British bookmaker William Hill warned the Government not to meddle with fixed odds betting terminals when it reported its first half profits for the year 2008 on Thursday of last week.
The group attacked the Government’s gambling policy and reported an underlying 10 per cent fall in profits for the half-year, impacted by sporting events.
Chief executive Ralph Topping said that he wanted to see a reduction in the tax paid by UK-based bookmakers on internet gambling. In 2007, he said, the group paid £267m in taxes. The business needed ‘room to grow’, he said.
Profits fell to £145m despite a four per cent increase in gross win to £516m. Pre-tax profits fell 18 per cent to £111m.
The company now has 11 outlets in Madrid and is on schedule to have 130 outlets open in Spain - in both Madrid and the Basque Country - by the end of the year.
