LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Shareholders in bookmakerLadbrokes backed its 2.3 billion pound ($3.5 billion)tie-up with Gala Coral, a deal it hopes will give it the cloutto make a bigger splash online where it has been outgunned byrivals.
The holders of 96 percent of Ladbrokes shares voted toapprove the deal at a meeting on Tuesday.
Opposition to the merger has been led Irish billionaireDermot Desmond, who says it will not be the answer to Ladbrokes'online problems and will instead saddle the group with debt andresult in lower payouts to shareholders.
Desmond, who holds a 2.8 percent stake, vowed after themeeting to continue the fight.
"This is only the first round of 15 rounds, or 10 rounds orseven rounds," he said. "There's a long way to go."
Desmond said one option would be to convene anothershareholders meeting, for which he would need the support of theholders of 5 percent of the shares.
($1 = 0.6630 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Jason Neely)
