William Hill
- Born:
- 1889, Birmingham, England
- Died:
- 15 October 1971, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Bookmaker, Entrepreneur
Early Life and Career Beginnings
- Began his working life at the age of 12 at a Birmingham factory.
- Later worked as a motorcycle mechanic and a factory worker.
- Served in the First World War.
- Started his bookmaking business in 1934, initially focusing on illegal fixed-odds football pools.
Career and Major Achievements
- William Hill circumvented the prohibition of cash betting in Britain, establishing credit betting services.
- In 1944, he was the first to offer fixed-odds football pools, a landmark innovation in the betting industry.
- Expanded his business significantly after the legalization of betting shops in 1961.
- His company became one of the largest and most recognized bookmakers in the United Kingdom.
- Sold William Hill to Sears Holdings in 1971, shortly before his death.
Legacy and Impact
William Hill is remembered as a pioneer in the British betting industry. His innovative approaches to fixed-odds betting and his expansion after the legalization of betting shops established a business model that shaped the modern bookmaking landscape. The enduring success of the company bearing his name is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit.
Notable Works
While not known for traditional "works" like publications, bamber gascoigne biography of william hill would certainly cover his key achievement:
- Establishment and development of William Hill, one of the United Kingdom's largest and most successful bookmaking companies.