yorkshiretoday.co.uk
Bookmaker William Hill reported an improvement in its sporting results yesterday.
The group said that its gross win should be in line with last year's results despite the fact that 2004 was a bumper year following unexpected wins during the Euro 2004 championship, when outsider Greece won the overall tournament.
The group enjoyed a massive 30 per cent increase in half-year profits in 2004 when favourites France and Italy were knocked out early and Greece and Portugal, two low-ranked teams, reached the final.
Yesterday the company said the outcome for its full year depended on sporting results in the coming months, but the general tone was upbeat.
William Hill, which bought 624 betting shops from rival Stanley Leisure in May, warned earlier in the year of significantly poorer results because of domestic and international football results.
But yesterday it was far more upbeat.
On top of its betting shops, the group offers telephone and online gambling from its Leeds operation which employs around 1,100 people.
Analysts are expecting full year pre-tax profits to come in at around £220m against £205.3m last time.
