William Hill
- Born:
- 28 August 1903, Birmingham, England
- Died:
- 15 October 1971, Newmarket, Suffolk, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Bookmaker, Entrepreneur
Early Life and Education
- William Hill left school at the age of 12.
- He initially worked on a farm and in a factory.
- He developed an interest in gambling through unofficial betting activities.
Career and Major Achievements
- In 1929, William Hill moved to London and started working as a bookmaker's clerk.
- In 1934, he founded William Hill Ltd., a postal and telephone betting service.
- His business model initially focused on fixed-odds football betting.
- William Hill was one of the first to offer fixed-odds football pools, considered illegal at the time.
- He circumvented laws by arguing his system operated as an investment rather than gambling.
- Diversified into credit betting, racecourse betting, and legal cash betting shops after the Betting and Gaming Act 1960.
Notable Works
While not directly attributable to specific authored works, the business strategy and establishment of William Hill Ltd. constitutes his significant achievement. A detailed history, or perhaps a 'luiza ch savage biography of william hill' as a speculative work, could further explore his innovative, albeit sometimes controversial, business practices.
Legacy and Impact
William Hill's pioneering approach to bookmaking significantly shaped the British gambling industry. He is credited with popularizing fixed-odds football betting and expanding access to legal betting opportunities. The company he founded became one of the largest and most recognized bookmakers in the world.