William Hill Plc. stops taking poker customers from U.S.

William Hill Plc. will no longer be taking online poker and casino bets from customers in the United States until legal and legislative matters are cleared up in the nation.

The company, which is the second-largest U.K. bookmaker, had already blocked sports betting, but now prevents Americans from playing its casino and poker games.


According to analysts, the decision is a fairly easy one for the company, which owns William Hill Poker, because business from the U.S. is insignificant to them. Gamblers from the United States only make up 0.1% of the company's total gross win.

Plus the William Hill Plc.'s main competitor, Ladbrokes Plc. which owns Ladbrokes Poker, also doesn't accept bets from the United States. Both companies have land-based betting facilities as well as their online sites, which may give them an advantage if the current regulatory uncertainty causes concern about playing on a site that is owned by a company solely based online.

The concern about U.S. customers is stemming from legal and legislative action that has been taking place in the United States. In recent months, two online gambling company executives have been arrested in the United States, and Congress has been working to pass a bill that would ban most forms of online gambling.

News Added: 28 September, 2006

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