmore suggested the colt was a “possible” runner.

Dawn Approach has emerged a surprise contender for Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ruby Walsh was replaced by Ryan Mahon on Michel Le Bon in the Coral Welsh National after two falls earlier in the day.

Richard Hughes said he was "over the moon" after the on-song rider secured a remarkable 10,168-1 seven-timer at Windsor yesterday.

Richard Hughes said he was “over the moon” after the on-song rider secured a remarkable 10,168-1 seven-timer at Windsor yesterday.

Japanese runner Deep Brillante has been clipped into 16-1 for Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Overturn has been handed stall eight as he bids to land back-to-back victories in the StanJames.com Chester Cup on the Roodee on Wednesday.

Early Aintree casualty Junior could bid for swift compensation in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

Junior has been left in the Coral Scottish Grand National on Saturday after his early exit at Aintree.

Aidan O’Brien’s So You Think strengthened his position at the head of the market for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday evening after being handed stall four at the draw ceremony for the richest race in the world.

Twelve months on from Frankel, bookmakers fear May could be “an expensive month” if the unbeaten Camelot lives up to his tag as the next wonder horse.

TWO lengths was the winning distance, but connections of Grands Crus were in no doubt David Pipe’s grey had made a far greater margin of progress in the GPG Novices’ Chase at Newbury yesterday.