Anyone interested in sports betting or gambling in general has heard the name Ladbrokes. London-based Ladbrokes Coral is among the biggest brands in the world when it comes to wagering, and the company has evolved from a local off-track betting option to one of the Internet’s biggest sportsbooks.

History of Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes was established in 1886 in support of Ladbroke Hall, an estate in Warwickshire where horses were trained. In 1902, the company moved to London and expanded to specialty bookmaking aimed at exclusive clientele. The organization nearly went out of business post-World War II and was sold for a mere £100,000, but its fortunes would change in 1961 when Britain legalized betting shops. Ladbrokes focused its efforts on local betting shops but also casinos. Pre-Internet, Ladbrokes was already a juggernaut that owned hotels and gambling operations around the world. In 2000, Ladbrokes transitioned its focus to online gambling. It sold many of its hotels and casinos but used that money not only to create a successful website but to establish brand awareness throughout the world.

Ladbrokes Operations

Ladbrokes did not give up its betting shops, and when it merged with Gala Coral Group, the government deemed it had too many locations and would have to sell off approximately 350. By this point, the company had already established its Web presence. Almost all of its sportsbook products were mirrored online, but it also expanded its Internet services to games it had not traditionally offered. Its fast success online was helped tremendously by the fact that it was on the London Stock Exchange, it had a physical presence and one could walk down the street to claim his or her winnings.

The Ladbrokes Website

Ladbrokes has evolved from a UK-centric website to a website that caters to gambling audiences around the world. All products are available from wherever you log on. The site offers an expansive sportsbook as well as a racebook and even lets you watch many horseraces live. It also offers virtual sports and prop betting that extends to entertainment, politics and more. You will also find a virtual casino, live casino, poker room, bingo hall and subdomains aimed at various interests, such as slots. Most recently, Ladbrokes added a sporting exchange where bettors can match bets among one another.

Sportsbook, Racebook and Betting Exchange

Ladbrokes may offer the most expansive selection of sports betting options around. You can place traditional bets, including wagering on the spread, moneyline and over-under. You can also bet in-play, and the house even lets you close bets early to secure your winnings or mitigate your losses. The exchange all but ensures that if you want to bet on something, you will find someone to take that bet.

Casino and More

Just a single Ladbrokes account is needed to access all that the brand offers online, including a poker room that features ring games, tournaments and more. The casino offers virtual and live games via your desktop and mobile devices, and the live options are notable in that you can actually opt for British croupiers rather than just the Eastern European dealers in which many sites specialize.