William Hill puts the bets on a World Cup windfall

Dominic Walsh and Martin Waller & , : {}

The World Cup in South Africa will be the eventuality of the century for the betting industry, according to the arch senior manager of William Hill.

Ralph Topping pronounced that this summers contest would beget jot down bets in the UK as it was in the right time section for radio viewers.

Through gritted teeth, the Scot pronounced he hoped England would have a great run to say interest, but he does not wish them to win. They are second favourites, at the behind of Spain, at contingency of 5-1.

His prediction? I think England will get to the final, where theyll encounter France ... Thierry Henry will measure the usually idea and set free himself for the counsel sport opposite Ireland.

Related LinksWilliam Hill moves online betting offshoreWilliam Hill reassures after Playtech notice

Sport was not kind to William Hill last year. The bookie blamed the diseased economy and poignant sensitivity in sporting formula for a 9 per cent decrease in increase prior to taxation and well-developed equipment to �197.5 million. Mr Topping said: While we would routinely design fluctuations in sporting formula during a year, these were some-more impassioned in 2009 than we had experienced previously.

The bookie was strike by the termination of racing fixtures in Jan and Feb of last year and formula going in punters foster at the Cheltenham Festival, nonetheless it spotless up in an well-developed Grand National.

William Hill Online benefited from the tie-up last year with Playtech, a gaming program group, and the ascent of gaming machines in the shops to high-definition Storm machines carried sum win per appurtenance by 8.5 per cent. Its write betting multiplication was strike by foe from offshore rivals that compensate less tax. Mr Topping reliable that the organisation was deliberation relocating offshore or shutting one of the dual UK call centres.

Net revenues in the initial couple of weeks of this year have depressed by 0.6 per cent, not helped by the stroke of the arctic continue on tie cancellations. Although both the series of bets done in the shops and the volume wagered on each betting trip have depressed during the recession, Mr Topping pronounced he was assured it would rebound back.