William Hill expands international reach following Caesars acquisition

Bookmaker William Hill has expanded its global footprint in 2020 despite the disruption caused by the pandemic.

In its final annual results published today, the firm saw more than a third of its group revenue originate overseas in 2020.

The group’s adjusted operating profit of £57.3m was a 61 per cent drop on the previous year - impacted by disruption to sporting calendars - but the firm’s international revenue increased by 16 per cent.

The news comes after the announcement of the acquisition of the brand by US gambling specialist Caesars last year.

Ulrik Bengtsson, chief executive officer, commented: “We began the year well and finished the year even stronger, highlighting the traction generated by our strategic focus on Customer, Team, Execution.

“In 2020 we put our strategic plans firmly into action, diversifying our geographical footprint, expanding our team’s capabilities and rebuilding our technology.

“The performance in the second half is clear testimony that our strategy is bearing fruit. In the UK, the competitive position of our online offerings for both gaming and sports has been materially strengthened, and our omni-channel product is delivering encouraging early results.

“The William Hill brand remains highly regarded and is well-positioned for its future under new ownership. I am indebted to my colleagues and employees, who have made this happen and realised such value for our shareholders.”