William Hill is the world’s largest betting brand. In the UK
alone, they have 2,325 betting shops. They also operate an
online gambling site available in 24 languages and 10
currencies. The site offers sports betting, horse race betting,
financial betting, casino, poker, bingo, and skill and arcade
games all from a single website and player account bank. As a
company publicly-traded on the London Stock Exchange (WMH.L), it
can be verified. In 2011, they serviced more than 1.3 million
gamblers with profits exceeding £146.5 million. How does a
company get to be this size? All will be revealed in our history
of William Hill.

• William Hill Gambling
• William Hill Gambling Rules
• William Hill Gambling Stock

With decades of experience, William Hill remains the most experienced and reputable UK bookmaker, and the William Hill sports betting site is the leading light in the industry. If you love snooker you’ll really love the coverage that we offer, with live updates and great odds for the easiest way to place a wager on your favourite snooker game. The split once again was in favor of internet sports betting, which totaled $872.1 million of the total handle. PR Newswire Shareholders of William Hill PLC Vote to Approve Caesars Entertainment.

William Hill (founder) Born in 1903

The William Hill story begins with the July 16, 1903 birth of
their founder and namesake, William Hill. He was born in
Birmingham, England, the second of 13 children in a strict
family. As a young lad, he attended Oldknow Road School before
leaving to work on his uncle’s farm at the age of 12. He later,
still as a child, worked for BSA works in Birmingham. Perhaps
rebellious over his strict upbringing, overcrowded home, and
working life, at age 16, Hill lied about his age and jumped on a
wagon to join the Black and Tans.

Legend has it that William Hill developed a passion for
horseracing and bookmaking at a young age. During his days with
BSA works, he was introduced to betting. While with the Black
and Tans, he was stationed in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland. From
here he spent his free time taking bets from Moss Foley’s pub.
Returning from duty, he remained in the bookmaking business on a
small scale.

Hill’s first attempt at legal bookmaker came in 1925 as an on
course bookmaker at the Birmingham tracks. Due to the inability
to lay off a couple large bets, he soon lost all his capital. In
1929, he moved to London to begin taking bets on greyhounds,
which allowed him to save up enough capital to invest and become
a part owner in Northolt Park Racetrack (that would become
famous for pony races).

William Hill (Company) Founded 1934

In 1934, William Hill opened his first off-track betting shop
in Park Lane, London. This was the start of the company known
today as William Hill. At the time, cash bookmaking was still
illegal. Hill used a loophole in the law that required “credit
only” betting by having punters provide checks (in person or via
post) weeks in advanced. These were cashed only after the event
had taken place, making it fully legal while he also retained
lawful recourse against any bounced checks.

Hill then continued to build his business on “trust”. At the
time, gambling debts weren’t enforceable by law, so bookies
didn’t even need to legally pay punters. While there were many
scams, his business grew to some 500,000 serviced by the 1960’s
because of his reputation as an honest businessman who pays
winners.

The Invention of Fixed Odds Football Betting

In 1944, William Hill became the first bookie to offer fixed
odds on football betting. The
history of Ladbrokes reported elsewhere often fails to give
him credit. No doubt Ladbrokes was the first UK- licensed
betting shop to offer fixed odds; however, William Hill was
doing so as a credit bookmaker much earlier. In fact, court
records indicate he preceded Ladbrokes, and he successfully sued
them in the early 1960’s for copying his ticket. Being the good
sport that he was, he asked for only £1 damages plus costs,
which the House of Lords granted.

William Hill as a Breeder

By the late 1930’s, William Hill had become the first ever
self-made millionaire bookie. While continuing his bookmaking
empire, he became passionate about breeding horses. He purchased
a stud at Whitsbury in Hampshire in 1943 (Nimbus) that in 1949
won the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby. In 1945, he purchased
Sezincote stud in Gloucestershire that won the 1953 Derby. He
also won a Classic with Cantelo in the 1959 St. Leger and the
Gimcrack Stake and Champagne Stake in 1958 with Be Careful.

William Hill the First Ever PLC Bookmaker

In 1954, William Hill moved his business to a shell company
called Holder’s Investment Trust to secure a position as the
first bookmaker ever publicly-listed on the London Stock
Exchange. From 1955 to 1961, he sold portions of his shares for
in excess of £5 million.

