WILLIAM HILL PLC TO WITHDRAW FROM 55 COUNTRIES


Wednesday March 26,2014 :  WILLIAM HILL PLC TO WITHDRAW FROM 55 COUNTRIES
 
Exits are in pursuit of a company strategy to focus on regulated markets.
 
Marketing affiliates delivering players to William Hill plc online gambling operations were surprised – many shocked – to receive an email this week advising that, effective March 26, the group is reversing out of 55 countries where it has been active in the past.
 
Little in the way of detail surrounding the decision is apparent from the email, which refers to the motivation being for "regulatory reasons."
 
The 55 countries are geographically diverse and widespread; they include African, Asian, South American and Middle Eastern nations, reports the Poker Guru blog, which lists the countries concerned.
 
After March 26 players will no longer be able to deposit or play on William Hill sites, although there will be a grace period sufficient to enable them to withdraw any credit balances in their accounts.
 
William Hill has already listed 28 markets where it no longer operates, such as Denmark, Belgium, China and Greece, and the current withdrawals expand that substantially.