Stanley smiles

STANLEY Leisure has reported a surge in visitors to its provincial casinos after the government relaxed restrictions on gaming.

Liverpool-based Stanley said attendance rose by 17.2 per cent during the six months to the end of April following the deregulation of the gaming industry in October, which lifted the rule forcing new punters to register 24 hours in advance and scrapped limits on jackpot prizes.

BAT's joy

BRITISH American Tobacco said it had enjoyed a strong start to 2006, but currency swings meant it would be tough to sustain such a positive performance.

First-quarter profits rose from é626m to é668m as falling cigarette volumes in Europe were offset by increases in the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America.

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