William Hill Personal Life

In order to explain William Hill’s late move into the betting
shop business, it’s important to cover his personal life. In
1923, he married Ivy Burley (nicknamed Daisy), who was a
hairdresser in Birmingham. They had their first and only child
the following year, Kathleen Hill (nicknamed Bubbles) who later
became Kathleen Lavinia after her marriage. She passed away at
the age of 37. The Saint Leonard’s Parish Church of Whitsbury,
located near the track where he purchased his first stud, to
this day bears the words:

“To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of their daughter
Kathleen Lavinia, Born 10th Feb 1924 Died 27 Nov 1961. This
church was restored and refurnished in 1963 by William and Ivy
Hill”.

Hill was not a money hungry coldhearted bookie. During his
lifetime, he raced and bred horses with a passion, took regular
fishing trips, and sponsored youth cricket leagues. He was a
devout Roman Catholic and Socialist. When the UK legalized
betting shops, effective May 1, 1961, he was outspoken against
them. He went as far as calling them a cancer on society that
preyed on the working man. In his opinion, betting was a
recreational activity and competition for those who could afford
it. He was a good bookie and made millions many times over in
his lifetime due to hard work, trust, and running an honest
shop.

By 1966, however, betting shops had become so widespread in
the UK, that traditional bookies had no choice but to adapt.
Hill began investing in the betting shop empire known today. In
1970, he retired and passed away the following year.

Ownership After William Hill’s Death

When William Hill died on October 16, 1971, the business was
taken over by Sears Plc. Many William Hill history articles
associate it with Sears Holdings Group, which has 4,000 retail
locations under Sears and Kmart brand names. This is NOT the
same Sears. The Sears that took over William Hill is a UK
conglomerate in the retail shoes business. Their current brands
include Barratts and Priceless Shoes. While under Sears’
ownership, the company grew to 1800 legal betting shops by 1988.

In 1989, William Hill was purchased by Brent Walker. The same
year, they became the official bookmaker of Golf’s PGA European
Tour with betting shops located on course. During the 1990’s,
betting shops became more socially acceptable in the UK. They
were no longer required to blackout their windows, and instead
could display odds and advertisements for all to see. The law
prohibiting them from being open on Sundays was also repealed; the ability to advertise in newspapers, on television, and
on the radio was granted. Private Scratchcards were legalized and soon
were offered at William Hill shops.

With betting now mainstream, Walker cashed in, selling them
Nomura (Grand Bookmaking Companies) for £700m. They sold it 2
years later in 1999 to Cinven and CVC Partners for £825 million.
Finally, in 2002, William Hill was successfully floated on the
London Stock Exchange for approximately £1 billion.

William Hill Online

In 2000, William Hill launched an off-shore phone-in betting
shop. It used a call center in Athlone, Ireland, which accepted
bets for William Hill International based in Antigua where the
tax was only 3%. That same year, they became the first UK
bookmaker to offer tax-free betting via the Internet. Oddly
enough, despite being known by all bettors alive as William,
they had to use the domain willhill.com. The domain
williamhill.com was already in use by a winery in California.
The winery stopped using it in late 2005, and William Hill the
bookmaker acquired it in 2009, redirecting the brand they had
built.

As you can imagine, this was already the largest betting
brand in the world, and their growth as an online company was a
natural transition. These days there are many multiple language
betting sites, but when William Hill entered the market full
scale in 2000, there were few. They already were popular
internationally and were the biggest bookmaker in the UK. Their
growth came fast when launched in 2000 supporting English,
Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese,
Norwegian, and Finnish languages. In late 2000, they added an
online casino to their offering and then an online poker room in
2003. On April 17, 2002, William Hill signed a deal with the
British Horseracing Board for the commercial use of data. This
made full racing data available on their online website.

After successful floating on the London Stock Exchange in
2002, numerous acquisitions followed. In September of 2002,
William Hill purchased Sunderland Greyhound Stadium. In March
the following year, Brough Park Greyhound Stadium was added. In
2005, it acquired 624 betting shops from Stanley Leisure for
£504 million, although it had to sell 78 of them due to an
anti-competitive practice ruling. In 2008, it went into
partnership with the world’s largest casino software provider
and poker network operator, Playtech.

As mentioned above, William Hill remains the world’s largest
betting brand. The website is available in 24 languages, 10
currencies, and it supports sports and horse race betting, financial
betting, casino, poker, bingo, skill games, and arcade games. This is
no doubt one of the safest and most well-regulated websites for
online gamblers.

