From high street shops to Las Vegas: US giants place bet on British bookmakers
America’s casino owners are scenting the opportunities offered by UK chains following an easing of gambling laws
10 January 2021 • 8:14am
Westminster had plenty of warning that America was coming for Britain’s betting industry. In a last-ditch appeal, Roger Devlin, chairman of William Hill, wrote to Theresa May, cautioning her over the consequences of a crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals.
Cutting maximum stakes to £2 would be “catastrophic” for the betting industry, he warned the then Prime Minister. “Consolidation within our sector continues and I would also not want to see the impact of a disproportionate... outcome being a factor in the name of William Hill being added to the list of companies now in foreign ownership.”