THOSE who think that the bookmaking - betting, not printing books, by the way - is a licence to print money and that the bookies always win might be forced to think again, judging by results for 1995 from Ladbroke's Irish operations.
According to Private Research, Ladbroke (Ireland) made a profit of the grand total of £548 last year, a modest fall from the £1.4 million the year before. Still, the less than earth-shattering performance did not prevent the Irish offshoot sending £420,000 in dividends back to Ladbroke head office in London.