Betting shops to casinos group Stanley Leisure hit a winning streak in its latest financial period when profits raced ahead 36.3 per cent to £20.1 million sterling on turnover up 28 per cent at £407 million. Profits of the key racing division, taking in 50 betting shops in Ireland, reached record levels, increasing 79 per cent to £13 million on turnover up 31 per cent at £364 million.
The surge in betting shop profits was achieved despite £2 million losses suffered last September when jockey Frankie Dettori rode a remarkable seven winners at Ascot.
In Ireland, growth in betting shop profits was restrained by the lack of success of Irish-trained horses, particularly at Cheltenham.
Even so, the undiminished confidence of Irish punters in their good fortune was underlined by the relatively strong 4 per cent increase in the average bet in Stanley betting shops from £5.20 to £5.40.
The average Irish bet continued to be significantly higher than the average £4.53 stake per slip across Stanley's 530 chain of betting shops in Britain and Ireland.
Stanley's chairman, Mr Leonard Steinberg, expressed "great confidence" in the group's future, forecasting another year of growth in the key betting shop division.
Total dividend payments are up 20.3 per cent at 4p on the back of earnings per share up 26 per cent at 11.7p
