The UK’s biggest High Street bookmaker, Ladbrokes Coral is in detailed talks over a takeover bid by rival online gambling company GVC. GVC have put forward a possible offer for consideration, which could see the Ladbrokes Coral Group valued at up to £3.9 billion.

This is the third time this year that merger talks have been on the table. Previous takeover discussions were put on hold, pending the government review of fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBT), which could impact the value of the company.

The review into FOBTs by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport recommended reducing the current maximum stake from £1000 to between £50 and £2. The final decision will be announced next month, and the outcome will have a direct impact on the profitability of Ladbrokes Coral.

Yet in an innovative move, the new takeover proposal takes into account the impact the decision on the value of the company. GVC’s proposed offer values the company at £3.1 billion. Yet if the outcome of the FOBT review is favourable for the gambling industry, GVC will pay a contingent value right (CVR) of up to 42.8p per share. If the government opts for the higher end of the maximum bet limit of a £50 stake, this would boost the takeover deal to the maximum of £3.9bn.

Ladbrokes has a rich history, with its origins dating back to 1886. The company boomed during the 1960’s following the legalisation of betting shops. Ladbrokes completed a merger with Gala Coral last year which saw them become one of the UK’s biggest gambling firms with the largest number of High Street betting shops.

GVC is a fast-growing internet sports betting and gaming group based in the Isle of Man. They boast a number of leading gambling brands including Foxy Bingo, partycasino and bwin. GVC Holdings won the EGR award for Casino Operator of the Year 2017 for their strong performance in the casino sector. The merger would see current Ladbrokes CEO Jim Mullens make way for GVC’s chief executive, Kenneth Alexander.

A takeover would lead to significant development of Ladbrokes’ online business. When you check the slots selection from Ladbrokes along with games such as roulette and blackjack, they provide a rich and diverse online casino product in addition to their sports betting business. Yet the merger is likely to mean further enhancements of the online sector of the company. Alexander stated, “We have our own proprietary technology and we’ll be using that as the platform of choice for the group.”

If the takeover bid is successful, the combined company will solidify its position as one of the biggest retail and online gambling groups in the world. They will also be listed on the FTSE100, with a market capitalisation of around £5.3bn.

GVC has until 4th January to decide whether to make a firm takeover bid, or whether to withdraw. So, watch this space!

In my previous post, I touched on the topic of casino bonuses. They are a big selling point of online casinos and a key factor for many people in deciding where to play. Yet they can also be the biggest reason for frustration, disappointment and anger among players. This is because many people do not understand the conditions that come attached to them. If you don’t stick to the rules you could lose out on your winnings. However, by taking a little time to understand the ins and outs of casino bonuses, you can be certain that you are getting a good deal. These are the important things to know to determine which are the best casino bonuses.

One Time Offer or Package Deal?

So you see a welcome bonus of £100 and another of £1000… seems a no brainer right? Well there is more to this than meets the eye. The first offer is a one time deal. You get a percentage match of your first deposit up to a maximum of £100. The other is a welcome bonus package. This rewards bonuses over your first 3 deposits, with a maximum of £1000 bonus available across the lot. Whilst the package deal offers a larger bonus, it is worth bearing in mind that this will require larger deposits. Think how much you intend to deposit and which stakes you will play with to help determine which type of bonus offers the best value for your money.

Wagering Requirements

Casino bonuses are intended for playing with. You cannot simply withdraw your free cash and run. For this reason, casinos attach a wagering requirement to bonuses to ensure that you play games with them. You will need to playthrough the bonus, or the total of the deposit and bonus a set number of times before you are allowed to withdraw any winnings you have made. This amount can vary greatly from one casino bonus to another. Generally speaking, the lower the wagering requirement, the more favourable the deal.

Game Weightings

Not all casino games contribute the same amount towards fulfilling wagering requirements. Usually, you will find that any money you wager on slots will count completely towards wagering. Yet, betting on other popular casino games such as blackjack and roulette usually only contributes a small percentage towards meeting the playthrough requirements. In some cases, they may be excluded altogether. This is because these types of games have a much lower house edge than slots. So if you enjoy table games, look for a bonus with a high weighting attached to your favourite game.

