ladbrokes to sell off hilton

**scrollock** · 14th October 2005, 06:16 AM

have just seen this on the news, ladbrokes is going to sell off its hilton hotel chain to hilton US.

to clear up any confusion, hilton US and the hilton owned by ladbrokes use to be one hotel chain which was then split into 2 businesses in the 60's.

i think this is a good move by ladbrokes, as i often stay at their hotels due to complementary vouchers i am awarded by their gaming division and i will say the hotel side of their business is dire and i only stay there because its free.

**shrewd_boy** · 19th October 2005, 01:26 PM

I would be very interested in the shares of a stand alone 'Ladbrokes' company.

I've often thought that the Hotel business restricts the profitablity of Hilton. The gaming side of the business can be booming but it's not always reflected in the share price as the hotel side can restrict capital growth due to any number of external influences, 9/11, 7/7 etc.

**Webzcas** · 19th October 2005, 01:50 PM

This was in the Times on Saturday. I wrote about it for my site. Also Ladbrokes are rumoured to be making a move for the Rank Group.

If the demerger happens, it will mean Ladbrokes will be able to break into the US Online Poker Market.

**scrollock** · 20th October 2005, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by shrewd_boy

I would be very interested in the shares of a stand alone 'Ladbrokes' company.

I've often thought that the Hotel business restricts the profitablity of Hilton. The gaming side of the business can be booming but it's not always reflected in the share price as the hotel side can restrict capital growth due to any number of external influences, 9/11, 7/7 etc.

after i made the opening post here, at 8 am an official annoucement was made to the stock market, within minutes the shares had risen by 25-30%

**GOCC** · 25th October 2005, 12:47 PM

Cant see Ladbrokes being able to buy Rank as they now own Corals. The MMC wouldnt alloiw it IMVHO

**Webzcas** · 26th October 2005, 11:32 AM

Yep I agree. As when Ladbrokes bought Corals back in 98/99 the MMC ruled they had to sell Corals off. However they could split the rank group up.

To be honest though, this will push Ladbrokes eGaming through the stratosphere in terms of potential revenue - Once Hilton is offloaded the American Market is ripe for them to enter - Ladbrokes Poker I predict will have the potential to take on the likes of Party. I'm just gutted my share options in hilton lapsed when I left them at the end of August!

**spearmaster** · 27th October 2005, 06:02 PM

My personal opinion - the Ladbrokes name in the US is about as valuable as the Station Casinos name in the UK.

IE - not very much. Ladbrokes like to think they are internationally recognized - sadly, so do a lot of Vegas operations - but the straightforward fact of the matter is, unless you have operations in those other countries, or have done any reasonable amount of marketing in those countries, your name is worth no more than the next bloke's.

**Webzcas** · 27th October 2005, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by spearmaster

My personal opinion - the Ladbrokes name in the US is about as valuable as the Station Casinos name in the UK.

IE - not very much. Ladbrokes like to think they are internationally recognized - sadly, so do a lot of Vegas operations - but the straightforward fact of the matter is, unless you have operations in those other countries, or have done any reasonable amount of marketing in those countries, your name is worth no more than the next bloke's.

Yes but they will market the brand big time in the States. Instead of sending 50 online qualifiers to the WSOP like this year, they will send ten times that number - all wearing ladbrokes branded gear.

They have the financial muscle to make it big in the States and believe me they are just waiting for the opportunity to do so. Besides their poker room is first class, but hey I'm biased

**spearmaster** · 28th October 2005, 05:27 AM

LOL.

Branding takes time. I'm sure Ladbrokes has the muscle to do that. But in many cases they have shown a bit too much muscle and much too little brain, resulting in being blacklisted... mostly in Asia... and US laws regarding these things are much more strict than people think.

We shall see. I'm perfectly willing to be wrong, particularly as good marketing will help to grow the industry - but based on my own personal experience with their marketing people, I wouldn't be counting my chickens before they hatch!