Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Business
Michael Bow

William Hill to reopen betting shops as sports starts to take off again

GAMBLING giant William Hill is plotting to reopen shuttered betting shops later this year after revealing a near-60% sales drop due to the shutdown on Friday.

The company has been hit hard by the cancellation of sporting fixtures but said the resumption of German Bundesliga football this weekend behind closed doors and of UK horse racing in June was encouraging.

Chief executive Ulrik Bengtsson said the firm would open up its retail estate “safely” and plans to

ensure it meets social distancing and personal protection requirements. Revenues in the 10-week period between March 11 and April 28 fell 57% due to a wipe-out of US and UK retail sales.

To cushion the blow, Hills has slashed monthly spending to around £15 million.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.