A reliable and recognizable name in the US sports betting industry, William Hill offers a solid selection of sports. Some competing brands offer more betting markets and better bonuses, however.

Get Up To $500 Free Bet At William Hill Sportsbook

Redirecting to William Hill...

• Well-organized mobile app
• Easy deposits
• Fast mobile app load times

William Hill Sportsbook Promo Code 2020

Newcomers to the William Hill online sports betting app can access different welcome bonuses depending on which state you’re in. The New Jersey, Colorado, Indiana, and West Virginia versions of the William Hill app offer a free bet bonus up to $500. Illinois players can unlock a risk-free bet bonus up to $300. Other states offer different welcome bonuses.

William Hill Online Sportsbook: Quick Facts

• In New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, and Indiana, the William Hill Sportsbook offers a free bet bonus up to $500.
• William Hill online sportsbook offers different promotions in different states. William Hill Illinois, for example, offers a risk-free bet up to $300.
• Major US sports are well-covered on the William Hill betting menu. You’ll find plenty of betting markets for the four major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) at William Hill Sportsbook.
• Bettors will find a comprehensive menu of deposit options for William Hill Sportsbook. Just about anyone of eligible betting age should be able to fund a William Hill account.
• William Hill Sportsbook offers several in-play betting options on most games.
• The William Hill mobile app generally gets favorable reviews from iOS users, with the NJ/CO/WV/IN version of the app rated 4.5 out of 5 over nearly 2,000 reviews.
• Bettors can find an extensive menu of prop bets on most games. Many contests offer alternate lines as well.
• The New Jersey version of the William Hill online sportsbook also offers access to William Hill’s online casino.

Pros

• Well-organized mobile app
• Easy deposits
• Fast mobile app load times

Cons

• Covers average amount of sports
• Average deposit bonus

What States Is William Hill Online Sportsbook Available In?

William Hill online sportsbook offers mobile wagering in Nevada, New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. The platform will eventually launch in Michigan as well.

West Virginia represents one of the newest markets for the William Hill online sports betting platform. William Hill operates in partnership with Mountaineer Casino and operates both an on-property retail sportsbook and a licensed mobile sports wagering app.

The William Hill West Virginia mobile app and online sportsbook launched in September 2020. The debut made William Hill the fourth online sports betting brand to set up shop in the Mountain State.

West Virginia bettors can enjoy a free betting credit, up to $500, upon registering for a new account. Qualifying for the maximum free credit of $500 requires a $250 deposit.

Like West Virginia, Colorado stands as a new territory in the expansion of the William Hill online sports betting platform. The William Hill CO mobile app went live in September 2020 and operates in Colorado as a license partner of Caesars Entertainment (aka Eldorado Resorts).

Visit: William Hill Colorado

Self-service kiosks bearing the William Hill name started popping up at a couple of Eldorado Resorts properties (Isle Casino Hotel and Lady Luck Casino) in Colorado in July 2020. The mobile app, however, allows wagering from anywhere within the borders of the Centennial State.

Colorado bettors can enjoy a free bet bonus, up to $500, upon registration for a new William Hill CO account.

The most rapidly-expanding online sports betting state in the US, the Illinois market added William Hill to its growing list of mobile sportsbooks in September 2020. William Hill US operates under the license of Grand Victoria Casino and also powers a retail sportsbook at the Chicago-area casino.

New Illinois players who sign up for a William Hill account can enjoy an Illinois-only special welcome bonus. After making your first deposit, the first bet on the William Hill IL platform is eligible for a risk-free bet rebate, up to $300.

The William Hill Illinois app can be downloaded for both Apple iOS and Android devices. Illinois state law requires in-person registration for a mobile sports betting account, although this requirement has been waived at times during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indiana became the seventh US state in which William Hill operated an online sports wagering platform in October 2020. The William Hill Indiana app is live and operates as a license partner of Tropicana Evansville Casino.

The William Hill online sportsbook stands to run as a major player in the emerging Indiana sports betting market. Both Apple iOS and Android devices can access a dedicated William Hill Sportsbook app and bet from anywhere within the state.

The William Hill IN app offers a free bet up to $500 for new players. This offer is similar to what William Hill offers for new players in New Jersey, Colorado, and West Virginia, and requires a $250 or more deposit to unlock the maximum $500 free betting credit.