Timescales

It is important to know how long a bonus is valid for once it has been awarded. If you do not fulfil the wagering requirement within the specified timeframe, then your remaining bonus funds along with any winnings could be forfeited. Bonus validity is another factor that can change significantly from one casino to another. Many operators set this at around 30 days, yet there are some that can limit this to a week or even just a few days. On the other hand, some bonuses have unlimited validity, so you can take as long as you need to fulfil the playthrough. Consider how often you are likely to play and accept a bonus that allows sufficient time for you to fulfil the bonus conditions.

My friends know that I play at online casinos regularly and I am often asked which casino I consider to be the best. Let me tell you, there is never a short, sharp answer to that! What is right for one player is not always going to be right for another. I have my favourites, yet I have tried more than a few that just did not meet my needs. In fairness, each online casino has its own pros and cons. My advice is to use these 5 categories to decide which is the best option for you.

Safety

The one thing that ALL players need to be certain of when choosing which casino to play at is safety. Why take the risk? Only ever play at safe casinos. The one sure fire way to know that an operator can be trusted is a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. This proves that they adhere to strict standards of technical security to safeguard players. It also confirms that their games have been independently tested to verify that they are fair.

Game selection

You may be surprised at how much the game selection can differ from one operator to another. I’m not just talking quantity, but also quality and diversity. Some casinos offer over 500 games, yet this may be predominantly made up of slots, with just a couple of table games. Whilst that is great for slots players, it’s not so good for say blackjack players. You should check that an operator has your favourite games, with a range of table limits to suit your budget and interesting variants to keep you entertained.

Mobile Compatibility

You cannot take for granted that a casino’s mobile app will match its desktop version. Some casinos have invested significantly in mobile gaming. They offer a rich and diverse selection of games which run flawlessly, with an intuitive, user-friendly layout. Others unfortunately fall far short of the mark, with a limited game selection and poor functionality. So, if gaming on the go is your thing, make sure you check out how the mobile casino shapes up.

Bonuses and Promos

Welcome bonuses are a highlight of playing at online casinos. Pretty much all operators offer them in one form or another. Consider how much you want to deposit and which games you want to play when determining which offers the best deal for you. You should also check how favourable the conditions are. The best casinos also provide regular promotions for existing players to benefit from. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a welcome bonus, but then getting no rewards for your loyalty.

Banking Options

The best online casinos support a wide range of payment methods for deposits and withdrawals. Yet it is not simply the accepted methods that are important, but also limits and timescales. If you are a high roller, you should look for a casino that places high limits on deposits and withdrawals, or even no limits at all. Whilst deposits are usually processed instantly, withdrawal time frames can vary significantly. Yet you will usually find that withdrawals using e-wallets have the fastest processing time across the board.

Each day I play at online casinos, I find something that is worth sharing. Whether that be an exciting new game release, a limited time special promotion, or general musings around bonuses, mobile games, RTP’s and such. This blog is where I will spread the word!

Now, whilst I have every intention of updating this page regularly, I must put my hands up now and say that I have a busy life that usually takes precedence over good intensions! However, I will do my utmost to post regularly, if not every day.

Let me tell you a little bit more about myself. I’m Matty, and for several years, I worked as a casino manager onboard a cruise ship. Through my role, I learnt a great deal about casinos. How to create an exciting gaming environment, how to provide superb customer service, how to cater to what players want.

When I started playing at online casinos, I was intrigued to see how players’ needs could be met without the face to face interaction of the casino floor. In fairness, most of them have done a pretty good job! It is easy to understand why so many people enjoy playing casino games on the internet.

Thanks to my experience in the industry, I feel I have a fairly unique standpoint as a casino player. I have a solid understanding of game rules, house edge, playing strategies, and such. I am also inquisitive by nature, and have extended my understanding of online specific casino topics. Bonus conditions, safety verification, banking options, you name it, I got it covered.

And it is this experience that I will bring to this site. I want to share my knowledge and opinions to help fellow casino players to get the best possible experience when playing online. I will give you independent advice on where to get the best bonuses. I’ll give you an overview of how to optimise your chances of success in your preferred game. I will keep you updated on any headline industry news that affects you as a player. In short, I will provide you with masterclasses to get the best out of online casinos.