The online betting business of bookmaker William Hill has shown an impressive turn of foot for the second year in succession, compensating for lacklustre top-line growth in the bookie's High Street estate.
The firm's net revenue rose 6% to £1,136.7m from £1,071.8m the year before, with the retail estate seeing its net revenue edging up just 1% to £789.7m from £783.1m the year before. Online net revenue, meanwhile, surged 28% to £321.3m from £251.5m the year before, its second successive year of growth in excess of 20%.
Stripping out exceptional charges, pre-tax profits came in ahead of expectations at £239.4m, up 9% on 2010's £219.3m. The market had pencilled in a figure of £232.8m.
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