William Hill operates as the dominant force in the Iowa online sports betting market. With a trio of license partnerships in the Hawkeye State, William Hill online sports betting products take in more than 60% of all mobile sports betting revenue in Iowa.

Iowa properties with a partnership with William Hill in place include Prairie Meadows Casino and Hotel. The Prairie Meadows/William Hill license stands as the top revenue-earning online sportsbook in the state.

Iowa’s two Isle Casino locations (owned by Eldorado Resorts) and Lakeside Hotel Casino also license William Hill to operate mobile sports betting apps. All three apps allow wagering from anywhere within Iowa.

William Hill’s reputation as one of the world’s biggest sports betting brands goes back to its UK origins. The company’s expansion into the US market, however, started in Nevada.

William Hill US launched in Nevada in 2012. Unlike its operations in several other states, William Hill Nevada doesn’t have a license tie-in to any single casino. William Hill operates a retail sportsbook in more than 100 locations in Nevada, and the app can be used from anywhere within state borders.

The Nevada version of William Hill online sportsbook requires in-person registration. Wagers can be made from anywhere in the state, but signing up for a new account requires a trip to a William Hill retail sportsbook or self-service kiosk.

William Hill represents a major presence in New Jersey, the largest online sports betting market in the US. William Hill operates online sports betting for three different Atlantic City Casino license partners.

William Hill US handles both retail and mobile sports betting duties for Ocean Casino, Monmouth Park Racetrack, and Tropicana Casino Resort. New Jersey hosts more than 15 different online sports betting brands, but William Hill stands as the only operator conducting sports wagering under multiple licenses.

The Tropicana Casino version of the William Hill app also links to the William Hill NJ online casino platform.

Full Review Of William Hill Sportsbook

William Hill online sportsbook presents a solid option for bettors looking to wager on major US sports and events.

The mobile app version of William Hill Sportsbook is available in seven states, but the selection of betting markets, welcome bonuses, and other promotions, vary from state to state. William Hill Sportsbook offers plenty of US-based betting markets but lacks in international and niche sports when compared to some of its competitors in the US.

Key Features Of William Hill Sportsbook

Types of bets offered: Point spread, moneyline, totals, in-play, prop bets, alternate lines.

Rewards program: Yes.

Sample sports leagues covered: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, EPL.

Mobile apps: Android and iOS. Web version available.

Deposit methods: ACH/eCheck, credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, Play+ Prepaid, cash, Skrill, PayNearMe. Full list and details here.

Minimum deposit: $20.

Betting limits: Limits are dictated by max payout rules. Those amounts vary, with football bets offering the largest max payout ($2 million). Baseball, basketball, and hockey each offer a $1 million max payout.

Other products available from sportsbook account:

• Online casino (New Jersey only)

License:

• Nevada – Licensed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board
• New Jersey – Licensed by the Division of Gaming Enforcement, operating in partnership with Ocean Casino, Monmouth Park Racetrack, and Tropicana Casino Resort.
• West Virginia – Licensed by the West Virginia Lottery, operating in partnership with Mountaineer Casino.
• Colorado – Licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming, operating in partnership with Caesars Interactive/Eldorado Resorts.
• Indiana – Licensed by the Indiana Gaming Commission, operating in partnership with Tropicana Evansville Casino.
• Illinois – Licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board, operating in partnership with Grand Victoria Casino.
• Iowa – Licensed by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, operating in partnership with Prairie Meadows Casino, Eldorado Resorts, and Lakeside Hotel Casino.

Deposits And Cashouts At William Hill Sportsbook

There are a variety of ways to fund your account and get funds out of your account at William Hill sportsbook. Just about all of the methods listed below put money on your player balance instantly once the transaction is approved.

How Can I Deposit At William Hill Sportsbook?

The William Hill online sportsbook app offered in each different state might not include all of the deposit options listed above. This list, which uses William Hill NJ as an example, includes one of the most comprehensive selections of ways to deposit. The William Hill Priority Access Prepaid Card links directly to your sportsbook account, allowing for instant transfers to and from your player balance. The card can also be used as a Discover Card for purchases, and also allows ATM withdrawals.

My Credit Card Was Declined At William Hill Sportsbook. What Do I Do?

