HIGH rollers and bad weather conspired to knock full-year profits at bookmaker Stanley Leisure.
Some big wins at its Crockfords casino, in London's West End, meant profits at the company's gaming division fell short of target.
A total of 221 race cancellations, caused by flooding, frost and the foot-and-mouth crisis, meant it missed as much as £20m in bets.
Pre-tax profits dropped to £25.1m in the year to April 29, compared with £28.5m for the previous 12 months. Turnover was up seven per cent to £611.7m.
Chief executive Bob Wiper said despite the setback the company had made a good deal of progress during the year.
Attendance was up at its casinos, while the group had been able to make up for some of the lost bets by allowing punters to flutter on races in Europe.
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