William Hill Mobile Gaming Revenue Grows 198 Per Cent

Mobile gaming revenue at William Hill grew 198 per cent during H1 2013 and now accounts for 14 per cent of online gaming net revenue. The company predicts that mobile will make up 40 per cent of online revenue by mid-2015.

Mobile Sportsbook, the iOS app launched in February 2012 which has had 1m downloads, saw amounts wagered increase by 112 per cent in H1, now 38 per cent of total Sportsbook bets. The company expects this to be 40 per cent by the end of the year. 

In June alone, the company averaged £21m turnover every week through its mobile Sportsbook product. This has grown from an average of £9.4m in H1 2012. Sportsbook mobile is expected to equal over-the-counter stakes by next year’s World Cup.

Online grows, retail falls

While over-the-counter bets were down 5 per cent during the period and overall earnings in its retail buisiness fell 2 per cent compared to H1 2012, online sports revenues were up 44 per cent, with operating profits growing 16 per cent to £80.2m. Total pre-tax earnings for in H1 increased 4 per cent to £156.2m, with net revenue growth of 20 per cent to £751.6m.

“We have continued the momentum in online, particularly in mobile Sportsbook,” said chief executive, Ralph Topping. “The shift to mobile sports gaming is an important development and we have invested significant resources in getting the business fully prepared to accelerate this important opportunity. With almost 200 per cent growth in mobile gaming net revenue in the first half, this decision is clearly justified.”

In July, 12 of William Hills 13 new desktop games were dual-launched on mobile, with the company committed to offering single sign on for its customers. The company has increased its planned capital investment in online by 50 per cent, from £20m to £30m, in order to launch mobile products in the Spanish and Italian markets during H2.

Lives odds ad campaign launched

William Hill has also launched a major TV and mobile advertising campaign on the eve of the new English and Scottish football seasons. The ads highlight the companys mobile products, with a separate mobile ad campaign featuring live odds relevant to matches being shown.