Bookies face calls to repay millions

MPS have demanded Ladbrokes pay back £102million it claimed in furlough cash after its online business boomed in the pandemic.

The bookmakers, part of FTSE100 giant Entain, claimed the sum after lockdowns forced it to shut its 2,850 shops.

But the pandemic prompted millions to bet online, boosting bookmakers’ profits.

Ladbrokes claimed £57.5million in 2020, according to Companies’ House accounts, and £ million in 2021. Entain had profits of £175million in 2020 from revenues of £3.6billion. Betfred claimed between £ 6.6million and £65.5million from March 2020 and May 2021. Its profits rose from £171million to £205million in the year to September 2020. Labour MP Carolyn Harris said: ‘Pandemic support was designed to help desperate firms survive – not bolster the pockets of gambling fat cats. Ladbrokes and Betfred must follow the lead of industry rivals and pay back these enormous sums.’

Entain said the scheme protected the jobs of 1 ,000 staff and it was keeping payments ‘under review’. Betfred said thanks to the scheme ‘we have not had to make a single redundancy due to the pandemic’.