Stanley Leisure profits double up

The two firms are gambling on their link-up paying dividends

Annual profits have almost doubled at Stanley Leisure, the operator of casinos across the UK.

Pre-tax profit climbed 97% to £31.9m in the 12 months ending 30 April, up from £16.2m a year earlier. Turnover increased by 2% to £224.8m.

However, despite the strong growth, the company said that a number of large losses to major clients had narrowed its win margin.

Stanley has 41 casinos throughout the UK and four in London.

"Overall, the new financial year has started satisfactorily," the company said in a statement.

"However, there have been a number of material losses to major players which, although within normal limits, have caused our win margin for the first three months of the year to be lower than we had budgeted," it added.