Hill hit by betting success

WILLIAM Hill has found the going heavy since punter-friendly Euro football results and big losses at the Cheltenham Festival hit revenues.

The FTSE 250 bookmaker has also felt the impact of online customers’ self-imposed time-outs in measures introduced to curb problem gambling. Revenue in the 17 weeks to 28 April was down 3 per cent on the previous year, with online revenue down 11 per cent as the amount wagered in the UK fell 2 per cent.

Annual profit forecasts are unchanged at £260-280million. Shares fell 18¼p to 306p.

CEO James Henderson said: “It has been a tough start to the year.”