William Hill (bookmaker)
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William Hill plc (LSE: WMH) is one of the two largest bookmakers in the United Kingdom alongside Ladbrokes. Its headquarters are in the north London suburb of Wood Green. It is traded on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
The company was founded in 1934. It operates entirely in the United Kingdom, and offers telephone and internet betting as well as bookmaking shops. The Internet section has grown fastest in recent years. In 2004 it launched an interactive television channel, Channel 854 (previously Channel 425), which was broadcast on Sky Digital. The Channel ceased broadcasting on Saturday 28th October 2006. In the 52 week accounting period ended 28 December 2004 it made a profit before tax of £205.3 million and a net profit of £148.3 million on turnover of £8.287 billion.
In May 2005 William Hill announced that it had agreed to purchase 624 betting offices in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man and Jersey from Stanley Leisure for £504 million. The acquisition gave the company, which had previously been strongest in Southern England, good geographical coverage across the United Kingdom and took it past Ladbrokes into first position in the UK betting market.
Besides William Hill's online sportsbook operations, the company also offers online casino games, skill games, and online poker. The poker room sponsors the William Hill Poker Grand Prix.
