Bookie lands virus jackpot

Ladbrokes’s owner said online revenues jumped by a third in the first three months of 2021 as it continued to see strong demand from punters stuck at home.

shares in entain, which also owns Coral and bwin, rose 1.1pc after the ‘strong’ online performance.

online net gaming revenues increased by 33pc for the quarter to March 31 compared with the same period last year, in its 21st consecutive quarter of double-digit online growth. entain said that total net revenues fell by 13pc over the quarter as a result of the closure of almost all of its more-than-3,000 betting shops.

betting shops reopened on Monday as part of the second phase of the Government’s road map out of lockdown.

Chief executive Jette Nygaardandersen, said: ‘This has been another very successful and productive quarter.’