Casino group Stanley Leisure was hoping to come up trumps as

it paid £44.3 million for regional gambling group Tower Casino.

The deal will add five more provincial sites to the bookie's growing casino operation, now 40 outlets.

Profits at Stanley's regional casinos have surged in the past year after the introduction of new games and longer opening hours.

The growth helped push group pre-tax profits up by 43 per cent to £35.8 million in the year to April 28.

Bob Wiper, Stanley's chief executive, said he was confident the group could significantly improve the performance of Tower's sites.

He said: "The addition of these quality assets in complementary locations consolidates our position as the leading casino operator in Great Britain."

Profits before interest and tax in Stanley's gaming division rose by 27 per cent to £33.8 million in the recent financial year.

The growth was fuelled by a 62 per cent increase at the group's provincial casinos, where average spending per head rose by 23 per cent.

The new betting laws, allowing bookies to pay tax from their own turnover, helped profits in the group's betting arm rise 21 per cent to £21.4 million.

The average stake per betting slip at Stanley's 638 shops improved by nine per cent to £6.16, with fewer interruptions to the racing programme bolstering revenue.

Group turnover rose 21 per cent in the year to £743 million with a 23 per cent jump registered in the betting arm following the change in betting tax.

Stanley said both divisions had performed well in recent weeks with turnover levels generated by the World Cup similar to previous tournaments.

The Tower acquisition, from privately-owned Bell Holdings, will be partly financed by a placing of 8.8 million new shares at 335p.

Stanley's shareholders will receive a total dividend following the annual results of 7.1p a share, up 22 per cent on last year.