Trading Statement
Improved margin in Q4 with progress on key initiatives
17 January 2014
William Hill PLC (LSE: WMH) (William Hill or the Group) announces a trading update for the 13 weeks from 2 October 2013 to 31 December 2013 (Q4) and the unaudited 52 weeks to 31 December 2013 (full year). The reported comparator periods are the 14 weeks and 53 weeks ended 1 January 2013. For comparison purposes, 13 week and 52 week data are provided, for which the results relating to the week ending 1 January 2013 have been removed.
Ralph Topping, Chief Executive of William Hill, commented:
"Q4 proved a strong end to the year as we enjoyed continued momentum in Sportsbook with 38% more wagered in Q4 on a 13 week basis than last year. This demonstrates our competitive strength in Online ahead of the expected introduction of the Point of Consumption tax in December 2014. We made good progress on key initiatives in the quarter: improving our mobile gaming offer, rolling out the Eclipse gaming machine to over a third of our estate and continuing to enhance Australia's digital capabilities. It is also pleasing to see a turnaround in the profitability of our US business in our first full year of ownership."
Q4
Q4 saw strong underlying net revenue growth from sports betting with above average gross win margins in Retail over-the-counter (OTC) and strong wagering growth from Online Sportsbook. Online gaming net revenue growth rates improved through the period benefitting from improvements to mobile gaming and the Retail estate saw the ongoing roll-out of the Eclipse gaming machine.
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