2021
- On 30 March Entain complete the acquisition of Enlabs AB which focuses on serving customers in the Baltic markets.
- On 21 January Entain appointed Jette Nygaard-Andersen as CEO, succeeding Shay Segev.
2020
- On 9 December Entain completed its renaming to Entain plc from GVC Holdings
- 12 November, the Group set its new corporate strategy and its intention to rename to Entain plc.
- On 8 October, GVC announced its acquisition of Portuguese based Bet.pt
- On 16 July, the Group announced the appointment of Shay Segev as CEO, following the retirement of Kenneth Alexander.
- On 27 February, J M Barry Gibson succeeded Lee Feldman as the Group's Non-executive Chairman.
2018
- On 22 November we announced the acquisition of Neds International an Australian digital sports operation.
- In July, GVC announced it was creating BETMGM, a 50/50 Joint Venture with MGM Resorts International to address the regulating US online gaming market.
- On 28 March we completed the acquisition of Ladbrokes Coral Group PLC, the largest in the Group’s history that transformed GVC into one of the largest listed online gaming businesses in the world.
- On 16 March we announced the proposed acquisition of a 51% stake in Crystalbet, a
licensed sports focused online gaming brand based in the Republic of Georgia.
2017
- On 22 December the GVC Group and Ladbrokes Coral Group announced the terms of a recommended offer by GVC to acquire Ladbrokes Coral
- Acquisition of Innopark Pte. Limited operator of Cozy Games, the bingo-led B2B business
- Disposal of Headlong, the Group’s Turkish-facing business
2016
- GVC becomes a constituent member of FTSE 250 on 19 September
- Acquisition of bwin.party completes 1 February 2016, admitted to Main Market of London Stock Exchange 2 February
2015
- Announced bid for bwin.party Digital Entertainment plc
2013
- Acquisition of Sportingbet (ex Australia) completes March 2013
2012
- Announced exclusive talks with William Hill to acquire Sportingbet
2011
- Launch of Betboo outside Latin America
- Acquisition of the rights to provide back-office services to East Pioneer Corporation BV, who in turn acquired Superbahis, a Sportingbet branded sportsbook
2010
- Re-domicile from Luxembourg to the Isle of Man to improve post tax dividend return for shareholders
2009
- Acquisition of Betboo, a Brazilian-focused bingo/sportsbook product
2007
- Launch of a sportsbook
- Grant of a Maltese licence
- Kenneth Alexander joins and starts to reinvigorate the Group
2004
- Incorporation of Gaming VC Holdings S.A. in Luxembourg
- Shares admitted to trading on AIM
- Acquisition of CasinoClub
2016
Ladbrokes merger with Gala Coral was approved by the Competition and Markets Authority to become the Ladbrokes Coral Group.
2015
Jim Mullen started as the company's new chief executive in April 2015, having led the company's digital transformation since 2013.
2013
The company established a product and marketing services partnership with Playtech designed to drive growth in digital. A new mobile service was launched on Playtech's Mobenga platform in December. By April 2014 the migration of products to Playtech's gaming software was largely complete and whilst this took some time to bed-in, that summer the company generated record revenue for World Cup betting.
2005
Ladbrokes sold the Hilton International Hotel division and reverted to Ladbrokes PLC. The company developed numerous overseas betting opportunities, including in China and Italy. The emergence of new sports betting regulation in the Madrid region provided the catalyst for investment in Spain and Ladbrokes launched a joint retail venture under the ‘Sportium' brand with Cirsa Slot Corporation.
2000
Ladbrokes took its products and services online with the launch of ladbrokes.com. The expansion of the hotel base continued and the Hilton Group completed the £620 million acquisition of Scandic Hotels AB. By 2003 the Ladbrokes division of Hilton Group had a UK retail estate of close on 2000 shops, with the annual spend on new outlets, in-store design and technology running at around £50 million.
1987
Ladbrokes acquired Hilton International (a spin off from Hilton Hotels Corporation) for £645 million.
1984
Ladbrokes expanded into Belgium through the acquisition of Le Tiercé SA, operators of a 400-strong betting shop chain. The following year saw the company's first move into US sports with the purchase of Detroit Race Course.
1967
Stein became chairman and presided over the company's flotation on the London Stock Exchange.
1963
Ladbrokes achieved a first by offering odds on the outcome of the Conservative Party leadership contest. Victory went to Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Ladbrokes made a profit of £1,400.
1962
Ladbrokes acquired its first shop. Although outlets were subject to tight restrictions (blacked out windows/customers prohibited from loitering after placing their bets) Stein embarked on creating a retail empire.
1961
The Betting and Gaming Act legalised betting shops, transforming the industry. Shops opened at the rate of around 35 a week and eventually peaked at more than 15,000 in 1968.
1956
Cyril Stein and his uncle, Max Parker, acquired the business. Stein was to emerge as one of the most innovative entrepreneurs of his generation. The firm soon advertised for new customers, introduced ‘no limit' and ‘ante post' betting, and extended opening hours to facilitate greyhound betting.
1902
Arthur Bendir joined the Schwind/Pennington partnership. He effectively founded Ladbrokes, a name inspired by a signpost to Ladbroke Hall he saw on his first visit. Bendir brought something very special to the Schwind/Pennington party: he changed the emphasis from backing horses to betting against them, choosing to act as both a bookmaker and a punter.
1886
Messrs Schwind and Pennington went into partnership as commission agents. Their principal objective was to back horses trained by Pennington at Ladbroke Hall in Worcestershire. It was to prove a fortuitous association.
1880s
Harry Ogden informed onlookers at Newmarket Heath that he was prepared to offer prices against every horse in a race. Ogden is now widely acknowledged as the UK's first professional bookmaker.
2016
In October 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority agreed to the merger of Ladbrokes and the Gala Coral Group, creating Ladbrokes Coral Group.
2015
The Group completed the disposal of Gala Bingo retail division to Caledonia Investments plc.
2013
Eurobet was awarded 500 new Italian retail licences through a Government led auction process.
The Group completed the disposal of all its Casino businesses in separate transactions with Rank Group Plc, Double Diamond Gaming Ltd and Gryphon AG.
2012
The Group launched new online platforms for the UK market, through Coral.co.uk, Galabingo.com and Galacasino.com, operated out of Gibraltar.
2011
The Group refinanced £1.6bn of debt and paid down c.£150m of pre existing senior debt.
The Group signed a 10-year deal with Playtech and other key suppliers to provide online betting and integrated wallet technology to Group brands.
2010
Apollo Management, Cerberus Capital Management and Goldman Sachs invested in Gala Coral's mezzanine debt. In 2010, a debt for equity swap was agreed and the mezzanine debt holders took ownership of the Group.
2007
The Group commenced the rollout of betting shops in Italy following the acquisition of 358 sports and horse betting licences through a government led auction.
2005
The Gala Group acquired Coral Eurobet, transforming it into an integrated betting and gaming company.
Permira acquired a stake in the Group.
2003
Private equity houses Candover & Cinven acquired the Gala Group in a secondary buy out.
2000
The Gala Group acquired 26 Casinos from the Hilton Group with backing from CSFB Private Equity. Gala Bingo also became the leading bingo operator that year following a number of strategic acquisitions.
1997
A management buy-in, led by John Kelly, purchased the Gala Bingo Clubs business from Bass. The deal was backed by PPM Ventures.
1960
Coral Retail was formalised when the UK legalised and regulated the off-course bookmaking market.
1926
Joe Coral began offering off-course sports bookmaking and services in the UK.
