Ladbrokes Coral Group
- Founded
- 2016-01-01 in London, England, United Kingdom
- Headquarters
- London, England (registered address: 1 Chapel Place, London W1G 0BG)
Ladbrokes Coral Group was a British sports betting and gaming conglomerate formed in November 2016 through the merger of two of the UK's most venerable bookmaking businesses: Ladbrokes (founded in 1886) and the Coral retail and online operations of Gala Coral Group (Coral itself was founded in 1926). The combined entity became one of the largest betting and gaming operators in Europe, boasting a vast network of high-street betting shops—over 3,500 retail outlets—alongside a strong digital presence through its iconic brands. Its product offering spanned sports betting (covering horse racing, football, and other major sports), online casino, online poker, and online bingo. The group was headquartered in London, England, and was listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 250 constituent under the ticker "LCL". Its formation was driven by the need to achieve scale and cost synergies in an increasingly digital market, with the merger creating a company with roughly 25,000 employees across the UK, Ireland, and international territories. In March 2018, Ladbrokes Coral Group was acquired by Isle of Man–based GVC Holdings (now Entain plc), and the Ladbrokes and Coral brands have since operated as part of that larger group. Following the acquisition, the original listed company was delisted and its assets fully integrated into Entain. The legal entity, Ladbrokes Coral Group Limited, continues to exist on the Companies House register as a dormant non-trading subsidiary.
Detailed Review
History
Ladbrokes Coral Group represented the coming together of two deeply rooted British gambling institutions. Ladbrokes itself began in 1886 as a commission agency for wealthy clients betting on horse racing, named after the village of Ladbroke in Warwickshire. It was a pioneering firm, operating from exclusive Mayfair premises and later, after the 1960 Betting and Gaming Act, expanding into high-street betting shops and casinos. Coral, founded by Joe Coral in 1926, also grew from a small street‑corner operation into a national bookmaking chain with its own distinct brand identity. The merger was announced in July 2015, valued at £2.3 billion, and was approved by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) subject to the divestment of up to 350 betting shops to preserve competition. The CMA’s final report was published on 12 April 2017, with the required shop sales completed by early 2018.
Business Model
Under the merged group, Ladbrokes and Coral retained their separate high-street brands and online platforms, while back‑office functions, technology infrastructure, and procurement were consolidated. The group’s core digital assets included Ladbrokes.com, Coral.co.uk, and the Ladbrokes and Coral mobile apps. It also operated the Gala Bingo brand (from the Coral side) and had a joint venture in the Republic of Ireland.
M&A and Current Status
Following the acquisition by GVC Holdings (now Entain) in March 2018, the Ladbrokes Coral Group ceased to exist as a standalone public company. GVC paid £3.2 billion for the group, combining it with its own portfolio of brands (including bwin, Sportingbet, and partycasino) to create one of the world’s largest sports betting and gaming groups. The Ladbrokes and Coral brands remain among Entain’s core UK assets. The legal entity "Ladbrokes Coral Group Limited" (company number 00566221) is still registered at Companies House but is dormant, with no trading activity. Its registered office is at 1 Chapel Place, London, W1G 0BG.
Key Products
Ladbrokes Sportsbook
Retail and online sports betting covering football, horse racing, tennis, and other sports, operating since 1886.
Coral Sportsbook
Similar offering to Ladbrokes, with a strong high-street presence and digital platform.
Ladbrokes Casino
Online casino games including slots, table games, and live dealer.
Coral Casino
Online casino platform with a wide range of titles.
Ladbrokes Poker
Online poker room, part of the Playtech network.
Coral Bingo
Online bingo and social games.
Self-Service Betting Terminals (SSBTs)
In-shop terminals allowing customers to place and settle bets independently.
Telephone Betting
Legacy service for high-value and VIP customers.
Mobile Apps
Native apps for iOS and Android for both Ladbrokes and Coral brands.
International Brands
Sportium (Spain, joint venture with Cirsa) and Ladbrokes Belgium (via Le Tiercé).
Ladbrokes
Full‑service sportsbook, online casino, poker, and bingo brand with a strong high‑street presence and global recognition.
Coral
Sports betting, online casino, and bingo brand, operating complementary retail and digital operations to Ladbrokes.
The Grid
Omnichannel loyalty platform that links online accounts with bets placed in physical shops, providing bet tracking and rewards via a key fob or mobile app.
Gala Bingo
Inherited from the Coral side, Gala Bingo is a well‑known brand in the UK bingo market, operating both online and a network of bingo clubs.
Ladbrokes Exchange
A peer‑to‑peer betting exchange platform launched under the Ladbrokes brand, allowing customers to bet against each other.
Coral Racing Club
A premium horse‑racing tipping service and club offered to Coral customers.
Ladbrokes & Coral mobile apps
Native apps for iOS and Android offering full sportsbook and casino functionality, including live streaming and in‑play betting.
Offices & Headcount
25000 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
Notable past members
- Yoel Zuckerberg — Senior Product Gaming Team Leader
- John O'Reilly — Managing Director