Tag Archives: william hill

Dec 20 2012

William Hill launches iPad app as it continues mobile expansion

William Hill has launched a new app for the iPad as the firm continues to expand its mobile operations following the success of its iPhone offerings.

The app offers sports fans the chance to bet on all of the sports and events that they would be able to do so on William Hill’s main web page, with the added convenience of being able to do so on the move. According to a company press release, the app includes more in-play markets than any other bookmaker’s iPad app, as well as the best odds guaranteed on all horse races in the UK and Ireland. Users will also benefit from fast access to accumulators and a ‘hot picks’ list so they can see the most popular bets without having to search for them.

It is part of William Hill’s mobile drive, with the bookmaker’s iPhone proving to be successful as it has been downloaded over 550,000 times since its launch in February 2012 – making it the most downloaded betting app. Overall, app betting now accounts for nearly a third of all William Hill’s online betting and is predicted to reach up to 50 per cent over the next couple of years. One of the biggest sporting events of the year is the Grand National and an incredible 2,500 bets were placed every minute on William Hill mobile in the build up to the big race, highlighting the growing popularity of mobile betting.

Juergen Reutter, director of Mobile for William Hill, said: “Mobile betting is booming. Customers have been clamouring for a specific William Hill app for the iPad and this is simply the best betting app available.

“Whether used as a second screen solution whilst watching sport at home, or simply whilst on the move, we’re sure it will become a favourite way for many of our customers to bet.”

With football the most popular sport among mobile betters, closely followed by horse racing, tennis and cricket, users of the iPad app will be pleased to know they can bet on 1,001 football Leagues, divisions or cup competitions from 97 countries across the world.  William Hill estimates that around 40,000 football matches will have been bet on in-play by the end of the year, with this figure no doubt set to be boosted by the release of the iPad app.

The iPad app, which allows users to register, manage secure deposits and withdrawals and bet on any market, offers a number of exclusive rewards. This is an oft-used technique by firms who are looking to attract more people to mobile and William Hill is no different. Among the rewards offered to users of the iPad app include refunds on stakes for those who place an accumulator and only miss out on the win by one match, while refunds will also be offered as free bets for those who put a first goalscorer bet and see their player score second instead.

The app also harnesses tablet computer’s main benefits over a smartphone, with users able to see more information on the larger screen.

Dynmark helps gaming companies engage customers through fully automated SMS communications; from welcome and activation to in-play bets and service messages. With proven experience integrating with gaming platforms such as Playtech, Dynmark has been providing SMS messaging and services to the gaming industry since 2006. Read more about Dynmark’s gaming experience here.

Dec 2 2012

William Hill becomes ESPN’s live mobile betting partner

William Hill began has been making inroads into the mobile sphere recently with its mobile-optimised website and newly developed version of its app giving customers the chance to play bingo and casino games on the go, as well as having a flutter when they are away from their PC or not near a betting shop.

Their most recent foray into the world of mobile sees the firm partner with ESPN to bring a new betting zone to the US sports broadcaster’s popular Goals App.

The free app has been running for the past three seasons and gives football fans in the UK the chance to catch highlights of every single Barclays Premier League match just minutes after they have finished.

As the exclusive betting partner for the app, William Hill has integrated a ‘bet now’ button into the live scores pages of the app. This will give users the chance to place bets on everything from the correct score and first goalscorer to the number of corners while the match is going on, without having to leave the app itself. Live odds which reflect the real-time events of the game will be pulled directly into the app so that gamblers can quickly react to real-time events in the match.

As part of the deal, the William Hill brand will feature heavily throughout the app, with the company’s logo displayed on the app loading page and rich-media display

banners appearing on various sections of the app. Furthermore, short video adverts from William Hill will run before goals and highlight videos are played, while bumper ads will be placed around longer videos such as post-game round-ups and analysis.

A William Hill spokesman said: “Britain’s biggest bookmaker, William Hill, is a huge supporter of football, as demonstrated through key partnerships with England Football, the FA Cup, the Scottish Cup, Scotland Football and the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

“Our business is customer focused and this deal with ESPN will enhance the football experience for William Hill customers.”

The ESPN app has undergone a number of changes recently, with new additions including pre-and post-match analysis from the ESPN studio, the ability to share video highlights with friends who do not have access to the app via social media and new personalisation features which enable users to follow all the news and latest videos relating to their club.

Alan Fagan, group sales director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at ESPN, said: “This new partnership demonstrates our ability to offer brands integrated, innovative and relevant advertising solutions, connecting them with football fans on whichever device is most relevant.”

William Hill has ramped up its mobile efforts in recent months, with the firm’s boardroom undergoing a radical shake-up in early November.  As part of the corporate reshuffle, the firm’s head of mobile Andrew Lee was promoted to managing director for William Hill Online with immediate effect. Mr Lee’s replacement was Juergen Reutter, a man with over 12 years experience in the mobile sector following spells at major European mobile operators including Telefonica O2 Germany and T-Mobile.

The moves show the importance many betting firms are placing on mobile, as executives from the division are given senior roles in more established areas.

Dynmark helps gaming companies engage customers through fully automated SMS communications; from welcome and activation to in-play bets and service messages. With proven experience integrating with gaming platforms such as Playtech, Dynmark has been providing SMS messaging and services to the gaming industry since 2006. Read more about Dynmark’s gaming experience here.