Ladbrokes, the UK online betting company, is reportedly in talks with the Irish billionaire, Dermot Desmond, over a technology agreement to improve the bookmakers online business. Desmon is the owner of the Betdaq betting exchange. According to the Telegraph, Ladbrokes CEO, Richard Glynn, is looking to buy in the pricing and trading skills of the established peer-to-peer betting exchange.

Desmond who himself has roughly a 2% stake in Ladbrokes, set up the Betdaq betting exchange in 2000. While Betdaq has the technology and ideas it is a small player in comparison to its rival Betfair which seems to go from strength to strength. No doubt Glynn will be looking at his own operations and looking at Betdaq and seeing mutual benefits from combined operations.

Investors will be watching any actions from Glynn closely following a number of failed investment talks in recent years. Since taking on the role of chief executive in early 2010 there have been a number of 'potential talks' that Glynn has been unable to turn to the benefit of Ladbrokes and has ended up walking away raising criticisms of his ability.

These have included talks with Playtech, Sportingbet, 888, and Centrebet.

Ladbrokes have denied that they would be interested in buying Betdaq, which is reportedly worth around £100 million. A spokesperson added: "It's only a discussion about technology supply,

"Exchanges have good up-to-the-minute pricing technology."

Ladbrokes has around £50 million set aside for investments.