A high number of horse race cancellations also affected the performance in the four months to April 30, although Ladbrokes said more normal trading patterns had returned in recent weeks, helped by a favourable outcome at last month’s Grand National.
Chief executive Chris Bell said predicting activity in the current climate was difficult, but added that he remained confident in Ladbrokes’ performance over the year.
Ladbrokes said its gross win – the amount left by losing punters – fell by 4% in its UK retail division.
There was a 5% rise in the average weekly gross win per gaming machine., however telephone betting revenue fell by 54%.
