June 01, 2012

Ladbrokes probe into trading chief Thompson

Bookmaking giants Ladbrokes have suspended their head of trading Jon Thompson and launched an investigation into how he was running the department.

Thompson, who was a surprise arrival from online gambling site Bodog a year ago for such a pivotal role in the Ladbrokes executive team, is in charge of the prices offered and the bets accepted in a massive gambling operation with a turnover of around £40million a week.

Such internal upheaval comes at the worst possible time for Ladbrokes, with the Derby tomorrow quickly followed by Royal Ascot and Euro 2012, which will be the company's biggest betting market of the year.

Ladbrokes, who like their betting rivals usually seek publicity at every turn, would not comment about Thompson or the probe, which is understood to be betting-related. A spokesman said: 'This is an ongoing staff matter.'

For eight years out of the last 13, the horse whose name has been chalked by gipsies on to the wishing well at the Amato pub in Epsom before the Derby has gone on to win the blue riband race. This time the gipsies have ignored hot favourite Camelot and gone for the Andrew Balding-trained Bonfire.

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