William Hill
- Born:
- August 3, 1903, Birmingham, England
- Died:
- October 15, 1971, Newmarket, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Bookmaker, Entrepreneur
Early Life and Education
- Left school at age 12 to support his family.
- Worked various jobs, including a farm laborer.
Career and Major Achievements
- Founded William Hill in 1934, initially as a postal and telephone betting service.
- Exploited a loophole in British gambling laws, as cash betting was illegal at the time.
- Pioneered fixed-odds football betting in 1944.
- Expanded the business significantly after gambling laws were relaxed in 1961.
- William Hill became one of the largest and most recognizable bookmaking brands in the UK.
Notable Works
- Establishment and growth of the William Hill betting empire.
Legacy and Impact
William Hill's innovative approach to bookmaking and his ability to adapt to changing regulations transformed the gambling industry in the UK. He created a company that became synonymous with sports betting and a major employer.
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