William Hill Confirms Nevada Licence

British online gambling operator William Hill will launch its US operations once it completes three acquisitions this week, after the Nevada Gaming Commission awarded it its long-awaited license.

The Nevada commission completed its approval of William Hill following a hearing last Thursday. The license means the British bookmaker can begin offering sports betting on mobile devices immediately, and also puts it in pole position for when US online gambling restrictions are eventually lifted.

Hill announced the acquisition last year of three local gambling firms - AWI, Brandywine and Cal Neva - and can get to work with its operations once the $59 million purchases are completed June 27. Hill considers its first US operations to be "an important part of our international growth strategy," CEO Ralph Topping said.

Slot machine manufacturers International Game Technology and Bally Technologies were issued the first two licenses for online betting in the state last week, and both said straight afterward that they intend to offer online gambling technology to other licensed operators and not compete directly with casinos for customers.

These approvals pave the wave for the US casino industry to expand into an online gambling market that H2 Gambling Capital says will be worth $13.4 billion in five years. Nevada last year was the first state to pass a statute authorizing internet gambling, and two dozen companies have since sought licenses" including local firms Caesars Entertainment Corp. and MGM Resorts International.