The bookmaker Ladbrokes has claimed nearly £102m from the UK government’s furlough scheme, despite sales in online bets soaring during the pandemic. According to accounts published at Companies House, the company made claims of £57.5m in 2020. A further £44m was claimed in 2021. Ladbrokes is owned by the global betting company Entain, which enjoyed huge boosts in profits during the Covid-19 crisis as bored households turned to online gambling and casino games during lockdowns. Late last year, it was approached for a possible takeover, valuing the business at about £16bn, although US rival Draftkings ultimately walked away. The company’s betting shops, which also include Coral, were closed for long periods during 2020 and missed out on revenues owing to sporting events being cancelled. As a result, revenues for 2020 slumped from £983m to £681m. However, revenues for Entain over the same period hit £3.6bn – unchanged on the previous year – with pre-tax profits of £114m. More recently, the company revealed further strong growth in its global online betting and gaming business, recording 23 consecutive months of rising revenues in the division. All companies affected by the pandemic were allowed to claim from the government’s Covid furlough scheme. Some firms that claimed have subsequently returned the cash after results during the period proved better than expected – particularly for businesses with strong online operations alongside shuttered high street operations. However, Ladbrokes has declined to repay the furlough money saved. A spokesman for Entain said: “The furlough scheme was a sensible and highly welcome policy intervention that helped us, as one of the country’s largest retailers, to maintain the livelihoods of more than 14,000 retail colleagues on full pay. “Whilst the virus is still with us and the outlook, although improving, is still far from certain, the board will continue to keep the situation under review.” Rival William Hill repaid £24.5m in furlough money claimed, while the Paddy Power owner Flutter did not make any claims for furlough cash – although both have a smaller number of sites than Ladbrokes and Coral.