UK-listed gambling firm GVC Holdings PLC had a good run in the first 20 weeks of 2018, until extreme weather rained on its parade.

GVC reported that its total group net gaming revenue (NGR) in January to May 20, 2018, rose by as much as 7 percent, but the company said that the percentage could have been higher and better if not for the adverse weather at the start of the year.

The British online gambling operator pointed out that its betting shops suffered a 5 percent drop in NGR in the first five months of the year as 12 percent or one out of 10 scheduled horse racing fixtures were cancelled due to the weather. Taking the major blow for the company were the Ladbrokes betting shops, according to GVC.

Punters weren’t also confident about placing multiple bets in the first 20 weeks of the year given the strong run of GVC wins in the latter part of 2017, the company said.