With the completion of the sale of its hotel business to the US company with the same name, Hilton Group PLC yesterday became Ladbrokes PLC. At the same time it issued its final full-year results as a hotel and gaming company. The new Ladbrokes will focus on expanding its bookmaking business and online operations, and will review its policy on not accepting US clients.

The four divisions of the purely betting and gaming Ladbrokes PLC are: Ladbrokes retail bookmaker; Ladbrokes.com interactive betting and gaming services; Vernons football pools; and Ladbrokes Casinos. The first casino to open will be at the Hilton London Paddington during the course of this year. Ladbrokes currently operates around 2,000 betting shops in the UK, Ireland and Belgium.

Senior members of Ladbrokes management team have been stationed in Beijing over recent months providing consultancy services to China Sport Lottery (Beijing) Sales and Marketing Co., Ltd (CSLSM), the organisation with responsibility for sales, marketing and operational aspects of the new sports pools betting shops which use the 'Happy Pool' brand. The shops are the first in mainland China to offer singles betting on football matches. Further announcements on expansion in Asia and Europe are expected soon.

Chris Bell, Chief Executive of Ladbrokes Worldwide added: "Ladbrokes has talked about its international aspirations and while this is a very small step into China it is also an encouraging one.” He added, “China has the potential to be one of the biggest betting markets in the world and for the first time Happy Pools provides an attractive and regulated opportunity to bet on single football results."

In the European arena earlier this month, Ladbrokes won a referral of its case against the Norwegian Government to the European Free Trade Area court in Luxembourg. It is also hoping to get a referral in a similar case against the Netherlands. Ladbrokes filed the lawsuits to argue its case that, under the principles of free and fair trade, state-licensed monopolies should not be permitted.

Earlier this week Ladbrokes won approval for a planning application for a casino at a Brighton hotel. The casino project at the Hilton Metropole would create around 120 jobs but still needs to be granted various licences before getting the final go-ahead. Ladbrokes sold its 29 casino estate to Gala in December 2000 but is now intent on getting back into the industry. (E-02.24.06)

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