Online regulation to hit profits of Ladbrokes owner

Ladbrokes owner Entain expects profit margins to fall this year as the gambling industry faces regulatory challenges.

Entain, which also owns betting shops chain Coral, told shareholders that core profit margins could dip to 26pc in 2023.

Although higher than pre-pandemic levels, profit margins have tightened because of higher costs for wages and energy and tougher regulation in Britain and Holland. Chief finance officer Rob Wood said new online gambling rules and affordability checks in the UK affected online revenues last year, which fell 2pc.

However, Entain’s total net gaming revenue rose 12pc to £4.35bn last year, boosted by betting on the World Cup.