News

Thursday, 26 May 2011 05:21

William Hill, one of Europe's biggest bookmakers and online gambling operators has bought into the US gambling market by purchasing of three established gambling companies.

For the entirety of its existence, the popular UK bookmaker William Hill Plc operated within the legal European and overseas gambling markets and has never shown the slightest interest in the United States. An outside observer would take this as an affirmation that the company is acting responsibly by shrewdly staying out of a market that, since 2006 has been effectively off limits to online gambling operators. They have successfully built their multi million dollar business without succumbing to the lure of tainted money that many others have reached out for and had their fingers well and truly burned.

So when this stalwart of the industry is seen to make three purchases of US based gambling companies, apparently out of the blue, its time to sit up and take notice. An outside observer might surmise that William Hill knows something that we do not. And it could have something to do with the possibility that changes to US laws on gambling are on the cards.

Of the three US based gambling companies in question, one is Brandywine Bookmaking which William Hill purchased for $14.25 million. This company currently runs a completely legal land-based operation taking sports bets in Nevada and Delaware. Part of the deal has William Hill providing a $1.4 million loan to Brandywine. The other two companies are Club Cal Neva Satellite Race and Sports Book Division and American Wagering Inc, which together cost them a further $39 Million. This move provides the UK bookmaker with a firm foothold in the US gambling market and provides a springboard for them to launch their online gambling wing as and when the laws on gambling are reviewed and changed.

The purchases have fuelled speculation by analysts that William Hill must surely believe that changes are about to happen in the US. Why else would a company that has hitherto never shown the slightest interest in America's gaming market suddenly go ahead and buy up three established gambling firms there?

Ralph Topping, William Hill's CEO released a statement saying that the purchases of Brandywine along with American Wagering and Club Cal Neva complement each other and fit perfectly with their future plans. The UK bookmaker and online casino operator now has a solid base in the US sports betting market. This will also give them a leading advantage as and when the online gambling rules change by having a strong footing to take forward when the doors to online casinos finally open for business.