Ladbrokes and Gala Coral set for merger decision from the Competition and Markets Authority
The merger, which was confirmed in a £2.3bn deal last July, would create the UK's largest bookie.
The final decision on the merger, which will form new company Ladbrokes Coral, is still expected to be delivered on June 24.
The provisional decision from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was meant to be published in mid-April, though City A.M. learned from an industry source that it had been delayed until mid-May.
The watchdog did not say why the decision had been delayed, although it was thought to be related to strict criteria about branch disposals that will be required for the deal to go through.
The gambling majors expect to be instructed to dispose of between 300 and 500 branches between them to assuage concerns about competition. However, City A.M. understands the combined company may have to sell as many as 1,000 high street stores to fellow, smaller bookmakers to balance out high-street competition.
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