William Hill explained: the high-street bookmaker, its online casino and how both are licensed

William Hill is one of the oldest names in British betting. It is a good example for anyone learning how UK gambling licences work, because its high-street shops and its website are run by two different companies under two different types of licence.

At a glance

Founded	London, 1934, by William Hill
Shops	Around 1,000 in Great Britain (1,024 at 30 June 2026, according to its owner's interim results)
Shop licensee	William Hill Organization Limited — Gambling Commission account 2752 (non-remote betting)
Online licensee	WHG (International) Limited — account 39225 (remote casino, betting, bingo)
Owner	evoke plc, which has agreed to be acquired by Bally's Intralot (completion expected Q4 2026 – Q1 2027)
Minimum age	18

Where to find it

William Hill shops are found across England, Scotland and Wales. Use the official shop locator (shoplocator.williamhill) to find the nearest one and check its opening hours — they vary by shop. As an example, the branch at 95–97 Baker Street, London W1U 6RN, is listed in both the locator and the Gambling Commission register. The chain closed around 200 shops in 2026, so always check before you travel.

What you can do in a shop

Bet over the counter or on self-service betting terminals: football, horse racing, greyhounds and daily number draws.
Play gaming machines, where the maximum stake on B2 machines has been £2 since April 2019.
Expect to be asked for ID if you look under 25: the regulator's "Think 25" rule has applied to betting shops since August 2024.

Online: williamhill.com

The website offers sports betting, virtual sports, an online casino and the "Vegas" section with slots, roulette and blackjack, plus live casino, bingo and poker. Online products are licensed through WHG (International) Limited, account 39225. Online slot stakes are capped at £5 per spin, or £2 for 18–24-year-olds, and since 19 January 2026 any bonus must have wagering of no more than 10x. We could not check current offers automatically, so read the full terms on the site before you join.

The licences, explained

Shops need non-remote licences and each shop is a licensed premises; websites need remote licences. That is why William Hill appears twice in the register. If you have a problem in a shop, it concerns William Hill Organization Limited; online, it concerns WHG (International) Limited.

Regulatory record

In March 2023 the Gambling Commission required three William Hill companies to pay £19.2 million — a record at the time — for social responsibility and anti-money-laundering failures between 2020 and 2021, including letting customers spend large sums without checks. An earlier £6.2 million penalty package followed failings in 2014–2016. In August 2025, WHG (International) paid £82,687 for a customer identification breach that it had reported itself.

Taxes and the business today

Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% in April 2026, and William Hill's owner cited tax rises when closing shops. This does not change your rights as a player, but it can affect promotions.

How to get there

With around 1,000 shops, most people in Britain have one nearby; the locator shows directions. Online, the site is available to customers in Great Britain through the UK licence.

Safer gambling at William Hill

Online, you can set daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits, take a time-out of up to 42 days, or self-exclude for six months or more; William Hill is part of GAMSTOP. For shops, the multi-operator scheme Gamstop Betting Shops (formerly MOSES) lets you exclude yourself from betting shops in your area.

A word on harm

Betting can feel harmless until it is not. If you notice you are chasing losses, betting more than you can afford or hiding it from people close to you, stop and talk to someone. The National Gambling Helpline is free and open 24/7 on 0808 8020 133, and GAMSTOP blocks all UK licensed gambling sites at once. See our responsible gambling page.