Bookmaker William Hill looks to have enjoyed another solid year with online gaming again having proven to be decisive. The trading period for 2012 was a week longer than in the previous year, but on an underlying basis revenues and operating profits rose 10 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.
Online revenues from mobile gaming continued to drive progress overall, with underlying net sales there rising at an average rate of 24 per cent. A higher than expected win margin, of 7.9 per cent, underpinned the performance and online's operating profit is expected to be 33 per cent higher at £142m. The over-the-counter business, meanwhile, suffered from fixture cancellations - although these were lower than in 2011 - and net wagers were down 1 per cent. Overall net sales rose 7 per cent, helped by a higher than average win margin of 18.2 per cent. The company will report its full-year results on 1 March.
