Risk factors

The Board routinely monitors risks that could materially and adversely affect William Hill’s ability to achieve strategic goals, financial condition and results of operations. The key risks are listed below. For a more specific discussion of risks relevant to the current year and how we manage these risks, please read our risk management process.

Risks relating to the betting and gaming industry

• Increases in taxation and levies.
• Existing or potential laws and regulations in jurisdictions from which the Group accepts bets and wagers.
• The existence and/or enforcement of laws and regulations relating to the offer of betting and gaming products and services or the advertisement of such products and services via the internet.
• Regulation by certain authorities for the granting of licences and other approvals in each of the jurisdictions in which William Hill operates.
• Impact of relationships with governmental authorities and the principal bodies of sport and event industries.
• Potentially significant losses with respect to individual events or betting outcomes.
• Increases in sports-related payments.
• The impact of sports schedules.
• Technological change, particularly online.
• Economic conditions.
• Competition from other gambling operations.
• Negative publicity surrounding the gambling industry.

Risks relating to the Group

• Failure to effectively manage the William Hill Online joint venture.
• Increasing regulation online gambling.
• Over-reliance on third parties.
• Failure to maximise UK and international growth opportunities.
• Impact of the challenging economic climate. 
• Inadequate business continuity and disaster recovery in the event of a disaster.
• Failure to maintain a fit for purpose systems infrastructure.
• Poor operational execution / performance in online.
• Major privacy or date protection failure.
• Adverse changes in government taxation and duties.
• Cost of content.
• Inadequate succession for key roles. 
• Ineffective customer strategy and management.
• Lack of a robust and well defined strategy development process.
• Infringement of William Hill intellectual property.
• Adverse changes in sports-related payments and levies.
• Poor operational execution / performance in retail.
• Failure to ensure the safety of employees and customers.
• Ineffective decision making.
• Offshore tax compliance.
• Inability to achieve competitve advantage.
• Inadequate new product development (Retail).
• Ineffective marketing.
• Lack of funding availability / credit.
• Reduction of maximum stakes on B2 gaming machines.
• Over reliance on horse racing in retail.
• Ineffective brand identity hinders growth.
• Dormant accounts.
• External fraud.
• Inadequate new product development (Online).
• Failure to manage change effectively.
• Integrity in sports betting.
• Failure to manage costs effectively.
• Pension deficit.
• Failure to manage the fieldbooks effectively.
• Information for decision making.
• Failure to respond to problem gambling.

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Registration Number 4212563 England