William Hill Odds Comparison

When making an odds comparison, William Hill the biggest bookmaker in England, announced it had taken less from losing cleints in recent weeks compared with what it was pulling in over the same period a year ago. William Hills over 2000 betting shops in the UK, said the one per cent drop since the end of June was in line with its expectations due to tough comparatives with the previous year, which included the final rounds of the Football World Cup.

Stripping out that effect, gross win was up by 4.2 per cent despite the cancellation of almost a fifth of the scheduled horseracing fixtures after meetings were postponed due to bad weather and flooding.

A strong performance from its betting shops offset a weaker performance at its internet operation, Hill said. The bookmakers delivered the update as it disclosed a marginal rise in pre-tax profits to £134.2 million in the 26 weeks to June 26.

Chairman Charles Scott said: “We are pleased that the group has seen profit growth in the period, notwithstanding the absence of a major football tournament.”