William Hill Enjoys Strong Start to 2017

The bookmaker William Hill has enjoyed a 16% surge in online betting revenues since the start of the year.

The company launched a new app and overhauled its website in a bid to attract more business. They now say that the amount bet online by punters jumped 11% in the UK over the 17 weeks to April 25. It also saw a 24% increase in new accounts during the Cheltenham and Aintree horseracing festivals earlier in the year.

However, the company also confirmed an expected hit of around £5 million to its online arm this year from the new 10% levy on its UK horseracing gross win. The group’s overall net revenues lifted 9% year-on-year in the 17 weeks with a more muted 1% rise in turnover across its high street betting shops. The business is also on track to make annual savings of £40 million this year to reinvest in itself.