Gala would make a particularly good fit with Coral Eurobet, as Lombard pointed out only last month. So it should come as no great surprise to learn that it is in talks to buy the bookmaker, also being groomed for flotation by Charterhouse, the private equity group.
Gala, also owned by private equity houses, is the UK's largest bingo operator, with significant casino operations, but no presence in bookmaking. Coral is Britain's third biggest bookmaker after Ladbrokes and William Hill, and should have less competition issues than these rivals in further sector consolidation.
