Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Entertainment
Press Association & Simon Meechan

William Hill reveals plan to reopen betting shops

William Hill plans to start reopening its high street betting shops in the second half of this year.

The gambling firm revealed it would start a "staged opening" in the second six months of the year, which begins in July.

William Hill did not reveal precisely when the first shops will open their doors to customers.

"We remain focused on player safety, employing ever more customer protection. We are taking care of our teams, securing as many employment opportunities as possible and we are ready to power up the business as soon as Covid-19 restrictions permit," said chief executive Ulrik Bengtsson.

Bookies have remained closed across the UK and sports events have been postponed since the coronavirus lockdown was implemented, leading to a drop in revenue for the gambling industry.

It has had a major effect on William Hill's top line, the company revealed on Friday.

Total net revenue dropped by 57% in the seven weeks to April 28.

The US was the hardest hit, falling by 90%, while sports betting dropped 86% over the period.

Many sports have cancelled events altogether, giving punters little to bet on.

However some have found more obscure events, such as table tennis or emerging market football, causing online sports wagers to fall by less than expected, William Hill said.

Mr Bengtsson said: "We reacted quickly to the cancellation of sports activities and the closure of our retail estate. We took immediate measures to save costs, reduce cash outflow and minimise non-essential expenditure by negotiating with our suppliers, cancelling pay rises and executive bonuses and suspending the dividend."

He added: "Our ambition to build a digitally led, internationally diverse business of scale is proving beneficial during the disruption as our international online business has performed very strongly."

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.