888 acquires William Hill's international business in multi-billion pound deal

Two of the world’s most prominent sports betting brands are set to join forces with a new multi-million pound acquisition.

Online betting and gaming platform 888 has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Caesars Entertainment to acquire the non-US business of William Hill, William Hill International (WHI).

The £2.2bn deal will see the creation of an enlarged group, with core markets in the UK, Italy and Spain.

Itai Pazner, CEO of 888, commented: “The acquisition of William Hill International is a transformational and hugely exciting moment in 888’s history. This transaction will create one of the world’s leading online betting and gaming groups with superior scale, exceptional brands, increased diversification, and a platform for strong growth.

“William Hill is an iconic sports brand, making it the ideal complement to 888, one of the leading global online gaming brands.

“We have been incredibly impressed with the William Hill management team, and I look forward to working with them and the wider William Hill team to create great products for our customers, driven by best in class technology, powerful brands, and benefitting from our significantly enhanced scale.”

Ulrik Bengtsson, CEO of WHI, added: “The William Hill and 888 strategies are highly complementary with an absolute focus on the product and customer experience. Scale is increasingly important in our sector and the combination of the businesses will provide a powerful alignment of brands and technology.

“This transaction is a testament to the progress William Hill has made over the last two years, our unrelenting focus on customer, team and execution and, most importantly, the dedication and commitment of William Hill colleagues.

“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our colleagues who have made this possible. I look forward to working with 888 as we transition to the new ownership structure.”