British bookmaker and online gambling company Ladbrokes (LSE: LAD) is holding merger talks with online gaming software giant Playtech (AIM: PTEC), the Daily Telegraph has reported. ₤2.2 billion deal to shake industry The proposed merger, which would be worth around ₤2.2 billion ($3.5 billion), c

The old rule says that the longer takeover negotiations drag on, the less likely they are to succeed. It is now seven weeks since Ladbrokes said it was talking to 888.com, the online poker and casino group. Even allowing for the holiday season, that’s a long time, which is one reason why outsi