Another story from the BBC:

Business reporter, BBC World Service

The Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has described 2009 as a "cracking year for punters" after its profits took a dent.

The company reported profits of 67.2m euros ($90.7m; £60.8m) for last year, down 15% from 2008.

Paddy Power suffered as punters enjoyed a series of winning results, especially with bets placed on horse racing and Ireland’s Six Nations rugby grand slam.

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Another story from the BBC:

Two men are being sought over a spate of armed robberies at bookmakers in the north and east of Glasgow.

The raids targeted William Hill shops in Baillieston, Moodiesburn and Muirhead between 1845 GMT and 2055 GMT on Monday.

Staff were threatened with a firearm and, in total, a three figure sum of cash was taken.

A small, dark-coloured car was used in all of the robberies. Police said that none of the shop staff were injured.

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Another story from the BBC:

A reward to catch the gunman who shot a teenager in a Manchester betting shop has been increased to £50,000 on the second anniversary of his death.

Louis Brathwaite, 16, was shot in William Hill bookmakers on Mauldeth Road West, Withington, on 29 January 2008. He died 12 days later.

His 18-year-old friend was also shot by the gunman but survived.

A police spokesman said the reward would be a "life-changing sum of money" in exchange for vital information.

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Another story from the BBC:

Staff at a Cardiff bookmakers have been threatened by a robber who made off with what police say was a large quantity of money.

The man entered the Ladbrokes on Splott Road, Splott, at about 1910 GMT on Friday.

South Wales Police are looking for the man.

They have appealing for any witnesses or anyone who could have information to contact Roath CID on 029 2022 2111, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Another story from the BBC:

A Sussex man has been charged with robbing two Brighton betting shops in raids which happened just minutes apart.

Two Betfred shops in Lewes Road and Hollingbury Place were targeted at about 1000 GMT on Tuesday.

A 53-year-old man was charged on Wednesday with two counts of robbery.

He spent the night in custody and was due to appear at Brighton and Hove Magistrates on Thursday, Sussex Police said.

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Another story from the BBC:

Almost £1,000 has been stolen in two betting shops raids within minutes of each other.

The robberies happened in Brighton at about 1000 GMT on Tuesday at Betfred shops in Lewes Road and Hollingbury Place.

In each incident a man walked into the shop and threatened staff.

In the first robbery, staff were threatened with a long-bladed knife. In the second, the man mentioned a knife but never produced it.

Posted by casino man in Gambling News at 11:43 AM GMT

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Another story from the BBC:

A robbery at a bookmakers in Kent is being linked to five others being investigated by police.

Kent Police said a robbery in Strood on Monday was likely to have been carried out by the same man who targeted other betting shops in Strood and Snodland.

The latest target was William Hill in Strood’s High Street. Nearby Coral bookmakers was targeted on Wednesday 13 January.

Three other robberies took place in November and December 2009.

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Another story from the BBC:

A robbery at a bookmakers in Kent is being linked to several others being investigated by police.

Staff were threatened at Ladbrokes, in Holborough Road, Snodland, on Friday night by a man, carrying an item in a plastic bag, who demanded cash.

The man, who was 6ft tall, slim, and wore a full-face balaclava, left with cash, and walked to the High Street.

Police believe he is the same man who has carried out robberies at four other bookmakers in the same area.

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Another story from the BBC:

Detectives are linking a robbery at a bookmakers in Kent with three similar crimes committed in the county.

A man went into Coral on Strood High Street on Wednesday at 1825 GMT, claimed he had a weapon and demanded money which he made off with.

Police are linking it with a previous robbery at the same bookmakers on 29 November and another at a Coral shop in Gun Lane, Strood, the following day.

The other linked robbery was at Choice Bet in Snodland, on 2 December.

Posted by casino man in Gambling News at 7:43 PM GMT

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Another story from the BBC:

Monarch Airlines has hit back at bookmaker Paddy Power for running a book suggesting it could be the next carrier to collapse.

The bookmaker has slashed its odds on Monarch being the next airline to go bust from 50-1 to 4-1 after taking more than 100 bets over Christmas.

"If it wasn’t so serious it would be laughable," said Monarch managing director Tim Jeans.

Paddy Power said it did not have any insider information.

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