LONDON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Ladbrokes, the Britishbookmaker that agreed to buy Gala Coral last month, posted a 44percent drop in adjusted first-half profit to 24.7 millionpounds ($38 million), reflecting lower betting on football and astring of customer-friendly results.
Exceptionals were 78.9 million pounds, in line with guidancegiven when it pre-announced the results last month, and it ispaying an interim dividend of 1 pence a share, part of plannedcuts in the shareholder payout to fund investment. ($1 = 0.6423 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Sarah Young)
