SBR Forum – British bookmaker William Hill (SBR rating A) is pulling out of China. As of August 19, all residents of China will have their accounts suspended. After this date, the players will be unable to use their accounts to access the sportsbook or any of the gaming rooms. Players will be able to request payment as normal through the “My Account” cashier.
The move comes as no surprise. Under the Communist Party, gambling is illegal in mainland China. While it is technically illegal throughout the country, Macau overlooks such laws. Internet gambling, though, is illegal throughout China.
WillHill is one of the largest UK bookmakers and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The gaming giant purchased three Nevada casinos in 2012 — Lucky’s, Leroy’s, and the satellite operations of Club Cal Nevada — for approximately $53m. The Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously approved WillHill’s gaming license, as reported by SBR in June of last year.
SBR reported on August 9 that WillHill acquired TomWaterhouse.com – a popular online sportsbook. The company has plans to become the biggest sportsbook in Australia.
Chinese players should contact WillHill through the normal customer services channels with any inquiries.
