William Hill en route to further success

Bookmaker William Hill has indicated that it is expecting a healthy end of year report after forecasting a rise in trading profit for 2010. Trading profit for this year is predicted to rise by 6% against figures for the same period in 2009, to a total of £275m.

Experts agree that this rise is due primarily to the storming success of its internet gambling division, William Hill Online reporting a 22% rise in profits, with its sports betting offering enjoying a 52% rise in turnover.

Online betting continues to be a huge growth area for the gambling industry and William Hill has continued to claim market share due to an increase of customer use on its top of the range website. As well as a comprehensive Sportsbook, customers have also been trying out the casino, bingo and poker sections in their droves. Football has proved to be a big draw for punters, as Chief Executive, Ralph Topping, commented in 2010: “the World Cup proved to be one of the best for bookmakers in 40 years.”

Although not experiencing the same level of success, the bricks and mortar side of the business continues to buck the general economic trend of doom and gloom by forecasting a 4% rise in turnover for the first quarter of 2011. The worst winter for decades affected football and racing events which impacted on footfall into William Hill Betting Shops.
The betting shops however continue to be a familiar face on the high street, after being established in Britain back in 1934. Since then the business has evolved into a global brand offering a full range of betting services.