Deposits to William Hill Sportsbook represent legal transactions, but the issuing bank behind your credit card still might occasionally decline the deposit. William Hill accepts many other deposit methods, however, and if your credit card is rejected you can try some of the following alternate methods:

• Using the William Hill Priority Access Card
• Using PayPal
• Using eCheck / ACH

How Can I Cash Out From William Hill Sportsbook?

Using any of the online withdrawal methods at William Hill Sportsbook could take up to 72 hours for processing. The turnaround time is usually faster than that, however.

How Can You Play At William Hill Online Sportsbook?

Common Geolocation Issues With William Hill Sportsbook

All regulated online gambling platforms use geolocation technology to make sure players are located in a legal jurisdiction. In each of the states in which it operates, the William Hill Sportsbook app only allows betting from within state borders.

The geolocation service will occasionally block wagers made near the border of a legal state. If this happens, moving further inland should allow the geolocation service to determine that you’re in a legal jurisdiction.

What You’ll Probably Like About William Hill Sportsbook

William Hill Sportsbook is available in many states

The William Hill online sportsbook app offers legal betting in seven states, with several more to come over the next few months.

As online sports betting continues to expand across the US, the William Hill app becomes more accessible, no matter what area of the country you might be in.

Big maximum payouts

William Hill US isn’t afraid to pay off a big bet. Football wagers offer a maximum payout of $2 million, while the other three major US sports (baseball, basketball, and hockey) all come with a $1 million max payoff.

If you like to bet big and win huge, William Hill Sportsbook might be your go-to app.

Many deposit options

Just about anyone of legal betting age should be able to find a way to fund a William Hill Sportsbook account, as long as they’re in a state with legal access to the platform. The app offers a plethora of ways to deposit, including PayPal, ACH/eCheck, and many credit/debit/prepaid card options.

Why You Might Choose A Different Online Sportsbook

William Hill Sportsbook doesn’t offer a no-deposit bonus

William Hill Sportsbook offers various free credit and risk-free bet welcome bonuses, but all of them require some kind of initial deposit. Some sportsbooks start you off with free betting credits just for signing up, but that isn’t the case at William Hill.

Covers an average amount of sports.

Some of William Hill Sportsbook’s competitors offer a better selection of international and niche sports. William Hill has the major sports and leagues covered, but you’ll find a bigger overall betting selection at some other sportsbooks.

William Hill Sportsbook: License Information

Below is a list of states where William Hill online sportsbook operates and their license partner in each state.

William Hill Gambling

Different states operate with different laws applied to online sports betting. In all states with legal online sports betting, however, mobile sportsbooks fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of the state’s gaming regulation agency.

In Nevada, for example, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) oversees the state’s casino industry. By extension, William Hill US online sportsbook is also regulated by the NGCB.

In most states, William Hill operates as a license partner of one or more land-based casinos. In Nevada, more than 100 casinos use William Hill US to operate sports betting operations.

William Hill Sportsbook FAQ

Yes, but only in states with legalized online sports betting and William Hill Sportsbook on the list of licensed operators.

Bettors in Nevada, New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, can all bet legally on the William Hill Sportsbook app or browser client.

Yes. William Hill operates as one of the biggest sports betting brands in the world. In all states in which it offers online sports betting, William Hill has gone through a thorough vetting and licensing process.

21 or older. 21 is the legal minimum age to place an online sports wager with William Hill in all of the states in which the platform currently operates.

Yes. The William Hill online sportsbook platform uses geolocation technology to determine your location when you try to make a bet. If you’re not located in one of the states in which William Hill offers mobile sports betting, you’ll be blocked from making the bet.

William Hill Gambling Rules

William Hill Sportsbook offers many different ways to cash out. Withdrawal methods include ACH/eCheck, Play+ Prepaid, PayPal, and others. Check out the table above for a full list of withdrawal options.

Yes. Most games and matches offered on the William Hill Sportsbook betting menu offer several different ways to make in-play bets.

PayPal, Play+ Prepaid, and the William Hill Priority Access Prepaid Card represent the deposit methods with the highest acceptance rate. These methods go through at nearly a 100% success rate.

ACH/eCheck and credit/debit card deposits are the most convenient deposit methods, but the bank sometimes declines your deposit when you use one of these methods.

William Hill Gambling Stock

Yes. The New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, and Indiana versions of the William Hill online sportsbook app all offer a free bet, up to $500, as a welcome bonus. The other states offering William Hill online betting services present different promotions, so be sure to check the “Promotions” link for the state from which you plan on wagering.