William Hill

[ElectroClaret]

Fined £19.2 million for "widespread failures" with regard to customer care and anti-money laundering rules. (BBC)

One new customer was allowed to spend £23,000 in 20 minutes

Never seen the attraction of gambling meself, apart from the odd on-course day out.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Anything that happens to William Hill is always fine by me.

Had my account limited within 2 weeks of joining them and had to fight and threaten court action just to withdraw my money from them.

[Here's-Johnny]

My Favourite bookies ..Win Lose or Draw. Find the counter Staff in most shops....."and I've been in a few" decent folk.

[Commy]

Anything that happens to William Hill is always fine by me.

Had my account limited within 2 weeks of joining them and had to fight and threaten court action just to withdraw my money from them.

I had the same problem and I only have flutters, not a big gambler.

[jdrobbo]

Absolutely stinks. It’s an utter disgrace what they get away with. The fine is tiny: nowhere near enough!

[DCWat]

It’s all good, they show that ‘take time to think’ slogan each time!

[rufus lumley]

Take time to think then blow £23000 with us.

[ksrclaret]

What is it they say about gambling... a game for absolute mugs. Yep. Ruins lives for people when it becomes an addiction.

Appalling company.

[dandeclaret]

Absolutely stinks. It’s an utter disgrace what they get away with. The fine is tiny: nowhere near enough!

I’m no fan of Billy Hills….. but it’s a stretch to say a £20m fine is tiny.

[claret wizard]

Take time to think then blow £23000 with us.

It’s not about blowing £23000, it’s about having £23000 of money that you can’t explain. You then launder it through a betting account being able to show wins, maybe not for £23000k, but means you now can show a legitimate source for your money.

[Boss Hogg]

This was about anti money laundering checks though and not the gambling aspect. It didn’t stop a whole debate on the radio though about gambling on the back of it but they kind of missed the point of the fine.

Gambling doesn’t do it for me apart from the odd small flutter and I was warned off it at a young age. If some people can’t control themselves walking past an advert or a bookies whose fault is it because it isn’t the bookies. This is the same as an alcoholic who can’t resist walking past a pub or an alcohol advert. On the radio not many were admitting it was their own fault. I get the online gambling thing is too easy though. Celebs will still promote online gambling companies such as Keith Lemon. I’m not sure these companies are after the odd sport betting punters but people who like spinning wheels and flashing numbers. Perhaps they ought to have a think about that. You can’t do a blanket ban though. Many people may do the odd small sports bet via phones but it doesn’t make them want to bet any more.

[Boss Hogg]

Absolutely stinks. It’s an utter disgrace what they get away with. The fine is tiny: nowhere near enough!

Money Laundering and not doing correct checks on this is a disgrace and they should be made an example of. The money could have come from anywhere ( drugs, murder, rackets, robbery etc)

Running a bookies is not if operated correctly.

[Blue Skies]

WH is like any other bookies. They have limited my bets on their promotions and when questioned their technical team didn't agree with my betting patterns. I have won £200 in twelve months so hardly a big hitter. I just look at no lose options and use arbitrage with other companies. They welcome mugs but they monitor all customers

[fidelcastro]

My two best friends are both called William Hill.

What are the odds?

[tiger76]

I’m no fan of Billy Hills….. but it’s a stretch to say a £20m fine is tiny.

It's a drop in the ocean when compared to their vast profits, and this isn't the first time they've been fined either.

Latest figures show parent company 888 reported £1.85bn in revenue for the year up to the end of December 2022, while company profits for the year will be published in April.

It's not the first time the company has faced fines. In 2018 a £6.2m fine was issued by the regulator for similar issues: systemic social responsibility and money laundering failures.

[dandeclaret]

Revenue is stakes isn't it? The vast majority of which is expected to be returned through winnings. What's their operating profit figure? About 85m at a guess for last year. Of which a £20m fine reflects 22% ish.

That's not tiny by any stretch of the imagination, nor is it a drop in the ocean.