The bookmaker was granted a license 25 years after it was forced out of the casino business over a betting scandal.

Group executives were deemed to be 'fit and proper persons' to run casinos and their plans include running the UK's first super-casino in Blackpool.

In a separate news, commenting on Stanley's acquisition by Hills, Ciaran O'Brien, Ladbrokes Head of Public Relations, said "We are currently pursuing an acquisition strategy in the UK. Stanley didn't fit into our strategy of right shop, right location, right price."