William Hill betting shops in East Kilbride are again facing an uncertain future after the company announced it is to close 119 stores.
It’s the second time in a year the axe has been hanging over jobs and stores, after the company prepared to close around 700 betting shops across the UK in 2019.
The high street betting giant closed the doors of its 1500 UK outlets as part of the coronavirus lockdown.
Now bosses have said they do not expect customers to return in the numbers seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement means around 300 staff will be affected, with all but 20 had been redeployed.
The company said trading had been strong before the pandemic with a pre-tax profits of £141m for the first six months of 2020, compared with a loss of £63m last year.
EK Hays staff left to fear for their future
However, its revenues, fell by a third to £554m, reflecting the impact of the lockdown and cancellation of so many sporting events.
In East Kilbride, William Hill has stores on Montgomery Street, Cullen Road, Calderwood Road, St Leonards Road, Redcliffe Drive, Greenhills Square, and the Princes Mall.
There is also one in Green Street, Strathaven.
